Never Don’t Stop: Peg House Employee Lauded in German Paper for Act of Kindness

Timothy Skaggs standing in front of the Peg House.

Timothy Skaggs standing in front of the Peg House. [Photo taken by Torben Dietrich]

The Peg House is famous for its food and its quirky motto: Never Don’t Stop. One of their employees living by a different motto, Be Kind, has gotten a touch of international attention.

In May, a German couple came to the Peg House just north of the tiny Mendocino County town of Leggett on their way through the Golden State and left with full bellies even though they had no money because of the Peg House employee, Timothy Skaggs.

In an article in the Neue Braunschweiger entitled, Giganten in den Redwoods, Torben Dietrich, one of their editors who was traveling in the United States described looking for a place to stop for food and finding the Peg House.

In addition to redwood carvings, Bigfoot souvenirs and all kinds of merchandise, there are also homemade and extremely delicious-sounding burgers and sandwiches…,” Dietrich wrote. “Local deer and salmon are among the most common ingredients. Full of anticipation we place our order.”

Not having any cash, they pulled out their credit cards. First one and then the other was declined… . “An additional uncomfortable feeling spreads in the stomach area, I can already see us stranded in the USA without any funds,” Dietrich wrote.

Timothy Skaggs, the local employee (and also student at HSU) said he “figured out that because they were in the US and their banks probably cancelled their cards on suspicion of fraud. That’s happened to me before.”

an article in the Neue Braunschweiger entitled, Giganten in den Redwoods,

An article in the Neue Braunschweiger entitled, Giganten in den Redwoods talks about the kindness of Timothy Skaggs.

Dietrich said that even greater than the worry that they might not have any funds in the US was the hunger they were dealing with right at that moment. “Tim recognized the situation exactly,” Dietrich wrote. “[H]e reads the desperation in our faces.”

Skaggs said he luckily had some cash on him. “C’mon up and I’ll get you guys something to eat,” he told us he said to the couple. “I just bought them lunch…It was about $35. It was just cash that I happened to have on me…It is our mission [to never let anyone leave hungry.”

Dietrich wrote, “Twenty minutes later we’re sitting in front of two amazing, fresh hamburgers, full of anticipation and gratitude. I promise Tim I’ll send him the money in a letter as soon as I can.”

Not long after they left, they sent Skaggs the money in the mail. Tim told us he wasn’t surprised. “He said he’d pay me back,” he explained simply.

This isn’t the only time the Leggett local has stepped in to assist folks, he told us. “I’ve helped people out before every now and then,” he explained. He says occasionally someone down on their luck touches his heart and he makes sure they have food.

Skaggs told us that working at the Peg House is the best job he’s ever had. “I’m proud to work at the Peg House…because it is good vibes all around,” he said. “Putting out good food and welcoming people in and keeping the musicians fed.”

He added, “My favorite part is meeting new people and being creative…I’m the grill floater. I hop in on whatever station I’m needed. I try my best to make the presentation as nice as possible.”

He said he likes getting to see people, “I’ve had people I’ve knew in high school stop by. I’ve gotten to know a couple of the families in Leggett that I never knew before and I’ve also got to meet people from other countries working there.”

He likes when people who live in other places talk about where they came from. “They’ll tell me a little bit about what its like there,” he said. “I get to meet people that I never even knew existed before.”

Skaggs says that he hopes when people read this story about how rewarding it is to help others, “they hop on that bandwagon, too.”

Here’s to more of us hopping on the #BeKind bandwagon.

 

 

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23 Comments
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meme
Member
meme
1 year ago

Love this! We all need a little good news right now!

Nooo
Guest
Nooo
1 year ago
Reply to  meme

Yes. Both negative and positive stories are contagious.

Pangs
Guest
Pangs
1 year ago

This article renews my appreciation that there is also love in this world. It also makes me hungry for a burger and some of that delicious coleslaw. (I have never been fond of any coleslaw but what Peg House serves is quite the exception!)

Permanently on Monitoring
Guest
Permanently on Monitoring
1 year ago

Well, it’s more likely that the German Visitor’s cards just couldn’t be processed from Mendocino County (shitty internet is the rule on the North Coast) but really, who travels in a Foreign Country and doesn’t even carry a couple hundred bucks in cash?

You will need some tip money, and I hope this sparkling example of North Coast Hospitality received a nice card and a Five Dollar Bill…

So, Blessings, dude and I wish everyone to learn from your fine example, especially everyone in Garberville, where its “cash only”, most of the time…

Kindness sells, being nice is good, and concern for your fellow man works!

Antichrist
Guest
Antichrist
1 year ago

True story in Germany tipping other than rounding to the nearest dollar well in my case it was mark is looked down upon. They see it as a insult implying that the owner isnt properly paying the employee so unless the Germans have traveled and learned the whole tipping thing it isnt unusual to not be tipped by people from Germany . It isnt that they arent grateful or even think you werent doing your job it is just something that isnt normal for them to think about.

Just Sayin
Guest
Just Sayin
1 year ago
Reply to  Antichrist

Yeah, they are bug on top down control over there. Wouldn’t want the underlings to get extra………… not much changed there in 100 years…..

Permanently on Monitoring
Guest
Permanently on Monitoring
1 year ago
Reply to  Antichrist

I haven’t been to Germany since 1988, when I rented a fast car and practiced my Autobahn speeds (it was hard to come home to the 65MPH limit), and everything was cheap, beer came out of a vending machine, but, I felt like Americans were not really liked, there…
I brought my own Deutschmarks (no Euro yet in ’88) but remember, in Germany, when an old woman throws a bottle at you, it’s usually because she doesn’t like your Levis, Birkenstocks, North Face Vest, and Ray-Bans…
So tipping is not regarded the way you mention, as the tip is added on automatically, and since Dirndl-wearing servers are always underpaid, everywhere, you should respect local customs, carry some actual local currency, and have a Visa Card or a Mastercard, or a way to pay for stuff, like Paypal, Venmo or, shoot, something…
It was nice of this guy to feed the folks who wanted free stuff in return for being mentioned in this and other stories, and there are enough “influencers” and Annas and plain con-artists around for the whole story to be doubtable, but the item was well constructed, sounded plausible, and was intended to spread “kindness”, so, applause follows… Thumbs up and a Shaka!

Dano
Guest
Dano
1 year ago

What is wrong with you? [edit] ther is no reason to think this story isn’t factual. As someone who rarely travels, this could certainly happen to me in another country. This is a great story.

Nooo
Guest
Nooo
1 year ago

The money was sent as they said they would so it was not a case of wanting something for free. And they had tried to pay but cards were rejected. Even a seasoned traveller can feel a moment of panic when funds they counted on are suddenly not available in a foreign place. I have been there.

Xhumboldter
Guest
1 year ago

Nice story, although the phrasing was a bit awkward. “They had no money because of…Timothy Skaggs.” I think they had full bellies because Timothy.

Akasha
Guest
Akasha
1 year ago
Reply to  Xhumboldter

I was thinking that too I had to read it a couple times maybe it could get expressed in a different way

Barbara Boerger
Guest
Barbara Boerger
1 year ago
Reply to  Xhumboldter

“…their way through the Golden State and left with full bellies (even though they had no money) because of the Peg House employee, Timothy Skaggs.”
There. Fixed it.

BB03
Member
BB03
1 year ago

Wonderful, a great deed with ripples across “the pond” and affirmation of the best of Humbolt in Timothy. Practice systematic acts of kindness and random acts of beauty.

BonnieD
Member
Bonnie
1 year ago
Reply to  BB03

The phrase “random kindness and senseless acts of beauty” was first written by Anne Herbert on a place mat in Sausalito, California in 1982. She elaborated on the idea and practice of the altruistic principle in an article in The Whole Earth Review in 1985.
“A random act of kindness is a nonpremeditated, inconsistent action designed to offer kindness towards the outside world.”
Tim Skaggs exemplifies those who commit these good-hearted deeds.

Last edited 1 year ago
farfromputin
Guest
farfromputin
1 year ago

Kudos, Tim Skaggs!

Blythe Blue
Guest
Blythe Blue
1 year ago

Thank you Kym for posting good news.

Neverlayup
Guest
Neverlayup
1 year ago

Kid sounds like a good guy! Must be a republican! Democrats just seek and destroy goodness!

Gazoo
Guest
Gazoo
1 year ago

Not all hero’s wear capes!!
Thank you kind sir, you made a life long friendship for sure.

geezermeD
Member
geezerme
1 year ago

Amen, miss the Blues Bros. every time I drive by.

Horrified
Guest
Horrified
1 year ago

Anybody else see that drunk ass ex mendo sheriff Tom Allman yelling at the willits rodeo grounds

Permanently on Monitoring
Guest
Permanently on Monitoring
1 year ago
Reply to  Horrified

Hey, even old pensioned Sheriffs are allowed a drunk Rodeo…
It’s OK, he’s retired… If I live to 75 it’s on: Wine, Weed and Warren Zevon…
Until then, I stay sober, be safe, and don’t worry, he was armed and ready to protect…

Last edited 1 year ago
deadmanwalkingwmd
Member
deadmanwalkingwmd
1 year ago

Bravo, Timothy!

P. LAI
Guest
P. LAI
1 year ago

thank you timothy skaggs for being an international goodwill ambassador and bringing positive media attention to our area through your act of kindness