Groton -A regular customer came into the Mañana Cafe earlier this month to buy six $50 gift certificates to give to active duty and veteran service members and first responders. What happened next was something of a snowball effect.

Justin Primeaux, one of the partners in the restaurant, donated four more gift cards. Two hours later, a young Navy sailor who comes in once a week for dinner walked into the restaurant. Thinking he was "the perfect guy" to give a gift card to, Primeaux began telling him the story of the earlier gift cards gesture. But, Primeaux said, before he could offer the young sailor a gift card, "he says throw another $200 on there."

At that point, Primeaux decided to start a free raffle for the gift cards. He announced the raffle via the restaurant's Facebook page, and that post has received more than 20,000 views so far.

The next morning, a local Navy veteran, another regular, sent her husband over with $100 for two more gift cards. That afternoon, Primeaux received a call from a man in Virginia, who had seen the post about the raffle on his niece's Facebook page. The man, who has never stepped foot in the restaurant and never served in the military, donated $100 for two more gift cards.

Next, Primeaux received a call from the general manager of Taco Bell in Groton, who had heard about the raffle.

The general manager told Primeaux the endeavor was something that he'd always wanted to do and offered to give Primeaux gift cards to Taco Bell for the raffle. He said that he would reach out to the other managers that he knows in the food business and suggested Primeaux reach out to other local businesses to make it a community event.

Primeaux reached out to Chester's Barbecue in Groton, which donated five $20 gift certificates to its restaurant. The Rolling Tomato in Groton also is going to donate a gift card, and so is Christopher's Cafe in Groton.

With contributions from customers and other local businesses, Primeaux has received 22 $50 gift cards, worth a total of $1,100.

The raffle is open to any active duty and veteran service member and first responder. Those interested in entering the raffle must do so in person at Mañana Cafe, 970 Poquonnock Road, Groton. Primeaux said service members and first responders not in uniform just need to show proper identification to enter the raffle.

The drawing will be held at 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve, and winners do not need to be present to receive their gift card.

"It's so nice to see the community step up in a way that I never expected," Primeaux said.

He plans to make the raffle an annual event. The only hang-up: figuring out a name for the initiative.

j.bergman@theday.com

Twitter: JuliaSBergman