As owner Marcus Herring looks on, he happily greets each customer who decides to chow at the take-out grill on West Thomas Street.

Starting Monday, Herring will give back to loyal customers in his own unique way, through cold scoops of ice cream. The giveaway will end on Aug. 22, and whereas local residents normally would pay $1.49 for one scoop, it will cost them nothing.

This is the first time the grill has done this, but Herring said he hopes the gesture serves as a model for other local businesses.

“It’s already unheard of to get something free out here,” Herring said. “Under the right circumstances, any business could do this. It’s just the question is their heart into it.”

A long-time Rocky Mount resident, Herring opened Cuz O’s, short for “cousin,” in January 2008, after working at QVC for eight years. He said he hopes the giveaway teaches young people to help their fellow man and never forget where they came from.

“It’s a tough time around here for a lot of folk,” Herring said. “With people getting locked up and families losing work, hope is a really slim thing to come by nowadays. So, here’s a chance to literally do something cool for the community.”

Other local entrepreneurs also have aligned with Herring to help spread the importance of giving back.

“Health and freedom in the community” are two things local bail bondsman Stanley Griffin owner of Big Grif Bail Bonding said he wants to project to local residents through the service.

Griffin said he will visit day cares and other local businesses to hand out punch cards to spread the message about the effort. The six-day service will help out residents who are short in the pockets but want something quick and sweet to eat during the hot weather, Griffin said.

“In this current time, businesses are open today and gone tomorrow,“ Griffin said. “The importance of a dollar bill often makes owners forget it’s the public that’s actually keeping them around. So, we are more than grateful.”

After serving more than 16 years as a police officer and more than two years as a bail bondsman, Griffin said he views the giveaway as another form of community service.

“I realize the fact no patron is supposed to visit my business because of this,” Griffin said. “But we should be a community of givers. All of this was given to me by God and the help of others.”

Herring and Griffin also worked with each other last Christmas to give free turkey dinners to local customers.

The grill would have garnered more than $6,000 in ice cream sales if there was a charge. But Griffin said the effort is not a matter of dollars and cents.

“We’re just trying to do our part by thanking the same people who have helped us,” Griffin said.