WOODBRIDGE – A group of autistic children and their teachers got a generous gift during lunch at Jose Tejas Restaurant – an anonymous stranger paid their $485 check.

The group of 25 students who attend autism classes at Matthew Jago School in Sewaren made the trip to the Route 1 restaurant in Iselin with teachers and other staff members on May 6 to celebrate Cinco de Mayo.

"At the end of our meal, the manager came over and told us our entire $485 bill was paid for by a fellow patron," teacher Jeannette Gruskowski told the Home News Tribune.

The customer wished to remain anonymous, Gruskowski told the newspaper.

The patron “told the manager she has a grandchild with special needs,” Gruskowski said.

Matthew Jago School teaches children who have special needs.

Each child had brought money to the restaurant to help pay the bill. The money will now be used for another trip at another time, the teacher told the Home News Tribune.

The restaurant manager described the customer as a frequent patron.

When they got back to school, the children created a large thank you card for the donor and staff posted a note on the school website.

The thank-you card is posted in the restaurant, where the children hope she will see it.

“There are no words to express how touched and grateful we are to you,” the card reads. “Your act of generosity will be embedded in our hearts.”