Should my daughter go to a co-workers farewell party if she can't afford the full contribution?

She is a student in NYC. She makes very little as part timer and pays her living expenses such as rent with student loan money. A co-worker at her part time job was leaving and she was invited to the party. They asked her for $35.00. She had twenty on her and only $60.00 in her checking for the week. She advised the person who invited her of her dilemma. They told her to come anyway but were obviously displeased that she did not offer the full freight. What do you think she should have done. She felt damned if she went and damned if she didn't go.