Rene - Capitol Hill - It felt so sneaky - like leaving flowers for someone or an Easter Basket! What a blast!

So I finally got a chance to do the whole “In Line Behind Me” thing! The cards have been in my wallet for a few weeks now. The lady behind me was trying to decide what she wanted, so I took the opportunity to hand two cards to the barista. I’m sure the lady that I paid for was blessed, but the look on the Barista’s face was PRICELESS! She looked at the cards, looked at me, looked at the lady and asked “are you sure?” I said yes and explained that one of the cards was for her. It was FANTASTIC! It felt so sneaky - like leaving flowers for someone or an Easter Basket! What a blast!

Lisa, IL - We usually get a nice blast of the air horn

We always do something like this when we are on the tollway traveling to see my family. We usually pay for the 18 wheelers that are behind us in the toll booth. We usually get a nice blast of the air horn or them blinking their lights to show their appreciation. It is a nice way to spread happiness in such a stressful area. So many folks are stressed out or in a hurry while traveling or using tollways.

Barbara & Jim Sarasota, Fl - Chocolate chip anniversary cakes

Today was our 45th wedding anniversary. We were struggling already as Jim was recently discharged from the hospital after some extensive back surgery and a long, painful recovery period. We are caregivers for my 86-year-old mother who is getting ready to have abdominal surgery for a cancerous lesion and has many other health problems. LAST year on our 44th anniversary morning we were shocked to find we had been awarded surprise and long-term custody of a step grandson who had been removed from our ex daughter-in-law’s care. So, had not been able to celebrate last year and were hopeful for a nice, quiet celebration THIS year.

Day started with a phone call regarding a margin call from our stock broker due to the falling market. Then Jim awoke with severe pain and redness in his foot. Called the doctor who ordered emergency MRI and visit. Diagnosed with MRSA of his foot and leg, a probable postop/hospital related super infection….. that frightful Methacillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus. We were given prescriptions for three antibiotics to fight it, instructions for complete bed rest (or hospitalization if we can’t follow THOSE orders). So, we went to the drug store to spend lots of $$ for the three antibiotics to fight the super infection, to the bank to get $$ to cover the stock margin call, decided to swing through Kentucky Fried Chicken to get a bite for lunch as we obviously would not be going out for the steak dinner we had planned with our family and friends.

Had to wait at the pickup window and was telling the nice young man that this was our anniversary and we had not planned to celebrate in this manner with doctors, prescriptions and a KFC lunch. He was very sympathetic and kind, wished us a happy anniversary anyway and congratulated us on our long and happy marriage. Then, what a kind and totally unexpected gesture… he handed us a large, round chocolate chip cake! Said it was his anniversary gift to us and he wished us a very happy evening together even though our plans had changed; reminded us that we had each other and our love. Certainly put things in perspective for us and brought tears to our eyes that a total stranger could be so kind and caring. Reaffirms your faith that there ARE truly fine young people in the world today! Can’t wait to pass on to another a similar compassionate deed!

Jan L. - after I sold my engagement ring to get money

My friend’s divorce left her with a house she couldn’t sell and a deadbeat father who pays just $6 per week in child support. She was forced to find a job, care for her daughter 100%, refinance, beg for help from her father, and try to make ends meet. She gets free lunch for her daughter, energy assistance, shops in the food pantry once a month, and has state-spnsored health insurance for her and her daughter. She works hard all day, comes home to greet her daughter after school, then stresses about how she’s going to pay the bills.

While there’s so much assistance with food and necessities, it doesn’t cover all of life’s needs. She still has credit cards to pay, a car to pay for, gas to put in the car, car insurance, home taxes, etc.

Here’s the story: Once again, her cable and internet would be turned off for non-payment. She was going to live without tv for 4 days, over the weekend, until she got her paycheck — a mere $600. She was planning to pay $160 to get it turned back on. I decided it would help her a lot to not have to pay that money so I called 3 cable companies until I found the right one. Turns out, she had 2 payments due for a total of nearly $400, and the $160 would always leave her one payment behind. I went ahead and paid the total balance so she could get back on track with them next month.

I’m going through a divorce myself, paying thousands of dollars in lawyer’s bills and begging my ex to pay child support. But, after I sold my engagement ring to get money, I thought to myself, the least I can do is share this with my friend who is also struggling. All the girl has in her life is her daughter and a little tv for enjoyment.

There was no question.

Tereesa: Federal Way, WA - share the experience with my 4 year old son

I was at the Starbuck’s in Federal Way on March 2nd and the gal in front of me bought my order. I really appreciate the thought and was sad I couldn’t thank her for her generosity. The neat thing was I was able to share the experience with my 4 year old son because I had also order a butter horn pastry for him as a treat because I was picking up the kids late from daycare due to a dentist appointment I had just come from. It was fun to share with him about the generosity that was given and how it made me feel. To the gal who bought my drink, Thank you so much! I will defiantly be paying this forward today, March 5th at the same Starbuck’s. What a great experience.

You may remove whatever amount you’d like from the collection plate

At least once a year our local Unitarian Universalist Fellowship begins the sermon by passing the collection plate saying that it is an annonymous contribution and asking that the congregation give cash, and generously, for a worthy cause.

The sermon theme then is about some form of giving and making the world a friendlier, better or more benevolent place. The congregation is asked if they would like to participate in a pay-it-forward project. If so, the members are instructed to think about what they might personally do to pay it forward. Time is given for the congregation to think it over.

When the sermon and discussion (we always have a congregational response) is completed, the collection plates which now contain the offering collected at the beginning of the service, are passed back through the congregation. The congregation, if they wish to participate, is given this instruction: “you may remove whatever amount you’d like from the collection plate to use in some worthy endeavor. You are then to send an email or note saying what you did with the money.”

Some past projects examples are: buying a holiday dinner for someone; buying library books to donate to the library; buying an ticket for someone to a concert they might not otherwise attend; buying groceries for a needy family; donations of food to the local animal shelter; gift cards for essential items; tickets to the local children’s museum and so on. The ideas are endless and the practice is just plain pass-it-forward feel-good fun.

The Unitarian Universalist pledge is to “make the world a better place” and this is part of that mission.

OneWordsmith.blogspot.com

Judi Oakland, CA - encouraged me to do the same in my business

I have been the recipient of a “pay it forward” experience at a popular bakery in my city - Bake Sale Betty in Oakland, Ca. It is the policy of the bakery to regularly give patrons a free baked good (not a tiny sample). They do it frequent enough so that is it part of their goodwill, but not all the time so that one expects it or takes it for granted. And it is not based on the dollar amount that people are spending - sometimes they give out free products when you are standing in line to get inside, sometimes it is included with your order, sometimes it is when you are sitting outside at one of their tables eating your pastries.
 
I hope that by sending this to you, it is a “pay it forward” for them. Also their business practice has encouraged me to do the same in my business. We don’t sell an edible item ( we sell used mannequins) but we’ve been so impressed with Bake Sale Betty, we often give our customers a little something extra. It creates wonderful goodwill
 
Judi

www.MannequinMadness.com
We have the perfect body for you to buy or rent,
for your window, trade-show or special event!

Sahara of Heart is Hot - trackable hearts and their stories

My business is solely based on the concept of Pay Love Forward through trackable recycled glass hearts. Each heart is engraved with its own personal number. The idea is to purchase a heart and pay that love forward to someone (give them the heart). The recipient logs in the website and can share a story of the heart and what it means to them.

Then again the heart is passed forward to the next person…and the chain of connection begins. People can literally track and follow their hearts as they travel globally on the site, both visually through maps and the stories shared with each passing.

You can learn more at www.HeartisHot.com

Debi in Houston, TX - child with lifelong illness

Lisa H.- with credit cards, cash, and random receipts and papers

A few years ago, I was getting out of a taxi and I found a wallet on the back seat, stuffed with credit cards, cash, and random receipts and papers. I took it home with me, and tried looking up the name on the driver’s license, but the person was unlisted. I know how desperate I would feel if I lost my wallet, so I called the local police station and they told me that I would have to drop off the wallet myself and that it would go into their lost-and-found log; they do not reach out to residents regarding found wallets. After looking inside, I noticed a boarding pass from a recent flight on Continental Airlines with a OnePass Frequent Flier number on it. I logged onto the Continental Airlines website and typed in the number; the person’s preferred means for contact showed up with an email address. I emailed the woman and she met me at work with a bouquet of flowers. With a little sleuthing, I tracked her down and made her very happy.

Lisa