Stories Matching 'Coffee Shop/Restaurants' Tag (27)Environment Research New Ideas Public Transportation Children Inspiration Teachers Seniors OnThe Road Grocery Store Money Workplace Animals At Home Anonymous Friendship Kindness Kindness of Strangers Courage Small Acts of Kindness Health and Wellness Generosity Sharing Family Respect Neighbors Reconciliation Smile Cards Advice Good Samaritan Giving Money Giving Ability School Church Youth Collective Arts Creative Kindness Random Act of Kindness Homeless Travel/Vacation College/University Holidays Internet Birthday Sharing Food Emergency/Disaster Community Relationships Paying-It-Forward Coffee Shop/Restaurants $100 Kindness Idea Smile Decks Thank You Serendipity Pay-it-Forward Coffee Shop Chain in Birmingham--posted by missdre, on May 3, 2010
comments (12) | email this | print | permalink Pay-it-Forward Coffee Karma--posted by Andrew, on May 10, 2010
comments (16) | email this | print | permalink Spreading Love on Labor Day--posted by kitsi, on May 22, 2010
comments (18) | email this | print | permalink A Gracious Gesture on an Incredibly Special Day--posted by kjoberk, on Jun 3, 2010
comments (21) | email this | print | permalink Hot Chocolate And Two Equals--posted by Namaste, on Jul 3, 2010 Last week, I went to work very early as I had a lot to do, and early mornings, before others get to work are the times I can be most productive. I arrived at the Embarcadero station in San Francisco from the East Bay around 5:30am and as I surfaced from underground, I checked my BlackBerry and noticed the next SF Muni bus was in 10 minutes. Instead of waiting around for 10 minutes in the cold, I felt inspired to go buy this (possibly homeless?) man in a wheelchair something from the Starbucks. I had seen him before sitting outside in his ... comments (16) | email this | print | permalink My Nephew's Birthday Adventure In Paying It Forward--posted by shanwills, on Jul 31, 2010
comments (12) | email this | print | permalink A Humbling Experience in Receiving Random Kindness--posted by bob.gelinas, on Aug 15, 2010
comments (14) | email this | print | permalink Goodness Begets More Goodness: How a Muffin Changed Our Day--posted by twiceblessed, on Aug 12, 2010
comments (11) | email this | print | permalink An Extra Special Restaurant Surprise--posted by beastly, on Sep 2, 2010 I recently had the chance to have a meal with some close friends who don't live in my city. The choice of restaurant was a pretty fancy one known for triple digit bills. We had a wonderful time together at the restaurant and approaching the end of the meal, I excused myself. I silently headed towards the waiter and asked him to charge the meal to my credit card, but to also not tell anyone that I did it. I signed for the meal and and quickly went back to my seat, no one the wiser for my trip. When it ... comments (18) | email this | print | permalink Ripples From A Smile Card Gesture--posted by cyntcha, on Aug 26, 2010
comments (12) | email this | print | permalink A Volcanic Eruption of Kindness in London--posted by JellyLegs, on Sep 9, 2010
comments (23) | email this | print | permalink Biggest Drive-thru Smile Ever--posted by iferlamb, on Oct 23, 2010 Last night my husband and I were on the way to a show. We were both hungry and wanted to grab a quick bite on our way there, so we swung through a Jack-N-the Box drive-thru and placed our order. When we got up to the window the lady smiled at me (which is sometimes rare) and asked how I was doing while she was collected our money for the food. I replied, "Fine, and how are you?" She went to get our order ready and I asked my husband to pass me my "Drive-thru Smil bag". He handed it to me ... comments (11) | email this | print | permalink An Extra Special Holiday Gift--posted by mel777, on Dec 16, 2010 Many years ago, I was a struggling single mom starting up a new business. It was the holiday season, and my boyfriend and I had decided that we would splurge for just one evening, and go out to dinner. We went to the Red Lobster and it got me thinking about my college waitressing days and how much I enjoyed working during that time: people shopping, feeling joyful, and tipping big. I was in the holiday spirit and wanted to give the waitress a big tip, though I knew it wasn't going to be a big Christmas for us that year. ... comments (10) | email this | print | permalink An Opportunity to Connect, to Love--posted by A & P, on Sep 30, 2010
comments (15) | email this | print | permalink Kindness Ripples Spread Through Arby's--posted by carol.s.dorman, on Oct 7, 2010 As I stood in a busy lunch line at Arby's I was becoming increasingly worried I would be late getting back to the office. A grandmother and her grandson were keeping the only available cashier busy. The woman had difficulty with all the choices and, after finally placing the order, became very flustered trying to find her cash or her credit card. While this was going on, the cashier had the most gentle and benevolent expression on his face, never once making the woman feel under pressure. His mood transformed my own. I caught his eye and quietly indicated I would pay for the ... comments (9) | email this | print | permalink Doubling the Gifting--posted by pkiracofe, on Nov 27, 2010 Having experienced the joys of giving small gifts to others through regular random acts of kindness, I have increasingly questioned whether I was truly being generous or whether I was seeking ego-gratification or some sort of karmic credit to justify living an otherwise ordinary life. To test this concept, I asked myself if I would be just as generous if the acts were truly anonymous, and I would receive no credit. In seeking out those opportunities, an even more interesting challenge arose - providing random strangers with the opportunity to gift acts of kindness. The first experience was as a restaurant in ... comments (22) | email this | print | permalink Small Change Can Make A Big Change--posted by Nesquick86, on Dec 18, 2010
comments (31) | email this | print | permalink A Small Gesture That Made My Day--posted by PrincessAungie, on Dec 30, 2010 My husband, my four-month old daughter and I set out on a five day driving journey from California to Washington. We had to stop frequently because oure little one needed to stretch from the car seat. One of our stops, once we crossed the Oregon border, was at a Black Bear Diner. Walking towards the front door we noticed a gentleman standing to one side. He was seriously dishelved, without shoes and wearing tattered clothing. We passed right by him and opened the restaurant door. Then something told me to go back. Holding my four-month old daughter I turned around and said to the gentleman, ... comments (20) | email this | print | permalink A Litte Extra Gratitude at Dairy Queen--posted by brighteyes, on Jan 18, 2011
comments (17) | email this | print | permalink Paying it Forward with Flowers and Dessert--posted by Popsicle80, on Feb 1, 2011 For several weeks, I had been meaning to get my wife flowers. Everyday I would leave for the office in the morning reminding myself to get flowers on the way home, but would always forget. Finally one day, I decided to repeat the word, “flowers” (as though it were a mantra) as I drove home to make sure I remembered. It turned out that that day the flowers were on sale, two bouquets for the price of one. While I was at the store, I came across two neatly folded $20 dollar bills with no one around. I picked up the bills feeling like ... comments (11) | email this | print | permalink Coffee, Diners and Smile Cards--posted by Spoonerism, on Feb 3, 2011 Peapod and I just returned from a trip across the pond to see her parents and some of her friends back home in America. We had a great time, being somewhat spoiled by her folks :-) While we were away we kept our eyes open for opportunities and managed to leave a little kindness behind us on the way. Coffee and coffee houses seem even bigger over the water than they do in the UK, so one idea we had was to buy some $10 coffee cards and give them out to people as we wandered around the town. We quickly earmarked ... comments (12) | email this | print | permalink Even Small Kindness Is Never Forgotten--posted by Zevelina, on Mar 5, 2011
comments (15) | email this | print | permalink A Little Bit of Extra Warmth On A Rainy Night--posted by vickey, on Mar 17, 2011 One very cold and rainy night my husband and I were in fast food restaurant. Just as we were about to begin our meal, a man walked in. He was completely soaked from the rain and went straight into the men's room. I watched him go by, then I said to my husband, "That man has had nothing to eat in a long time." When the guy came out of the men's room he just found a seat, not going anywhere near the food counter. I guessed he didn't have any money for food and simply wanted to dry off for a ... comments (26) | email this | print | permalink A Journey Of Love--posted by Miclo, on Aug 2, 2011
comments (18) | email this | print | permalink More than Lunch and a Bowl of Soup--posted by wayfarer, on Jun 18, 2012
comments (13) | email this | print | permalink Believing in Kindness--posted by whitby98, on Jun 21, 2012 I was on a long drive this past weekend and stopped for a rest break. I noticed a man in a wheelchair sitting by the stop sign. He was holding a sign that read, "trying to make it home for the holidays". I quickly dismissed it because I had no cash to give him. I watched as people drove by and either ignored him or stared at him like he was a curiosity of sorts. I felt really badly for him. I started to drive away but turned around and asked him if he was hungry. For some reason, I seem to ... comments (18) | email this | print | permalink Coffee on the Wall--posted by Rajni, on Mar 31, 2013
comments (10) | email this | print | permalink
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Birmingham area coffee shop customers perform random acts of kindness, pick up others' tabs
Posted by Rahkia Nance--Birmingham News April 13, 2009 6:15 AM
Random acts of kindness are popping up at Birmingham area coffee shops, as customers are anonymously picking up others' tabs.
Sharon Dierking was at a Starbucks on U.S. 280, placing an order for a mocha frappucino. When she pulled up to the window, the barista told her the driver in the car ahead of her had paid for her order.
"I was completely dumbfounded," Dierking said, "but I was thrilled."
Dierking wanted to return the kindness to another, but ... 
Every day I go into the same coffee shop on the way to work. It's part of a large chain here in the UK.
I am new to the anonymous act of kindness concept. I came across it recently, and a few weeks ago I worked up the courage to ask the Barista if I could pay for a coffee for someone later that day. He looked at me kind of strangely and said "okay" and then put the money in the till. I walked out feeling doubtful that this would ever happen (and privately thinking he might just add the ... 
On Labor Day last year my husband went out for a meal at a restaurant. After we had finished, I asked him if he'd ever given a waiter/waitress a 100% tip. He gave me this funny look (probably because he was thinking about how much our dinner added up to be!) and said he hadn't.
I said that since it was Labor Day and our waitress was working this holiday, it would be fun to give her a 100% tip and see what her reaction would be. He told me I was crazy but agreed anyway!
Our dinner bill came to $32.18 so that's the exact tip we ... 
About a year ago, my husband had just come back from a 7 month tour in Iraq. My daughter and I had gone up to see him get off the bus at 6am, and he didn't get there until about 7-7:30am.
After a couple hours of work he had to do, we were ready to go home. On the way home, my husband suggested that we go to International House of Pancakes (IHoP) to grab something to eat. We didn't have that much money left, as it was right before payday, but I decided it would be worth it anyway, ... 
I want to say thanks to all of you for your special notes and ideas, after I sent my request for 'gifting acts of kindness ideas' for my nephew's birthday last month. I was excited to hear from some of you with suggestions. Pancho suggested that I give him my attention -- as the greatest gift one human being can give another -- yes! Nipun helped out by sharing his own story, and got me thinking further about how I could do a kindness tag, Idaho style. I gave that kid some super-duper hugs, not to mention every bit of attention I could ... 
Many of the stories that I read on HelpOthers are all about helping other people, doing acts of kindness for someone else. Often times it's easy to forget that no matter who you are, you're not always the giver - sometimes it's we who receive that random act of kindness. When it happens, it almost feels odd to some extent that you are on the other end - receiving vs. giving. In some way, it can be quite a humbling experience.
And so my story begins ....
My daughter and I had gone into Subway one evening to get sandwiches for ... 
Four of us walk into a coffee shop -- Jessica, Russell, Michelin and I. We're all super committed to birthing a gift-economy world view. Like all activities rooted in generosity, our conversation also takes on an escalating charge as we speak about the nature of things -- "Goodness just begets more goodness. Lots of people don't trust that, because sometimes it takes time, but sooner or later, goodness does beget more goodness."
Right then, the waitress comes over and offers us a bran-muffin as a gift. Completely stunned, we look at her silently begging for an explanation. With a smile ... 
I run a hotel in London. During the problems with the now infamous ash cloud, I spent the morning listening to people calling in to a radio show on London's LBC radio station to tell their stories of woe....some had missed flights for holidays, some couldn't get home following the volcanic eruption.
The story that struck me the most was a call from a man named Peter who had just gotten married the previous weekend to Maz. They were due to leave for their honeymoon to the Dominican Republic but could not due to the ash cloud. When James O'Brien, the radio presenter, ... 
It's 5:15am at the local Starbucks. I'm standing in line and the person ahead of me in line is putting together what seems to be a large order.
"Can I have some bagels, donuts, oh and some brownies too, along with this coffee order."
My curiosity is peaked, and she chimes to the counter person, "Thank you, the order is for the nurses at Sloan-Kettering Cancer society because they've been doing a great job taking care of my Dad." I tend to believe that people share things in order to be self expressed, and to be heard, to have their expression ... 
I was in the line at Dunkin Donuts. The couple in front of me had ordered their food and stepped to the side. I proceeded to order mine. Quick and simple. Then I noticed a young man. I could tell was not having the best of luck and it showed on his face.
He walked in carrying his belongings in a torn plastic bag. The couple ahead of me turned, looked, then turned away. The lady grabbed her purse tighter and her husband quickly stood in front of her.
I moved over so he could order. He looked at the board, checked his ... 
As I was standing in line for my secret weekend indulgence, a medium dairy queen cone. I watched the two teens behind the counter working frantically to get through the long line of hungry customers.
Usually there are one or two customers but today, to my surprise, there were more than ten. So many, in fact, that I wondered if it was worth the wait.
There was a tip jar in the middle of the counter and though most orders were for three or more concoctions no one was leaving a tip.
The order before mine was a big one! Eight "Blizzards," all ... 
No matter how much money I don’t have, I always try to think positive. Sometimes, I hate it when I start thinking about money because it brings me down, makes me sad how others have more, and are doing more. When I was younger, I always wondered why money was so important, there wasn’t anything I needed. It’s good to be kid, not having to worry about responsibilities. But as everyone gets older, of course that changes. I work almost everyday, but it’s still not enough, that’s what is frustrating - it’s never enough.
Right now I have to sacrifice ... | Home | About Us | Our Friends | Get Involved | Contact us |  |  |  |