Stories Matching 'Paying-It-Forward' Tag (78)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 On a Kindness Mission with my Smile Cards--posted by insanestar, on Dec 14, 2010
comments (27) | email this | print | permalink Homeschooled in Kindness--posted by redrady1, on Dec 23, 2010 We homeschool our children so we sometimes have the flexibility of adjusting our schedule to fit in special things. Today, as part of our 'Kindness Klub' we decided we would head out for an afternoon of giving back. Each of my kids chose from a list of kind things that they wanted to do. I ran down to the local store, picked up a few potted flowers and attached Smile Cards. We then put a few dollars in a plastic bag with a Smile Card. Before we set off on our mission, we read a verse from the Bible about kindness and said a prayer that ... comments (10) | email this | print | permalink Sometimes It Just Takes A Penny--posted by keymaker, on Dec 28, 2010
comments (25) | email this | print | permalink A Circle of Kindness From Our Neighbors--posted by Lynne1, on Jan 8, 2011 Last year my family was moving from New Hampshire to Washington State. In the process of selling our house, giving away most of our belongings (we were moving to a much smaller house and didn't need most of it) and saying goodbye to all the friends we'd made over the past 22 years there; our 27-year-old daughter, who was living with us, became progressively more ill, eventually becoming unable to sit up or walk. Three weeks before we were supposed to close on our house, she was diagnosed with both Lyme disease and a brain tumor, which was pressing on her brainstem. ... comments (23) | email this | print | permalink Smile Cards in Action at School--posted by success, on Jan 14, 2011 I've mainly been using my smile cards in paying for the person behind me at the Burger King and McDonald's drive-thrus that I go to. However, sometimes I find myself yearning to be more creative with them. I have over 250 of them to distribute since I "made" my own and ordered them through a website that prints and ships out custom cards. I have decided to bring kindness to the staff and students at the school where I work. I will keep my eyes and ears open to see whose day could use a smile. I'm sure I'll get to ... comments (15) | email this | print | permalink Pay-It-Forward New Year Resolution--posted by flowerpower, on Jan 15, 2011 2010 is finally over, so why not make the resolution to pay-it-foward? Some one very near and dear to me is very inspired after watching the movie 'Pay-it-Foward', and we both want to make it a goal to spread the seeds of loving kindness in 2011. It would be most appretiated if you join us, and follow the ripples :) If you're reading this let this be your new years resolution! To do one kind act to three people, and have those three people do one kind act to another three people...and have it have a chain reaction. If we can do this in ... comments (17) | email this | print | permalink A Snack That Turned Into Balloons--posted by Spoonerism, on Feb 12, 2011 Often we do little acts of kindness and can’t really know what happens next… the people who benefit from the act return to their lives and we return to ours! Our paths may never cross again. But that’s not the case when a member of HelpOthers does a kind act to another member of HelOthers! Here we can chart the ripples as we guide the kindness on its way! Here’s one such story. You may have read Aurelia’s post about making Chex Mix for her family, or Bluebell’s post about receiving a snack from a friend in the US. Well I sent some ... comments (8) | email this | print | permalink Paying-It-Forward In "The Chain Of Life"--posted by h.c.preston, on Feb 24, 2011
comments (16) | email this | print | permalink Making Over A Room With Love And Kindness--posted by etseth, on Mar 3, 2011
comments (16) | email this | print | permalink Overwhelmed By My First Random Act Of Kindness--posted by clnemeth, on Mar 26, 2011
comments (34) | email this | print | permalink Overwhelmed by Unexpected Loving Kindness--posted by Jimpa, on Apr 1, 2011
comments (25) | email this | print | permalink Paying Forward My Gratitude--posted by dragonmyst77, on Apr 23, 2011 When I was 23 years old I was in a dangerous relationship with the man who was my financee at the time. I was being physically and verbally abused on a daily basis. I was financially tied to him (after he spent all my savings to pay his debts) but I wanted to be free! For the longest time I was too embarrassed to tell my mother about the situation. She had warned me about him. But, eventually, I worked up the courage to tell her and she sent me the money I needed to leave. Before the money arrived he found out what I ... comments (19) | email this | print | permalink The Excitement of 'Pay It Forward'--posted by keriann, on May 26, 2011 I have been sending out smile cards with little gifts around my work place for about six months. Since I place the gifts in our interoffice mailbox, I never know who gets them or see their reactions. As I place gifts in the mail box I imagine people's reactions and it makes me happy to know that maybe I am making someone's day a little brighter. Today I got to witness the reaction. Apparently, one of the little gifts I left in the mailbox this morning made it's way to a co-worker of mine. Today's gifts was a little cloth kleenex holder than you ... comments (13) | email this | print | permalink A Beautiful Act of Pay-It-Forward--posted by Smiley70, on Jun 9, 2011 I truly believe in the power of paying it forward and I have always gotten enjoyment and fulfilment from it. Last year, I was waiting at the traffic lights on my way to work, when my car was rammed from behind. After pulling over, a flustered young man admitted his fault and proceed to apologise and explain why he had not been ‘in the moment’ whilst driving. He told me that he had just been evicted and that his insurance had just run out. I could feel his genuine stress, and as he gave me his details and promised to find a way ... comments (28) | email this | print | permalink A Baby Girl's First Act of Kindness--posted by sonrisa, on Jun 16, 2011
comments (24) | email this | print | permalink Sometimes One Act of Kindness Goes A Long Way--posted by dgrav, on Jun 21, 2011
comments (21) | email this | print | permalink The Vegan Cookie Muse--posted by greggie, on Jul 19, 2011 I've been practicing at least one intentional act of kindness a day recently. Today, I had a vegan, wrapped cookie in my pocket, courtesy of some friends last night who requested it be paid forward, just itching to find its recipient. :). It's an interesting thing, to observe what thoughts the mind tends towards on a walk in the streets, and equally interesting to observe how it focuses when carrying an intention like, "Whose day can I make, and how??" I was walking through the subway, and passed by a musician strumming his guitar. It was no extraordinary sight, but suddenly I ... comments (19) | email this | print | permalink Remembering an Anonymous Friend, 15 Years Later--posted by hrjamest, on Oct 20, 2011 I had just graduated college and couldnt find a job in Los Angeles. I ended up moving to Las Vegas but left my wife and two kids behind. I missed them all week, and I went home on most weekends to see them. Most of the time I rented a car because it was hard to get my beat up car over the pass to get to and from Vegas. Well, one time I decided to save money, and I took my car. It made it to California, but Sunday on the way back to Vegas it conked out in the broiling ... comments (22) | email this | print | permalink Top 10 Kindness Stories of 2011--posted by HelpOthers, on Jan 1, 2012
comments (12) | email this | print | permalink On Passing Around Smiles...--posted by KP, on Jan 23, 2012
comments (37) | email this | print | permalink A Secret Handshake Puts It Right--posted by hasifa, on Feb 7, 2012 Yesterday was my step-mom’s birthday. I haven’t been home in a long time so I wanted to stop by the house to see her on this special day. I have been struggling financially so I was dreading the long trip. Gas is so expensive nowadays! Anyway, I filled my tank with gas and set off. I stopped at the shopping mall and found a present. It was the perfect gift and I knew she would love it. But when I got to the cashier my card was declined! I did not have enough money in my account to pay for the gift! So ... comments (16) | email this | print | permalink Proof That What Goes Around Comes Around--posted by Namaste, on Mar 13, 2012
comments (22) | email this | print | permalink Secret Agents Spreading Smiles!--posted by MakeSomeoneSmile, on Apr 19, 2012
comments (22) | email this | print | permalink An Surprise Gift--posted by cappjoc99, on Apr 21, 2012
comments (12) | email this | print | permalink Top 10 Stories of 2012 Countdown - Story #10 - 177 Messages of Kindness--posted by arathi, on Dec 22, 2012
comments (44) | email this | print | permalink Celebrate Pay It Forward Day, April 26th--posted by HelpOthers, on Apr 25, 2012
comments (14) | email this | print | permalink Top 10 Stories of 2012 - Story # 6 Learning Kindness From My Father--posted by prasiddhi, on Dec 26, 2012
comments (11) | email this | print | permalink Pizza and Generosity Delivered--posted by Tara23, on May 19, 2012 I received my "smile" cards in the mail on Friday and was thinking all week what my first "act" was going to be. There is a local pizzeria that my family frequents, and it gave me an idea. My 10-year-old daughter and I went there Saturday afternoon. I asked the person working if someone had called in an order for pick up or delivery. He checked and he said that there was a delivery going out in a few minutes for a party at a home. The order was for two pizza's and a few slices on the side. I asked him ... comments (12) | email this | print | permalink A Gallon Of Gas And A Gift Card--posted by DriftOff2Dream, on May 15, 2012
comments (18) | email this | print | permalink The Cab Driver On A Rainy Day--posted by lovelightbug, on May 26, 2012
comments (17) | email this | print | permalink
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Meredith's Letter From the Post Office (May 18, 2013)One Candle at a Time (May 14, 2013) Found on the NYC Subway (May 11, 2013) My Smile Deck Week (May 11, 2013) Girl Gets Up At 5AM To Decorate Her Entire Street (May 9, 2013) Idea of the Week Corporate Compassion.Read more in our weekly newsletter. Need help with ideas? Ask our kindness experts! |
My second lot of Smile Cards arrived last week, and I have been trying to think of uses for them. Today, before I headed into town for a job interview, I decided to grab a handful and try to use as many as I could throughout the day.
The weather was awful, it was pouring with rain, and I would've loved to buy umbrellas for people. But being unemployed, I didn't have the money to spare. So instead, I decided to think of free or really cheap ways to make people smile -- after all, even the little things count. I knew I'd also ... 
On the street, outside a restaurant door, my wife and I are chatting with friend about some good news in her life. Right then, a woman comes up to me and asks, "I'm so sorry to interrupt, but I'm really hungry and I'm wondering if you could spare some money?"
In our city, there are many pan-handlers, so I typically would just share a kind word and move on. But somehow I feel moved to do something this time. Perhaps it was because we were just conversing about some good events happening in our friend's life and I had a sublte sense ... 
In June 2009 the New Jersey Star-Ledger ran a series called "The Chain of Life" about kidney donation chains. These are enabled by one non-related donor giving a kidney to a recipient whose donor (usually a relative) was not compatible. That non-compatible donor then donates to someone else in the same position and thus four or six people could receive new kidneys.
I decided I could do that. I contacted the National Kidney Registry and started a six month process that ended with my donating a kidney to a doctor who had been on home dialysis for two years. I didn't ... 
I wrote earlier about my gift home makeover project - Etseth and I would like to tell you about a very special family that I have recently done a makeover for!
The mum of this family, was a victim of severe domestic abuse 12 years ago. After years of the being subjected to violence, she summoned enough courage to leave, she moved from England to Wales with her three children and moved into a woman’s refuge. Further down the line, she met someone, got married and they eventually had two more children.
Their two oldest have moved out so they are left with three children who ... 
I just received my first random act of kindness and it has left me feeling really overwhelmed.
Just last night my husband and I sat down to discuss our finances. Since his divorce 5 years ago and my job loss 18 months ago things have been going steadily down hill. We are living on overdraft, borrowing from Peter to pay Paul and we came to the sad conclusion that we will have to sell his prized 52 Chev pick-up truck which has been in the family for 55 years! He restored it from scratch 10 years ago.
Feeling depressed today, I decided to go to the local ... 
My husband works for a company that provides 24/7 care and housing for people with mental, physical and developmental disabilities. Here in Arizona, brutal budget cuts have slashed funds for those most in need. My husband loves his job and knows he is serving an important purpose, but sometimes the cuts affect morale.
I decided to start sending a basket of goodies to work with my husband every Wednesday, which is the day that all staff members come in to pick up their checks. I figured it might give them a little extra reason to smile. On the first Wednesday, I ... 
One of my intentions for 2011 was to continue surrounding myself with a community of individuals that helped bring the best out in me. By the end of 2011, naturally and serendipitously, I was introduced to group of individuals that gets together one Wednesday per month to meditate and discuss a passage.
After my second month of joining this great group of individuals, I sat down with a couple of the organizers, to get to know one and other better. What I assumed would be a lighthearted getting to know one and other session, became an a heartfelt discussion with presence.
It felt ... 
I was in a health food store when I heard a woman say her foot was hurting and she was going to call a cab.
I paid for my purchase and left to pick up some dry cleaning from the eco-friendly cleaners next door. I was walking back home when I saw the woman outside the health food store, presumably waiting for the cab.
I knew I wanted to make a trip to a craft store later that day and that I'd be driving. I asked her where she was going. She told me a place which was actually on the ... 
Out of all the afterschool programs offered in their school, three energetic 11-13 year old girls chose to join this one. The “Random Acts of Kindness Class”, the first of its kind, was an innovative experiment, offering children the opportunity to use their creativity and artwork to inspire their school and community by doing random acts of kindness. A few weeks ago, I spent an unforgettable afternoon with these girls and their inspiring teacher, learning about their semester long adventure…
Why did you sign up for the Random Acts of Kindness Class?
“I wanted to learn different ways of spreading kindness. ... 
Pay It Forward Day is coming up on Thursday April 26th and we invite you to celebrate with us by doing an act of kindness! Below are some kindness ideas, based on some of our favorite real-life HelpOthers' pay-it-forward stories. And we invite you to share how you celebrated by leaving a comment on this story!
1. The tried and tested - pay for the coffee for the person in the line behind you.
Andrew was a bit anxious when he tried to do this for the first time and wasn’t sure it would work - a week later, the coffee ... 
When I was 12 years old, I went with my dad to his work - a car showroom. I was wondering around and I saw a poor woman with a child in her lap standing outside the showroom. I saw that she was crying a lot and went inside and told my father. My father went out and asked the woman to come in to the showroom. He offered her some water and then asked her what was wrong?
The woman said that her husband had died some months ago and that she doesn’t have anyone else in her family ... | Home | About Us | Our Friends | Get Involved | Contact us |  |  |  |