Random acts of kindness!

I've heard about a new "thing" in the Starbucks drive-thru is to "pay it forward" ... basically you pay for yours and the guy behind you too.

I suppose it could be applied to any drive thru!

How does one know the amount of the order of the guy behind you?

Pay 5 or 10 bucks at least as a "small" gesture, I suppose, and tell the cashier to honor whatever change that could/may be left to the next in line after that order.  If it costs more, then you did what you could.

You ask the guy/girl at the window?  Of course, this assumes there's a "line" between the ordering point and the serving point.   If no line, just leave a fiver.

I'm going to be a Debbie Downer but is there no concern that the window guy/girl will just pocket the money? I think I'd rather just give to people who don't have enough to eat and make a donation at the local Food Pantry.

I had a friend in high school who worked for Burger King. She paid for her senior trip working at the drive through window.

It's a powerful thing, but if you thought it was cool on the receiving end wait until you're on the giving end.    Pretty much every day I'm looking for opportunities to bless people in ways like this, but it probably happens once every month or two. 

From a Christmas tradition standpoint both my wife and I were very poor when we grew up and most Christmases the only presents we got were from people who donated stuff to us.  When our kids were really young we started adopting a family every year with kids that were the ages of our kids.  We'd take our kids shopping to buy presents for our adopted family and it's always a fun experience.  We've always gone a little overboard too and spent the same amount on our adopted kids as we do our own kids.  We always do it anonymously but I can always picture the look on the face of the kid whose expecting a $5 toy and they get an xbox or an iPod touch.    Merry Christmas

One of the many things my Grandpa taught me was to do something to help someone every day....no matter how small.  He told me that if you do that, you will always feel like your life has a purpose.  

I get it done most days......he was right.

I like that!

I think this kind of stuff is awesome... except...

My work area adopts a family every year and in the past 2 or 3 years the charity organization has asked that groups NOT go overboard with the Xbox's or iPods and such. They say when a family is *that* in need, that kind of money is really crucial for other areas - like food or diapers - basic needs stuff. And when they get an Xbox it puts the family in an awkward situation - here they are without basic needs but the kid has a gaming system worth hundreds of dollars. Doesn't make a whole lot of sense in their eyes, so they ask that you get what's on their list, maybe ONE thing extra in the same price range, but if you really want to help with leftover money get a gift card to a local grocery store.

Just passing along

My grandfather taught me to ask people if they mind sharing a lane

Mine thought that was stupid.

I totally agree with this. Plus the games for these systems aren't cheap. How useful is an iPod of any type if you don't have a computer and itunes to sync it with?

>>I'm going to be a Debbie Downer but is there no concern that the window guy/girl will just pocket the money? I think I'd rather just give to people who don't have enough to eat and make a donation at the local Food Pantry.

I had a friend in high school who worked for Burger King. She paid for her senior trip working at the drive through window.<<

Well, i have thought about that, but you just have to have a little faith.  AND I decided that the idea for me is the anonymity, I don't have to have the acknowledgement from the receiver, so if the window person pockets it, the intended receiver is none the wiser.

karma is a beyotch.  

"I must remember that death is quick to strike ....and one's good and evil deeds trail after one like a shadow trails the body" (foundation of all perfections, Tibetan Buddhism

though is it all that bad that someone who is making min wage gets a little more even if they do pocket it?  Hopefully they will someday still pass it along. 

There you guys go trying to rain on my parade.  :-P

We thought of this and have only given presents that were asked for (and then some).  We always adopt families from our church so they get to provide us a list of what they want and you know how kids are, there list is usually pretty big.

We've donated to different charities as well, but we like the personal aspect of helping one family versus having our donations go into a big bin that gets equally divided amongst everyone.

In a word, yes.

If there's ever been a group in need, it's the folks buying coffee at the Starbucks drive-thru.