I just offer help if I’m able. Ex: offer a jump start, help push a stalled car off the main road, offer to help carry something for someone struggling, grab something off the top shelf at the supermarket, etc… These things only cost me a little bit of time, but I get the satisfaction of helping.
One time, a lady tracked me down and sent a thank you note with cookies to my work. That was nice. No old ladies have written me into their will yet though.
Simple things
you find someone loves ginger, put a goodie on their desk with ginger in it - something unique
you don’t have to do it with strangers.
things like taking a tag off the gift tree at a store and buying something for someone who can’t.
try adopting a family for the holidays with some friends. it’s much easier these days. 5 people with 10 bucks buys a 50 dollar gift store for a grocery store.
got a local woman’s shelter? for battered women, call and ask what they need? often it’s inexpensive stuff like toiletries for the women when they come in
what else have I done?
within your own family, teach your children to pay it forward, even if it’s a simple thing.
@Cerridwyn On the toiletries subject, Norman, OK has a christmas store where families can buy, with “points” presents for their kids and then they are given some additional points to buy other things they need (also kids, for 10 cents could buy their parents presents). The items that vanished the fastest from the “adults buying for themselves or the family” when I volunteered with them was things like tampons and pads, shampoo, toothpaste and toothbrushes, soap, moisturizer, other hair care products, razors, combs and brushes, diapers, laundry detergent, dish soap, cleaning supplies… all the stuff you need for daily life that you can’t buy with food stamps.
Does donating blood regularly count? And planning on donating every possible part of my body when I die. Or go to medical research or the body farm or the like…
Someone in our area started what they call a blessings box. It’s a covered area where people can either donate or take items they need, from canned/boxed goods to toiletries to school supplies & more. The family that started it posts heartwarming (anonymous) stories on Facebook about the people who donate or the families who have come when they were in need & then come back to donate something when they were back on their feet. Those stories have helped restore my faith in humanity. People really can be awesome sometimes.
Our community has a “Santa” profile set up on facebook. This person frequently posts about families in need of certain necessities, volunteer opportunities, or other such things. The most recent being paying off all of the overdue lunch bills for the students in the town, which was roughly $16,000, and is now $0.
Contributing to these things that really focus on the community is the best way I think I can pay it forward.
Does volunteering count? If it does, that’d be mine.
I just offer help if I’m able. Ex: offer a jump start, help push a stalled car off the main road, offer to help carry something for someone struggling, grab something off the top shelf at the supermarket, etc… These things only cost me a little bit of time, but I get the satisfaction of helping.
One time, a lady tracked me down and sent a thank you note with cookies to my work. That was nice. No old ladies have written me into their will yet though.
Simple things
you find someone loves ginger, put a goodie on their desk with ginger in it - something unique
you don’t have to do it with strangers.
things like taking a tag off the gift tree at a store and buying something for someone who can’t.
try adopting a family for the holidays with some friends. it’s much easier these days. 5 people with 10 bucks buys a 50 dollar gift store for a grocery store.
got a local woman’s shelter? for battered women, call and ask what they need? often it’s inexpensive stuff like toiletries for the women when they come in
what else have I done?
within your own family, teach your children to pay it forward, even if it’s a simple thing.
@Cerridwyn On the toiletries subject, Norman, OK has a christmas store where families can buy, with “points” presents for their kids and then they are given some additional points to buy other things they need (also kids, for 10 cents could buy their parents presents). The items that vanished the fastest from the “adults buying for themselves or the family” when I volunteered with them was things like tampons and pads, shampoo, toothpaste and toothbrushes, soap, moisturizer, other hair care products, razors, combs and brushes, diapers, laundry detergent, dish soap, cleaning supplies… all the stuff you need for daily life that you can’t buy with food stamps.
On Halloween we bought an active duty military family’s meal, and we tipped the bill for our own check.
I refrain from stealing your shit.
@shahnm You are welcome to my shit. I just flush it anyway.
@moondrake That went in a dark and unspeakable direction. Please from here on out consider my use of the word “shit” as more of a metaphor…
And… if I’m feeling super-duper-extra nice, I’ll put your batteries in the fridge for you, without even being asked…!
@shahnm before or after you use them up?
Does donating blood regularly count? And planning on donating every possible part of my body when I die. Or go to medical research or the body farm or the like…
@moonhat Everything you just said is awesome. If I can temporarily be an authority on Paying It Forward ™, then emphatically YES. All of that counts!
Someone in our area started what they call a blessings box. It’s a covered area where people can either donate or take items they need, from canned/boxed goods to toiletries to school supplies & more. The family that started it posts heartwarming (anonymous) stories on Facebook about the people who donate or the families who have come when they were in need & then come back to donate something when they were back on their feet. Those stories have helped restore my faith in humanity. People really can be awesome sometimes.
@LindyNC73 that sounds just wonderful. What a great idea.
Like the others, whatever the case may be as they arise. Do unto others… .
I like doing things for others and not talking about it.
@therealjrn how convenient. I’m sure you’ve done SO many nice things nobody knows about…
@medz Ha ha. You’ll never know…
Our community has a “Santa” profile set up on facebook. This person frequently posts about families in need of certain necessities, volunteer opportunities, or other such things. The most recent being paying off all of the overdue lunch bills for the students in the town, which was roughly $16,000, and is now $0.
Contributing to these things that really focus on the community is the best way I think I can pay it forward.
Also, I don’t use AdBlock