Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Pay-it-Forward Coffee Shop Chain in Birmingham


--by missdre, posted May 3, 2010

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 her car was last in line. A few days later, she was able to pay it forward at a Starbucks in Inverness.

"It makes you feel good and it brightens your day," she said.

Random acts of kindness are popping up at Birmingham area coffee shops, as customers are anonymously picking up others' tabs.

Stacie Elm, a barista at an Alabaster Starbucks, said a line of five cars recently paid it forward. Customers are in a bit of disbelief when they discover their order has been paid for, she said. "Most are like, 'You're kidding.'"

But the shock gives way to generosity as people are compelled to pass along the kind gesture.

Baristas at Starbucks shops in eastern Birmingham, Hoover and Vestavia Hills also reported episodes of paying it forward -- actually, backward, since the person in the front car paid for the person's order in line behind him.

A Starbucks spokeswoman said the Seattle-based company promoted a Cheer Pass program in 2007, designed to remind customers to spread kindness. However, the pay-it-forward phenomenon is "consumer-driven," she wrote.

And kindness comes in more forms than a cup of coffee. Dierking said she saw the practice once at a grocery store when a stranger paid for groceries that a woman could not afford.

The Pay It Forward Movement was launched in 2000 by Catherine Ryan Hyde, author of the book "Pay It Forward." The phrase refers to the concept of repaying kindness by doing kind things for other people.

The book later inspired a movie. Hyde was inspired to write the book after two strangers helped her when she was stranded on the side of a California road and her car caught fire.

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Readers Comments

waltzc wrote: This seems to be the easiest way to perform a random act of kindness. I do it a few times every christmas season at our local starbucks, or whenever i need a "lift". I always leave a smile card to keep the chain going!
Life artist wrote: Great article. I'd heard about the chain once and admired it's idea = )


Jackie wrote: I did this once during the lunch hour at kfc. The gal behind me was holding her head in her hand like she was just having a really bad day. So i paid her tab and peeled out of there. I told the window attendant to just tell her it's been paid for. Maybe i should have said "pay it forward", but i think the "pay it forward" thing works better when people just get it and don't have to be told to do it.
mizzzim wrote: That is a great idea. Imagine if it happened more frequently all over the world?
TNay wrote: I really need to practice this! I think it is awesome!
Daytona wrote: This is fabulous! Reading it really made my day. I'd like to give a great big shout out to catherine ryan hyde for starting the movement, writing the book + the movie is freat - i watch each time it's on. I myself was the recipient of such a kindness at a mcdonalds a few years back at lunchtime - a very busy and usually large ordering time. I had been picked (we did it by drawing straws) to pick up everyone's lunch order. It came to $30. 25! Well, when i payed it forward, the amount for the next car was exactly the same! I felt wonderful being surprised and surprising another. :)
iferlamb wrote: Excellent! I am so glad to know there are so many of us out there!

Smiles.
Jagdish Kaviraj wrote: Thanks a lot for sharing this wonderful event. I think by doing something good to others, magnanimity of our heart increases. By doing something good frequently it becomes our habit to do something good. If god has given us some more wealth than others then one should do some acts of kindness; this would be the best way to express our gratitude to god.
momov3 wrote: I always get such a kick out of doing this, especially if i can catch a sneak peek at the recipient's expression. Usually it is one of utter astonishment and their head swirls around to try and find out who did it. It's a good time! Try it sometime. It doesn't have to cost much-if i have the cash, i'll pay for the person behind me in a short term parking lot exit- usually no more than $2. 50 and my the time they pull up i'm gone. This usually baffles the cashier too! Kinda funny to see the look on their face also. Once in a while, i'll leave a smile card while paying so the cashier can give it to the recipient- that way they'll know why i did it :)
sharath wrote: It really reminds us that this world has not been completely deprived of its charm. There are tiny buds of kindness here and there that surely can blossom spreading its fragrance. A very touching article.

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