"PIF" is the only Way!

Hi, I'm Shelby. My friend recently committed suicide, because he was being bullied. I know this isn't a group that supports suicide awareness, or particularly anti-bullying, but you guys do support being kind, and paying it forward. And my good friends suicide has made me realize that there isn't really a whole lot of kindness going on in schools or out of schools, or around teens in general, actually. So, I was hoping to be able to hand out bracelets to my friends, and maybe make people a little more aware about treating people better.

Thanksgiving and "PIF"

I just got back today and your package was there waiting, i was so happy. The first thing i did was go to some of my neighbors and hand them out and explain how it worked, they said that they were planning on going out tomorrow and buying someones turkey for thanksgiving now. this is great! I am so happy to have these and i have a feeling that i will be handing all of these out by the end of next week. =] I will keep you updated on my communities progress. Thanks and have a very good thanksgiving!

Stay Safe, God Bless

Dylan Stroup

Free Tolls and "PIF"

I was quite surprised to find that the toll collector at a local bridge said that my toll had been paid by the woman in front of me (Kim, Brentwood, CA) and that she asked him to give me a bracelet. Random acts of kindness are great. Restores my faith in human nature

Richard

Christmas and "PIF"

We wanted to do something different this year for Christmas, as many in our family are without jobs and we are all just trying to get by with normal monthly bills...so we decided to forego any presents for each other and just try to do as many "nice" things as we each can for other people.Would like to have some bracelets for the family to wear and will also be printing out the PIF cards, to hand out. One particular random act I remember is while in line oneday at a fast food place, the lady in front of us, was elderly and accidentally rolled back into my truck, I got out, saw there was little damage and told her not to worry about it, but she was so upset. As I got to the window to order my food, I told the cashier I wanted to pay for the car ahead of me too, please tell the lady in front of me, her meal is paid for....as she had not gotten to the payment window yet. She was very surprised when she got the messsage that the people behind her had paid for her meal, and went home smiling, instead of being upset because she had backed into my truck....good lesson for all my kids in the car, not to yell or be mad at people when they make honest mistakes

Sincerely

Sandy Reid

"PIF" and Maine!

Hey!!!

There is a huge chain reaction happenning here in Maine with the Pay It Forward bracelets!!! I see people I don't even know wearing them.........consistantly!!! And I get around the state quite a bit!!!! Have run in to several others who have now been telling me where to get them!!!!

hahahaha Love it!!! Hope things are well with you.

Have a great day!!!
God Bless!!
Rob

Life and Choice...

We are celebrating World Kindness Week at my Middle School in Tampa, FL, That is Sgt. Paul Smith Middle School! The kids are really loving it! I just wanted you to know you made me think differently. About two years ago ....around Valentines Day...you sent me 300 red Pay-It-Forward bracelets. The kids went nuts. It made them pay attention and I was overwhelmed by your generous gift. I have NOT stopped talking about it, since.

I`m at a new school now, but the, "Random Acts of Kindness" and "Pay it Forward" movement have not stopped being taught in my class and whenever I can in my school. Just thought you would like to know...you made a difference in my life.


Nadine

December 11, 2010 is our 3rd Annual Pomona Pay It Forward all donation drive

I was about 6 years old when I began volunteering with my family in the

community. We planned, fundraised, and volunteered for the Annual ACS

Relay For Life, MS Walk, city of Rancho community events and several

other events that recruited students. Helping others was just something

I thought everybody was supposed to do, so I did it. It never seemed

like work and it was fun too. Then in November of 2008, the wildfires

ripped through Yorba Linda and five other counties. I had family and

friends from all over affected by evacuations and eventually loss. Our

church is in Pomona and was very close to the Yorba Linda fire. One of

the families from church lost their house and everything. We were all

saddened by the devastation and felt helpless as to what to do.

Church members started asking me to find out how to help. I made

several phone calls to local agencies and was told to donate money to

the American Red Cross. That wasn't good enough and didn't help the

victims with what they needed immediately. That's when my sister and I

came up with the 1st Annual Pomona Pay It Forward all donation drive.

In just one weekend in December, we collected, sorted, and delivered

over 200 boxes of donated food, clothing, toys, and personal items back

into the community in time for Christmas. Last year we distributed over

250 boxes.

Saturday, December 11, 2010 is our 3rd Annual Pomona Pay It Forward all

donation drive.

You can make better use of this then I can.....

What you people do.. there is no word great enough to explain how I feel. Reading the stories of such heart filled kindness almost brings me to tears. To know people are trying to make this world a better place to live, leaves me speechless. I have no way of explaining the feeling it brings me for there is no word to describe it.

I learned about this "pay it forward" philosophy yesterday when my mom seen me wearing a bracelet I had reserved after donating to a children fund for Halloween . She pulled the bracelet out, still in its package, and told me to read the back. She told me,

"You can make better use of this then I can". I have all intentions of living up to it, starting by helping her. I am going to get her to quite smoking. It's not as flashy or impacting, but it is a start. Around where i live.. there is little struggle. However, I feel like that doesn't hinder me from trying to make a difference in someones life, no matter how small the favor.

Sincerely,
Tanner J. Tousignant

Opening your home and "PIF"

Hi,

You recently sent me some wrist bands and I thank you for them. For the past six weeks, I have been recovering from a hip replacement and had a physical therapist coming to the house to work with me. This week, I began out-patient therapy and chose to go to the facility where he works. On Monday, I gave him a wrist band. He seemed to know what it stood for and asked no questions. He thanked me and I left for the day. Today, he asked for another one. A relative of his fell on hard times and needed a temporary place to stay. My therapist spoke to his wife and showed her his wrist band. They opened their home to his relative. When she exclaimed, “I don’t know how I can ever repay you for this”, he gave her his wrist band and told her to “pay it forward.”

David Bigelow
West Palm Beach, FL.

Amazing "PIF" Story... Must Read!

I recently had to leave my marriage with my 3 month old baby and go to

a refuge. I was homeless, with just my purse, the clothes we were

wearing and a few toys for my baby. Several individuals were so kind

and generous , one in particular who restored my faith in goodness in

people and another who gave me a place to stay.

A lawyer helped me get my furniture back, most of which was brand new.

I had a houseful if goods but I had just moved into rented and

furnished accommodation, which I had been given at a reasonable rent.

As I was leaving the refuge I met another woman who was very stressed,

and was moving into a new house in just 3 weeks, had no money and 2

children as well as mental health issues as a result of her

experiences and little prospect of getting a job. So I asked her if

she wanted a houseful of furniture. She burst into tears and threw her

arms around me.

So D, wherever you are, happy Christmas when it comes and hope 2011 is

a better year for you and your children. And when you get a chance,

pay it forward.

Jane