Responses

Go Back Dear Mason, I have to applaud you on your choice of project. Doing good for others is a uniquely satisfying experience. Just yesterday I read a study that concluded that the most reliable way of being happy is to make other people happy. Keep it up. Recently my niece Marin challenged a few of us to come up with some kind of “pay it forward” idea, with the specific requirement that it be anonymous. This latter can make such a project doubly exciting. What I did was this. During a late night drive home from Houston, I stopped at a little Quizno’s sandwich shop. (Some people on this list may understand my motivation for stopping here when I explain that this sandwich shop is right across the street from the Blue Bell ice cream shop. I hope you come to Texas someday so that I can buy you a nice double scoop cone.) The sandwich shop had no customers in it, which was precisely in line with my plan. After I ordered my sandwich I gave the puzzled clerk an additional $20 bill and explained that the money was to buy the sandwich for the next customer who walked in the door. I asked her to simply tell the customer that someone had paid for his/her dinner (up to $20 – hey, I’m not made of money! J )  but not to reveal who the benefactor was. Just a few minutes after I sat down, a youngish man carrying a 2-year-old baby walked in. I thought he looked very tired and somewhat defeated, as most men in charge of 2-year-olds do. He quietly ordered a sandwich and a drink, and then a cup of soup and a cookie for his daughter. When the cashier told him his meal was free, he was completely confused. “Really?” he said. “I can’t tell you,” the cashier replied when he asked the obvious question. He came over and sat close to me. I pretended to be engaged with my computer. It was a surreal kind of experience, he and I and the baby sitting quietly together in the restaurant. After a while I got up and left. I want to do that again someday when I see some cute old couple are eating dinner happily together. I was inspired by the story of a guy who used to sometimes come to a certain diner for breakfast. He noticed that on certain mornings the “big” table was frequently filled with a bunch of old men laughing and talking together. The waitress explained to him that these old fellows were World War 2 veterans who met at the diner every Saturday morning, rain or shine, for breakfast. So one day our guy, being much moved by the vets’ loyalty to each other, called the waitress over and told her that he wanted to pay for the entire table’s breakfast, but that she must absolutely not reveal who the benefactor was. Then he did the same thing every week for the next 19 years. Finally, it happened that our sturdy waitress, who was the only one who ever knew the benefactor’s secret, yielded and told the men who had bought their breakfasts each of the previous 960+ Saturdays. If I remember right, the Navy gave the gentleman a medal and a private tour of one of their battleships. Maybe you can share some of your best stories with us someday. Stories are good.

Mason, Here's my report on some pay it forward acts. This evening in downtown Portland, a man approached me as I parked my car and asked for $1 to help him buy a bus ticket. I happened to have one bus ticket in my wallet--it was one of several incentives given when I donated to a local non-profit. The man was so happy. Then I gave him a Rose City Resource Guide (I always keep a few in the car), and a card telling him about Potluck in the Park which provides a free, hot meal every Sun. I have been a volunteer in that organization for 17 years! Earlier today, I offered the Resource Guide and the Potluck card to another man who was standing at an intersection holding a sign. He already had the Resource Guide, but he didn't know that Potluck was still serving every Sun. On Sun., May 16th, while Potluck's weekly meal was being served I was a mile away going through some clothing donations and discovered two pair of men's leather shoes. I knew that one of our regular guests really needed some shoes. I called one of our volunteers and asked if the guest was there, and he was. I asked him what size shoe he wore. It was the same size as the shoes I had. I brought them to the Park. He kept one pair and gave the other to another regular guest of Potluck. Mason, thanks for the opportunity to contribute to your project and to take note of these little acts of kindness that we do for each other and which are so important for all of us.

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My mom had her pants stuck in her sock as she was going out the door to work last week. Usually I'd laugh and wait for her to get a reaction from a co-worker, but I was thinking about your project and what I could do and I nicely told her, I didn't even make a joke about it!

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I got out of our car and coaxed a famiy of geese to hurry across the road during a busy traffic time.

I did my brothers paper route because he had strep throat and I didn't even accept the money he offered.

Mason, how wonderful to be on your mail list for this project. I'm in London thinking of you and your family when you lived by Bishop Park! I am eager to share with you my American Pay It Forward British Style! Yesterday when I was studying my map on my way to the Tower of London, an old, old, man asked if he might point me in the right direction, he did so, and because I was standing in front of Starbucks, I bought him a cup of coffee. I also gave a street musician several pounds as he played his violin. I took the train to Bath and offered to help a young mother lift her pram on the train. (explain to your classmate's what a pram is if they're not sure! or a lift, or a tellie, or a McVitie, or a spot of tea!) xoxo  --

Mason what a great project! I am making an effort to do several good deeds just for you. I bought a dog at the Humane Society yesterdayI didn't sleep a wink last night!---that might be a really special pay it forward if I don't sleep again tonight. She's a puppy---maybe I should have bought her sister too! (In fact I called about sister this morning and she was purchased yesterday too!) Last week I bought lunch for my staff and gave them each $50.00 to do a good turn in honor of your project. I gave my hairdresser a special tip and brought her flowers and told her all about your project. (She called me later in the evening and told me that she cut the hair of a person who had just lost their job--(a single mom with 4 children)-and didn't charge her a penny--she asked me to submit a pay it forward to you! Keep up the good work Mason---If you don't get an A let me know...there are huge well funded programs that don't impact our world as wide as you are!

Thank you for including us in your project. I will share one event that has happened this week. As you might know, there was terrible flooding in Nashville. My husband, Bill, and his friend helped a family get the water out of their basement and the husband paid them each a little bit for it. We found out that 2 days later, he lost his job. So we decided that we have been so blessed by others that we would bless him and his family by tearing up his check to us and our friend is doing the same.



Mason, you'll appreciate this one! My crazy brother actually tipped over our fishing boat opening fishing day in Brainerd. I didn't even yell one mean word. Thank goodness all I had was my pole and a bucket of minnows! I left my tackle box on the pontoon. He owes you an extra pay it forward! (Remind him that I like oreo blizzaards!)

Hello from sunny Arizona ... . I understand why you might be boycotting our state...but I'm doing all that I can to help our border issue... I made it a point to pay it forward with volunteering at our hispanic kitchen at our church with special thoughts of you Mason. I also made a huge batch of cookies for the family who takes care of our yard for a special birthday they were celebrating. I told my wife that I'd take her to her favorite department store this afternoon to find the perfect outfit for our fiftieth wedding anniversary party...that shopping trip is going to be a real pay it forward...believe me!

 Mason, we're so excited about your project. None of us are surprised that it would be you asking for help in making our world a better place...we're counting on you to keep guiding us for a lifetime. Your soul is wise beyond its years! We can't stop doing good deeds Mason. We actually made a family promise to do one Mason deed every day until June 30th. We gather every night before bed and each of us share what we've done that day. It's wonderful to see how focused my family is on your project! We each listed our favorite do good deed that we've done so far: Called a new child to my school on the telephone and asked if she'd like to join a couple of my friends and me for icecream after school tomorrow. Helped my work colleague with a medical decision for her son. Paid for the next customer in the McDonald's drive through line yesterday Shared my bag lunch with a kid at school who I don't think ever brings or buys a lunch....he's really, really skinny

I have done a couple of things while in New York recently--money to a street person, speaking with an elderly woman (with alzheimers ) at the airport. I hope I can do something kind every day of my life

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and I did something similar when we were enjoying a nice Italian dinner. Across the restaurant, I noticed the head of the Allied Health Professions department eating a quiet meal with her husband. She had announced her retirement that very day. She had looked so confident and perky earlier that day, but now seemed so discouraged and worn down. We ordered tirimisu for them, and told the waitress to tell her "Thank you for the contributions you made to our school -- from an anonymous student." I knew she wouldn't recognize my face, as the class I had taken under her was all online work. We enjoyed watching from a distance, as her face went from surprise/confusion, to misty eyes, and then to that look a person gets when they realize they're appreciated. People need to know that their life's work has been worth their time, and meaningful. It was such fun!

A more recent example of "pay it forward" was with a teenage patient of mine. Our clinic offers all students 3 free physical therapy visits, which is one of the reasons I love where I work. This ensures that injuries (including non-athletes) are treated in a timely manner, and the kids (as well as parents) are educated on preventative measures. I can catch muscle asymmetries and balance issues before they lead to an ACL tear or other major injury! ...sorry for the tangent, back to my story: This timid, skinny boy came in with a foot injury at the start of track. After the first treatment he was better, but proceeded to injure his foot the same exact way. I learned that the worn smooth, thread-bare shoes he was wearing to therapy were the same shoes he was pole vaulting in, running in, wearing to school, and wearing to mow...that they were his only pair of shoes. My husband went with me to pick out a brand new pair of running shoes that would be perfect for this boy's arch type and foot size, then gave them to the coach to give him anonymously. Apparently the coach told him that someone had left the shoes in the locker room and never claimed them, and if he wanted them he was welcome to see if they fit. The next week, he showed up for his appointment in his new shoes, and was cleared from therapy to return to full activity. He placed at the next meet, and I've noticed a new trend in footwear has started in the local high school: the halls that were once dominated by Nike Shox are now being taken over by Mizuno waverunners (which is a far superior shoe, I might add)! My husband also had a pay it forward moment, even if it wasn't anonymous. A patient of his had to travel to a town a few hours away for a major heart surgery, and his only loved one lives in a local nursing home with dementia. Not wanting this sweet old man to face a big surgery all by himself, my hubby sent some flowers, with a card letting him know he would be thinking of him that day.

**Dear Mason,** ** Thank you so much for including me in your wonderful project. I hope that all is going well with it and that you're getting a lot of responses. ** ** I'd like to share my three "pay it forward" deeds. ** ** I have a co-worker who has had a recurrence of her cancer. She's been through so much in the last year with chemo and radiation and on top of that she is out of PTO (vacation) days. I've asked my supervisor to ask the rest of the gals in our coding group to see if they could all donate just one of their own PTO days to give to her so she doesn't have to worry about unpaid days. ** ** One of our neighbors volunteers at our local food bank several days a week and this past week I asked her if I could join her for an evening. She quickly accepted my offer and it was quite an experience! Even in our small little town there are many people who desperately need help with daily needs. ** ** We live in a small northern Arizona town. Our town is filled daily with tourists as we are considered the "Gateway to the Grand Canyon", but with the economic downturn the majority of the people who live here are very poor. It's not hard to spot those that are down on their luck. When I was at the grocery store last week there was a young couple with a toddler behind me in the checkout line and it was obvious that they were trying to be careful about what they were buying and how much they could spend. When I was done with my grocery transaction, I gave $20 to the casher so she could apply it to their grocery bill. ** ** I hope this helps with your project, Mason. I'll be anxious to hear about the outcome and what kind of grade you get!

**

Hi Mason -

I just completed my first pay it forward project.

My goal for yesterday and today was to practice patience and kindness with all those with whom I came in contact. From the line at the stoplight, to the folks in the grocery store, and so on, I tried to treat everyone like family instead of "people in my way." I'm usually quite patient with family and friends, but let outsiders drive me batty to the point of unfriendliness.

I was surprised at how often I caught myself being frustrated and angry by the slow progress of those around me. I took many deep breaths and smiled instead of frowning, and felt so much better.

It felt good, as well, not to feel friction in return. Instead, I saw a few smiles, a few hand waves, and even had a very nice chat with a very elderly British woman whom I gestured ahead at the seafood counter. She knew she had been there first, but didn't expect me to take notice. After I did, she stopped an aggressive man from cutting in front of me (even though I uncharacteristically allowed him to position himself ahead of me), and then we had a nice chat about how to prepare salmon. We left the counter with the warmth of humanity in our smiles, and a shared appreciation of civilization.

It seems like a small project, but it was huge in the moments of edginess. Thank you for encouraging me find more peace in my own small corner of the world.

Hey Mason, I think your e-mail is going to make it pretty far! Over the weekend my husband Grant and I went to Menards in South Haven, Michigan (We live in Coloma, MI). We noticed a man having difficulties putting a heavy air conditioner into his vehicle all by himself. So my husband offered to help and the man was very appreciative! It sure makes a person feel good about themselves by doing a good deed! Good Luck!!

Mason, I wanted to get back to you on the “pay it forward” project. A few things I have recently done would be things such as … taking time out of my day to listen to a student who needed an ear about a family matter. Another time would be even though I had work to do at home, I took the time to push that work aside and put the time toward planning my daughter’s birthday party as her needs come before my own. A third deed would be offering a to pick up a friend for a birthday party as they were having a hard time trying to figure out how to get her to the party. I hope this is the type of thing you are looking for. If you need anything else please let me know. I would be glad to help you. Thank you Mason and God bless you.

Mason,First of all, I would like to commend you for such a positive project idea...I absolutely LOVE it! I hope that you receive an A on your project. I have two kind deeds that I would like to share with you, I know you requested three, but before I forget...I'm sending you the two! Last Friday while I was working there was an elderly gentleman, I believe he was 92 years old walking up to get in line after taking a test. The man did not expect any special treatment because of his age, but I thought he did. Instead of having the gentleman wait in a long line of applicants waiting to retrieve their materials from the test, I took his items to him. Today, I was walking by a young man who was parked but he was still on his motorcycle and he had dropped one of his gloves, I picked up the glove and gave it back to him. I could have walked right by it and made him get off of his motorcycle to pick it up, but because I had your project in the back of my mind...I did a good deed. I love good deeds...I will be sending you my other one, but will have to wait until it happens.

My Mother was one of the kindest person that I knew and I love the fact that I had her as a wonderful example to live my life by. In fact, the last kind words my Mother spoke to me was the weekend before her death. I was in the her hospital room with her in Texas and her room mate needed her walker adjusted to get out of her bed. I got the walker positioned for her and helped her while she got out of bed. I came back to Mom's side of the room and she looked up at me with her wonderful smile and said, "daughter, you are so nice". I told her that I learned from the best! I will cherish that moment for the rest of my life! 

yesterday I made a cake for a friend who had a mutual friend staying there for the week-end. 

Hi Mason,

Great Project, sounds like you have a very creative teacher!

I went to the market after dropping my son at the airport... a homeless man came right up to me as I was getting out of my car asking for money. At first I was annoyed it was quite aggressive and then I realized I really didn't have cash except for $100 bill. I didn't want to give him that much... I told him I didn't have cash but i would get him something from the market if he told me what he wanted. He said a sandwich and some juice. Okay I said, I'll be out in a few minutes.

I did my marketing and found him a sandwich and a beverage... asked for a separate bag at checkout and when I wen t back into the parking lot I expected to see him right there waiting but he was gone!

I had asked his name, I think he asked mine first so I called out,.... what seemed like minutes later he appeared... I guess he didn't really think I was going to buy him a sandwich or else he forgot as he looked completely bewildered when I handed him the sac! 

5/18/10 – Gave a ride to a family that was apartment hunting and didn’t have a car 5/19/10 - Followed up by phone to watch over an elderly couple 5/19/10 - Made extra phone calls to make sure some church youth were able to participate in a special activity 

<span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: garamond,new york,times,serif;">Hi Mason,

My three deeds for the week are.

1. Opened the door for a person going into the store.( they said thank you)

2. Let a person get in a line of traffic.

( they waved at me)

3. Let a person go in front of me in check out line.(they said thank you) <span style="color: #000000; font-family: garamond,new york,times,serif;">

<span style="color: #0fdbfa; font-family: garamond,new york,times,serif;">Mason,

ok.....here goes. I gave away a lot of Hanna's beanie babies to an " in need" school for the kindergarden kids that have very little. I planted some butterfly bushes in my neighbor's yard who lost her duaghter 2 years ago and " loves " butterflys. Her daughtrer loved butterflys and she is convinced she came back as one. I gave a nurse an extra day off " just because" when her mom was in town for her graduation from getting a bachelors degree....it wasn't her " turn" but sometimes, exceptions are the rule. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: garamond,new york,times,serif;">

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: garamond,new york,times,serif;">Hi Mason, What a great idea! I hope you get a lot of response. I am looking forward to seeing what you get back. It will help give all of us some ideas on how we can be kind and generous. Here are my three:

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: garamond,new york,times,serif;">I hope these are the kind of things you are looking for. Thank you for reminding us how important it is to be thoughtful and kind.
 * I was leaving Target and a woman exiting the store in front of me was struggling to push her cart and drag a walker behind her as she took her purchases to her car. I asked if I could help her and wheeled her cart to her car for her. She wanted to put her items in the trunk of her car herself so I waited while she did to make sure she managed it OK.
 * I woke up in the morning to find an owl in the hot sun on my patio. It was hurt and still alive but clearly going to die. I picked it up and moved it into the shade. It died shortly after that but not without getting some attention and not alone.
 * I was traveling and called my partner on the phone just to tell him that I loved him.

Good luck with your project. Look forward to hearing that you got an "A".... <span style="color: #000000; font-family: garamond,new york,times,serif;">

<span style="color: #ff6300; font-family: garamond,new york,times,serif;">Hi Mason, Great idea. Here is what I have done. 1. I am riding my bike to work every day this month - 12 miles a day. Good for the environment and health.2. I helped an older woman put her suitcase onto the luggage rack on the train.3. I helped my brother in law find the origin of his family's name in Norway. Good luck, best wishes,

i held a door open for someone

<span style="color: #00ff00; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Mason, Here I several good deeds I have done, and continue to do at least weekly.

1. Hold open doors for people with strollers, walkers, or are carrying many objects.

2. When I see a crying baby or young child near me, I try to make them smile my making a weird face, or by just saying "Hi!:

3. Through a school program, I have collected cigarette litter at several Minnetonka public parks.

Hope this helps! Feel free to email me any time if you would like any more information.

I like your project and this is what I did to pay it forward this week:

I live in Los Angeles, California and the traffic is terrible. People can be very nasty when they are in a hurry, so every once in a while if I see a car sitting trying to get into traffic, I slow down enough so they can get in. They always look at me as if they can't believe it and wave.

Yesterday I was in the grocery store in line waiting to check out and there was a young mother behind me with a cranky toddler. I asked her to please go ahead of me. She was most thankful

The third thing I did was I usually buy a few extra groceries when I shop and put them in a bag. When it is full, I take it to our local Food Bank, which I did this week.

Good luck with your project. It will be interesting to see where it goes.

Hi Mason,

The attached photos include some of the latest baby hats that I knitted to donate to needy new-born babies in a hospital in Texas. The other photo is of my neighbor, Amy's kitties, that I take care of when she has to be out of town. Most recently was last week when she went to visit her folks in Kansas to help after her dad had a hip replacement.



Hi,

Some things I have recently done to help others are: 1. Crochet prayer shawls for the shutins of our church 2. Made muffins and soup for good friends who have suffered a tragedy. 3. Invited friends over to celebrate a birthday. 4. Visited a friend in the nursing home. My husband helped an older friend put his boat in the water and get the cover on his lift. He also contacts people to go to the VFW meeting, as well as the law enforcement retirees breakfast, that might not go if he didn't. Take care,

1. A beautiful day in San Francisco included a trip to the post office where a stranger in line realized that their money had been left at home. Out came my change purse, stamps were purchased and it was almost like putting money in a meter. 2, Am now on the way to visit with a 90 year old who finds herself with fewer friends with whom to visit. Her loneliness is due to old age and temperament but coming with stories seems to cheer her up.

Hi Mason- Here are my 3 pay it forwards

1. Gave someone 65 cents who was short money in the grocery line 2. I stayed later at work so a new patient could have a dental hygiene visit. 3. Gave a hug to one of my senior patient's who cannot verbally communicate anymore. (SHe had tears in her eyes thanking me:)

AGain, wonderful idea!! Good luck and I hope you're getting lots of responses.

<span style="color: #f58638; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Dear Mason,Thank you for inviting me to "pay it forward deeds" what a great idea. 1. Helping a friend make graduation mints for her son's future graduation party. 2. Offering help to my neighbors with names and numbers for contractor to help repair their homes. 3. Asking people to join me for lunch and buying their lunches. I hope to do more good deeds in the next 2 weeks.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Dear Mason, First of all, this project is totally awesome! I hope you are doing well and I can't wait to see you soon! Three things I did this week:1) I did art projects with the elderly2) My friends and I picked 2 tons of produce for soup kitchens and food shelves around Israel3) I took care of a sick friend Good luck with your project, you will do great!

Mason,I am excited to participate in your project. Every week I spend three hours tutoring non English speakers.

I offered to clean our church alter after a child's program last week.

I noticed a women from my neighborhood walking down a busy street yesterday and I pulled over to ask her if she needed a ride. It turned out that she had run out of gas, so I took her to a filling station and then returned her to her car to put some gas into it. My mother is aged and blind, but I took last Saturday afternoon (a hot sunny one!) to take her to a department store to get her a new dress for her grandson's upcoming wedding.

Hi Mason; I am sure you will have no problem gettig a top grade for this project and I am happy to share with you my little ditties. I had a patient come to our clinic who was having trouble getting through all of his paperwork, so I sat w/ him, asked him the questions and wrote it down for him. I then went and got him a cup of coffee. It was great to see his smile. I also had a very elderly pt who missed her ride and had to wait an extra hour for the next one, so I took her to the restroom and down to the little coffee shop so we could get some lunch and then we sat and ate together. I had such a great time as well as she. Lastly, I helped a coworker catch up on Friday morning because she was delayed in getting to work. I hope you are getting a lot of responses and hope people will continue to do these things because it is the right thing to do. The world will be a nicer place.

<span style="color: #a504fb; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Hi Mason! What a cool project! I have forwarded your request to many family & friends, so I hope they will contribute as well. Here are my good deeds for the week:

<span style="color: #a504fb; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I donated an evening of free babysitting to a neighborhood fundraiser for a community garden. I picked up the stray recycling that had blown into the street w hile I was walking my dog. I forwarded your messag <span style="color: #a504fb; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">e (ha ha – not sure that this one really counts J) <span style="color: #a504fb; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">

Dear Mason,

What a lovely surprise this morning---yes, seeing the below delights and am taking the time to reply now. Meantime, it is beautiful in San Francisco, CA and in fact, and will send one for today---early this AM and then some from days upcoming. 1. Treats for those who are, sometimes, ignored: Night-time security staff in high rise buildings are seldom seen and rarely acknowledged. I live in such a building and this morning, I took a small plate of cookies to the young guard in our building. His smile said it all as he is quite shy..

Thanks for casting such a wide net and for making such a choice. take care,

I fed my sisters cat without being asked!

I brought the recycling bin in and my mom didn't tell me to.

I shut my dad's dome light off when he left it on accidently.

I saw a man with a dog walking too slowly across a really busy street..I made sure that the traffic waited for him to safely cross. My brother broke his leg and I gave him the remote control for the night!

My neighbor lost her dog and I helped her look.

I ate my grandma's cookies even though she forgot to use sugar

I did my homework right when I got off of the bus so my mom didn't have to ask me six times!

I picked up my neighbors newspapers that had been left on their step for too many days

<span style="color: #00ff00; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">I mowed my old neighbors yard

I cleaned out his gutters

I put out all of his garden hoses for the summer

<span style="color: #ff3700; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The airline lost my uncle's luggage last week when he came to Minneapolis for a visit. I gave him my favorite UofM Gopher sweatshirt to wear...you have no idea how HUGE that was for me to give up! My wife's earring fell into the disposal last night and I happily fetched it without one ugh! My teenage son put a dent in my company car when he backed into it on Friday, I had a respectful tone and attitude when we discussed the event.

<span style="color: royalblue; font-family: Comic Sans MS,sans-serif;">I walked my neighbor's dog.

I fed their fish when they went out of town.

I brought in their mail.

I took my medicine without my mom's help

I practiced my flute without being told toId

picked up the dogs mess when my mom wasn't home

I swept out the garage for my grandma

I then washed her car

I carried in all of her groceries

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<span style="color: #00c717; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> I was in Chicago for the weekend and I made it a point to give a dollar to every person that I saw who was asking for help.

I helped a lady pick up the entire contents of her purse when it dumped over while she was getting out of a cab. (I was worried that she thought I was going to grab her wallet and run!)

I called my cantankerous neighbor and told her that her alley garage window had been blown out in the storm...she even said thank you...so I'm giving her a pay it forward credit---she needs all that she can get....I'll some extras for her this week!

<span style="color: #000080; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> I live in NYC where it's hard to catch people's eye to share a smile. I made a goal of catching and greeting 50 people yesterday. Not an easy job....but I loved the reactions...and one fella asked me why I was smiling...I told him about your project....He thinks that he should move to <span style="color: #000080; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Minnesota where the obvious nice people live! <span style="color: #000080; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> I gave my doorman a bagel and a hot cup of coffee for breakfast this morning.

I tipped last night's waiter an extra $10.00 and told him it was from a neat kid in Mpls!

I wrote a letter to my aunt who just turned eighy

I babysat my brother without complaining

I set the kitchen table for dinner and my mom didn't ask me

I said that I'd serve mass for my brother and he didn't ask me

I put up the family trampoline without any help

I folded a load of laundry for my mom

I ate my mom's stewed tomato soup pasta without even complaining and it's my least favorite!

I picked up my friends papers that went flying out of his notebook

I helped that same friend when he flipped his tray at lunch!

I helped a little boy who tipped on his bike when I was playing tennis in the park

I helped my mom get our cat out of the bush when she was stuck (with claws!)

I carried my sister's backpack to the bus when she had a huge science project to take to school


 * 1) <span style="color: #00ff00; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I encouraged someone to become a teacher.
 * 2) <span style="color: #00ff00; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I came home earlier from work and I spent the whole evening with my kids and husband.
 * 3) <span style="color: #00ff00; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I helped a friend make good decisions.

I wasn’t a star in the pay-it-forward department, but I did add some coins to the pile for a child at a baseball tournament who didn’t quite have enough money for the soda he was trying to purchase.

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I helped the maintenance man at our office change a tire when I came upon him on our local freeway last week. I bought each of my neighbors in our culdesac muffins for breakfast and put them on top of their newspaper yesterday. I found a five dollar bill on the street and put it in the collection basket at church

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I told my grandpa that I'd mow his lawn this week, and weed-wac too I didn't want to go to my sister's choir concert AT ALL, but I did. I even gave her and her gooney friend a ride to the school early. (extra points Mason) I forgot my lunch money yesterday. My social studies teacher gave me some cash. I repaid him and brought him a Caribou coffee...bet I get an A on my project Mason!

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My dad called and asked me if I would help out a woman from our church by babysitting her 3 kids so that she could go on a job interview. It was right during a golf t-time I had set up with my buddy. I thought of your project Mason, and said sure. The 3 kids were really rowdy!

I polished my golf clubs on Saturday and did my dad's too! I vacuumed out my dad's convertible after I drove it to a baseball game.

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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,mono;">My mom flipped out when my friend hit a baseball through our livingroom window last night. My friend and I went to Bachmans and bought her flowers and we said we'd pay any money that insurance doesnt cover. (not sure that qualifies as a pay it forward!) I didn't eat my sisters slice of cheesecake when she talked for two hours on the phone to her boyfriend. I even protected it from our dog who eats everything. I folded a load of clothes from the dryer. Yes, I was looking for my baseball pants, but nobody asked me to fold!

<span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,mono;"> <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',sans-serif;">I get a triple credit for for babysitting my cousin for three hours while my mom and aunt went to a spa. The three year old threw up twice and my mom wouldn't answer her cell phone. I think it was the first time the child had Sprite! (My aunt won't give her any sugar) but I think she felt better drinking the pop than nothing I took the recycling out even though it was my brother's turn My dog through up after eating an entire pizza. I cleaned it up as my mom ran Spike outside to finish throwing up!

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I helped a girl in my Algebra class study for a test. She's in way over her head, but I think she's got it nowThat same girl tried to give me a Target gift card for helping her. I used it to pay toward a new calculator for herI emptied the old fashioned pencil sharpener that my English teacher uses before class yesterday <span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,mono;">

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My parents and I picked up trash in the park for an hour this morning even though it was raining harder than I've ever seen it. Then we took our neighbors to the airport to pick up their summer guest who's here on a program that helps less fortunate kids. We then hosted a dinner for the host family so that "Miguel" could get to know his summer neighbors. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',sans-serif;">

<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Mason, who's surprised that this would be your kind of project. My wife and I talk about you all of the time and we think you'll be asking for us to grace the planet with favors for a lifetime! You're good for us Mason! I bet your parents are proud. Just for you, I got busy. (Ann will send you her own list) I helped a developmentally challenged person from a group home in town visit his mom who's in the hospital and now expected to live very long. We then went to Walmart to get the young man some shorts for this summer heat. I bought the group home a big fan for their kitchen that gets so hot. I then helped the director move some boxes that have been in the basement from a former resident.

<span style="color: #fdce0d; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,mono; font-size: medium;">Mason I am happy to be reminded to be a doer. I getting so old that it often feels that I'm only a taker. (My kids will definately agree!) I gave my paper boy a big tip this morning when he delivered my paper. I set my alarm so that I would be watching for him. I scared him when I opened the door as he flung the paper. I think he thought I was going to yell at him instead of tip him! I called my son and told him that I would get a ride to church with my neighbor on Sunday so that he wouldn't have to come across town to get me. I told the pastor that I'd sponsor the next men's group and buy the donuts and coffee.

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<span style="color: #3116d4; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,mono; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Oh my Mason! What are you up to now! I think this might be the beginning of your community action movement! Keep me in the loop of goodness Mason. You know that I'm always happy to help out! Here are my deeds for your project: I told my students that I would erase their worst test grade for the semester. I gave my students this Wednesday to spend the hour outside with a promise of icecream and music (only if they promised to spend their weekend paying forward five good deeds!) Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be able to report all of them back to you. I told my daughter who's having twins in August that I will underwrite the nursery crib costs and make all of the bedding covers and draperies. We're shopping this weekend. (I think she should name one of them Mason---it somehow has good Karma!)

Mason what a great project. I can't wait to read the ideas when you post all of them. I try to do good deeds all of the time, but sometimes I just feel like I'm a crabby, old, mom. I made a special effort to focus this week. (my kids may not agree that I was nicer!) I drove my neighbor to the airport instead of her taking a very expensive cab. I went over to my mom's house and helped her pull out her patio furniture and I planted all of her pots and flower beds. I baked brownies for the school musical and did an extra batch for my neighbor who suddenly came down with a bad cold.

I went to the store for my cousin who just had knee surgery and then came back to his house and made several meal that could just be warmed up. I repaired my neighbors screen door after her yellow lab went through it trying to chase a squirrel I shared my Yankee tickets for this week with my neighbor who just lost his job two weeks ago.

<span style="color: #f26a0d; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I walked to church this morning and made a point to say hello to each person that I passed. I put the money that I was going to use for a latte on my why home in the church basket. I picked up a bag full of litter on my way home.

My kids and I did a group effort Mason:

We made cookies and delivered them to the police station down the street (we live in a small town, so home cookies are still ok to deliver!)

We raked our elderly neighbor's yard.

We washed windows for grandma and grandpa yesterday.

Mason, thank you for inviting me to participate in this project. I agreed to volunteer and extra evening each week for the month of June to our urban outreach clinic (all in your honor Mason) I hosted an evening for medical question and answer at a community center I treated our office staff to a membership at the neighborhood co-op if they promised to buy one product a week, for the summer, and contribute it to the local food shelf

<span style="color: #010b7a; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> 1. SENT A MEMORIAL LETTER TO A FRIEND WHO'S FATHER HAD PASSED AWAY. 2. CARRIED A BAG FOR A LADY WHO WAS PLAYING A GAME. 3 HELPED A PERSON FROM CHURCH GET TO THEIR CAR

Mason - First, I want to thank you for the opportunity to join in on your pay it forward project. Second, I want to apologize for not getting back to you by last Friday -- which I believe was your deadline. Lastly, I wanted to share that on my way through the Caribou drive-thru I paid for the person behind me in line. I wasn't sure if it was going to be a huge bill or just a cup of coffee and that was what made it fun. Either way, I know that I impacted someone's day in a small way and hope that they go forward and do the same for someone else. I'd be honored to read your final project report! Have a great day (and summer since that's right around the corner too!)

My brother got to sleep in the bed at my grandma's house and I took the couch I let him sit in the front seat all the way to Duluth I gave him half of my blizzard when he dumped his icecream cone on the floor of the van (mom says he stays home next time! not really)

Dear Mason,

My daughter told us about your project. My good deeds this last week included: 1. helping with the Women Build Habitat house--nailing down the frames for the walls and adding the 2X4's on top of the frames; 2. playing with my piano trio (6 hands on one piano) for a nursing home; 3. offering my friend a ride to our bridge club.

Your project is really worthwhile, and I hope the good works will continue.

Hi Mason, I talked to your dad this past Friday and he told me about your school project you are working on. Below is an example of something I have done at my job with the Minnesota Timberwolves. We had a Timberwolves season ticket holder who had broken their foot and had surgery. They wanted to come to the Timberwolves-Miami Heat game so what I did was meet them in our office with a wheelchair. I escorted them into the arena and secured them 2 accessible seats so he did not have to climb any stairs. They had a great time and we were able to do that for them again a few games later. It is little things like this that go a long way for season ticket holders and I am always happy to help! Good luck with your school project Mason!

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