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Have you ever paid for a strangers meal?

Have you ever paid for a strangers meal or drink

  • Yes

    Votes: 32 84.2%
  • No

    Votes: 4 10.5%
  • Why would I do that?

    Votes: 1 2.6%
  • I plan on it

    Votes: 1 2.6%

  • Total voters
    38
Over the past year or so I've seen several Facebook posts about someone in the drive thru paying for their meal, or someone at Starbucks paying for their coffee. A pay it forward type deal if you will. Have you ever randomly paid for someone's meal or drink? If so, why? I think it's neat.

I've done it quite a few times at Starbuck's...and one time even bought the drinks for Russian sailors at their first port-of-call in Hawaii after the fall of the Soviet Union. And then there's giving Thanksgiving dinner to a shut-in old man who lived nearby. And then there's the vegetables from our garden that we gave away every year, and the fruits from our trees that we give away now.

I only list those because you asked - otherwise I wouldn't think about it, because the best things in life come not from what one gets, but from what one gives.
 
I've done it quite a few times at Starbuck's...and one time even bought the drinks for Russian sailors at their first port-of-call in Hawaii after the fall of the Soviet Union. And then there's giving Thanksgiving dinner to a shut-in old man who lived nearby. And then there's the vegetables from our garden that we gave away every year, and the fruits from our trees that we give away now.

I only list those because you asked - otherwise I wouldn't think about it, because the best things in life come not from what one gets, but from what one gives.

To be honest, I actually forgot about the times I've done this until I started reading everyone's stories.
 
Thanks for sharing everyone!! It's nice to see the softer side of humanity!!
 
Over the past year or so I've seen several Facebook posts about someone in the drive thru paying for their meal, or someone at Starbucks paying for their coffee. A pay it forward type deal if you will. Have you ever randomly paid for someone's meal or drink? If so, why? I think it's neat.

I'm not big on any fad activity and if it's on Facebook I'm not interested, but I have quite often paid for meals for homeless or destitute people. I often see one poor gentleman when I'm at McDonald's for my morning coffee and I'll pass him a $10 to get some breakfast and some coffee to start his day off and some change for later. I do it surreptitiously so as not to embarrass him, because although he is outwardly quite needy appearing, he is also a man of some integrity and pride as well and I respect that.

I also used to do a similar thing for a homeless woman who used to hang out in the shopping mall near where I worked and was often around the Second Cup where I frequently got coffee - I would give the servers money for her to pick out whatever beverage and sweets or sandwiches she wanted and had them simply say someone has paid for her. She never knew I did it, which made it that much more rewarding.

These are small things but not all thoughtful gestures need to be grandiose or advertised on Facebook or in the news. Just do it for yourself and a person you feel needs a little help along the way.
 
I'm not big on any fad activity and if it's on Facebook I'm not interested, but I have quite often paid for meals for homeless or destitute people. I often see one poor gentleman when I'm at McDonald's for my morning coffee and I'll pass him a $10 to get some breakfast and some coffee to start his day off and some change for later. I do it surreptitiously so as not to embarrass him, because although he is outwardly quite needy appearing, he is also a man of some integrity and pride as well and I respect that.


I also used to do a similar thing for a homeless woman who used to hang out in the shopping mall near where I worked and was often around the Second Cup where I frequently got coffee - I would give the servers money for her to pick out whatever beverage and sweets or sandwiches she wanted and had them simply say someone has paid for her. She never knew I did it, which made it that much more rewarding.

These are small things but not all thoughtful gestures need to be grandiose or advertised on Facebook or in the news. Just do it for yourself and a person you feel needs a little help along the way.

It's not friends saying "hey I paid for a strangers meal", it's "the guy ahead of me at the drive thru just paid for my meal"
 
It's not friends saying "hey I paid for a strangers meal", it's "the guy ahead of me at the drive thru just paid for my meal"

That's fine, but that strikes me as someone saying "hey look, I got something free" - there's already enough of that "what's in it for me" stuff. But to each their own - if it encourages them to help someone else, it's all good.
 
I'm not big on any fad activity and if it's on Facebook I'm not interested, but I have quite often paid for meals for homeless or destitute people. I often see one poor gentleman when I'm at McDonald's for my morning coffee and I'll pass him a $10 to get some breakfast and some coffee to start his day off and some change for later. I do it surreptitiously so as not to embarrass him, because although he is outwardly quite needy appearing, he is also a man of some integrity and pride as well and I respect that.

I also used to do a similar thing for a homeless woman who used to hang out in the shopping mall near where I worked and was often around the Second Cup where I frequently got coffee - I would give the servers money for her to pick out whatever beverage and sweets or sandwiches she wanted and had them simply say someone has paid for her. She never knew I did it, which made it that much more rewarding.

These are small things but not all thoughtful gestures need to be grandiose or advertised on Facebook or in the news. Just do it for yourself and a person you feel needs a little help along the way.

Very well said, CJ, and kudos for your thoughtfulness! :thumbs: Karma rewards the anonymous giver, so we're told, because if you've done charitable work and received public acclaim, you have already received your "reward" in fleeting acclaim. Karma always gives more than one would expect to receive, too!
 
Yes. I give whenever I can. I take "I am my brothers keeper" very seriously.
 
I suggest trying to never let anyone in the USA die of hunger, no matter what anyone on the right thinks.

Shrug, if your not interested in taking care of yourself, then why should I have to? Like I said before I have no problem helping those who are trying, but if you dont then neither should I.
 
I have bought homeless people food in the past, although the number of times they refuse actual food and get mad because you won't give them cash because they want beer and drugs means I don't do that anymore. You want food, I'm happy to help. Otherwise, no.
 
Over the past year or so I've seen several Facebook posts about someone in the drive thru paying for their meal, or someone at Starbucks paying for their coffee. A pay it forward type deal if you will. Have you ever randomly paid for someone's meal or drink? If so, why? I think it's neat.



Paid for a strangers meal? Plenty of times. I even bought one of them a house and never saw her again afterward.

On balance, the cost of the house was worth the result.
 
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