UPDATE: Paying It Forward

Save

Reporter: Evrod Cassimy
Email Address: ECassimy@nbc15.com

24 comments

A | A | A

Updated Monday --- December 17, 2007 -- 1:01pm

We have an update for you on a story we first brought to you Saturday night. Customers of a Fitchburg Starbucks just keep paying it forward.
Now, the store says nearly 600 people have paid it forward as of Sunday night. Many of them inspired after seeing Saturday night's story.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

One customer at a Fitchburg Starbucks "pays it forward" -- causing a chain reaction.

"They told me that we were the 110th customer and that people had been paying for the drinks of the people behind them," says one surprised Starbucks customer.

It's a way to send a little holiday cheer. Pulling up at the drive thru to pay for your coffee and catching the tab for the person behind you as well. It's called paying it forward. A complete random act of kindness that's catching on and fast.

What started out with just one person paying it forward has now turned into hundreds. And when the person at the drive through finds out what the person before them did, they can't help but pass the spirit of giving along.

"I thought it was very generous. It was just a nice thing to do you really don't run into it a lot. It's nice to know the Christmas spirit is alive and well."

Starbucks employees even have extra money that customers have left behind just in case they run into a Scrooge or two along the way. They also have ways of passing along the holiday spirit of giving themselves.

"We're passing the cheer for families in need through food and toys and clothing donations that come from our customers and will be distributed this upcoming weekend to make it a Merry Christmas for a family that is less fortunate than us," says Starbucks district manager, Rob Gurke.

Something as simple as a cup of coffee is now bring a little joy to the world.

del.icio.us

Google

Yahoo

digg

More Stories
Cottage Grove Home Invasion

Marino Murder Investigation

Layoffs in Janesville: Domino Effect

UPDATE: Major Flooding in Bagley Leads to Lawsuit

Peeping Tom

Maneuvering Motorcycles

Police Pursuits

Child Porn Sentence

Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Trent Location: Oregon on Dec 18, 2007 at 05:09 AM
Hi everyone. what a cool thing the first lady did- that was a "random" actof kindness. Everything after that is not random, it is following a set pattern of behavior modeled by another person, which has become an experiment in social norms and deviance. Kate, if you don't have the extra $3.50 to pay for the person behind you, where did you get the first $3.50 to buy YOUR cup? People who go out of their house, to a commercial establishment in business to mark up product and make a profit should not complain about how tight their budget is. if your budget is that tight, drink @ home.

Posted by: elizabeth Location: richland center on Dec 17, 2007 at 07:53 PM
Way to go Shan!! I am proud of you!!

Posted by: shelly Location: Richland Center on Dec 17, 2007 at 05:47 PM
wow- I guess the story should just be- "Shannon did a nice thing for a total stranger because the mood struck her and she just happened to be buying coffee at that exact moment." It was very nice Shannon and I know that you did not expect any attention when you did it and you certainly didn't expect others to carry it on, it just happened that way. Those of you who are upset- don't do it then. No big deal. If it inspires even one person at all to do ANY other random act of kindness or just any kind act, then that is the true point. And I know, Shan, that your intentions were great and you give of yourself more than any of these negative people will ever know.

Posted by: Raphael Location: Fitchburg on Dec 17, 2007 at 05:06 PM
Newcomer - don't get your undies in a bunch over this - the perspective on this is where you should find your grievance. Yes, what Shannon did was nice. no doubt about it (merry xmas baby), however - the rest of the 500 people are fooling themselves into thinking they are doing something significant. How about you pay my mortgage and I'll pay yours? I am so nice making your payment for you, and you will go broke making mine. Baa baaa baaa Go ring a bell for the salvation army if you want to make a difference, drop a toy off with the marines or your local cops, cook at a homeless shelter. get real.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Madison on Dec 17, 2007 at 03:30 PM
I am fairly new to the Madison area and I can not believe how snooty and judgmental this town is. Here is a stay-at-home mom that no one knew anything about and she did a random, nice gesture and it turned into a chain reaction and people are complaining about their bill. THEN DON'T DO IT. Break the chain and quit complaining. I can't stand people like all of you. You take a nice story and spin it into something negative. Nice people still do exist...at least in Fitchburg. Merry Christmas Shannon.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Madison on Dec 17, 2007 at 01:40 PM
I work at this Starbucks. It is completely voluntary for the person to pay for the car behind them, and no one should feel obligated to pay the extra money if they don't have it. I think that a lot of people just got into the giving spirit the past two days, and it was cool to see the chain keep going. We had some very generous people leave extra money, so we were able to accomodate large orders that followed smaller ones, and thus the "chain" was actually more complex than the story let on. It does make me sad that so many people think so poorly of this story. This season, each barista is encouraged to "Pass the Cheer" once a day, through samples, a complementary drink for a person having a bad day, or other random acts of kindness, with hopes that the customers can return the favor to someone else in the future. I hope that people can take a message from this small story and keep "passing the cheer" beyond just the next coffee in line.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Reality on Dec 17, 2007 at 01:33 PM
Oooooooo, I wish I had some spare time. I don't do starbucks but I'd love to run over there, order the most expensive on the menu get it free, then leave! :)

Posted by: Kate Location: Madison on Dec 17, 2007 at 12:56 PM
Yeah, you are right Megan it is voluntary but when they ask you to do it, how can you say no? Who wants to be the scrooge and break the chain? Besides that, I didn't know this was even going on, so I was totally caught off guard and they didn't even tell me the cost of the person behind me until I agreed to do it. I guess that is my own problem but I really think this is not the way to spread Christmas cheer... maybe Starbucks should give everyone a free drink to spread Christmas joy... we all know they make plenty of money.

Posted by: Megan Location: Reedsburg on Dec 17, 2007 at 12:37 PM
This is strictly voluntary. If you can't afford to pay it forward or don't want to, then you shouldn't. Nobody is forcing you. Personally, I think there are better ways to "pay it forward" that could actually benefit people in the community. Specialty coffee is not a necessity. Why not donate food or money to help heat homes for the less fortunate? Nick and Drew, I agree with you completely.

Posted by: Anonymous on Dec 17, 2007 at 12:32 PM
IF you don't like them asking you to pay for the one behind you get up 15 min. earlier and make your own.

Posted by: Mary Location: Sun Prairie on Dec 17, 2007 at 12:26 PM
I agree somewhat with Bill - Starbucks recognized the opportunity in free publicity in this and hurriedly tagged along with some charitable donation scheme they were already planning on doing. I love the holidays, but this is a bit overboard - it's like Christmas, Corporate American Style!!

Posted by: Kathryn Location: Fitchburg on Dec 17, 2007 at 12:21 PM
Yeah, I too would like to know when this is done... I would rather give to toys for tots then pay $8.00 for someone's latte that they don't need anyway... I drove up to the window to find that my tall coffee was paid for by the person in front of me then I was asked to pay the $8.00 for the person behind me... how is that random act of kindness? a random act of kindness is giving to a charity or someone in need... anyone drinking coffee (or anything else) at Starbucks is not someone in need...

Posted by: Bill Location: Madison on Dec 17, 2007 at 11:52 AM
can someone call me when they are done with this? I was asked to pay $9 for the people behind me, when my venti coffee was only 2 bucks. Starbucks is making out huge in this - wake up and smell what you're shoveling (it ain't snow)

Posted by: Drew Location: Madison on Dec 17, 2007 at 11:39 AM
"totally random act of kindness"? Ha what sheep would believe that to still be true. While it was a nice gesture initially, it is now an expectation - so what act of kindness is truly random if you are expected to do it? The real upside here is that the self-indulgent can have their 5 dollar latte at the expense of someone who is getting a 1.75 coffee. I guess this could be considered gift roulette. I will continue to brew my own at home and let the weak-minded believe they are making a difference!

Posted by: J. Location: Poynette on Dec 17, 2007 at 11:24 AM
Nick, get off your soapbox and enjoy the spirt of the gesture~! Have you ever done a random act of kindness and not expected anything in return? try it it feels great! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Posted by: Kate Location: Madison on Dec 17, 2007 at 11:14 AM
I think it is a bad idea... I am all about Christmas joy but I got stuck paying $7.00 for someone behind me when my drink was less than $3.50. People like me do not have extra cash like that...

Posted by: Shelly Location: Richland Center on Dec 17, 2007 at 11:00 AM
My sister who lives in Fitchburg telephoned me last night to let me know she was the customer who started this the other day. And Nick- she's not a self-indulgent yuppie- she's been a stay-at-home mom for the last year and just recently went back to work as a hair dresser. She certainly has been pinching pennies and her one little treat to herself is her coffee. I think anyone shoulde be inspired by her giving spirit, especially when she really doesn't have a whole lot of extra money herself! Happy Holidays to everyone and I hope those of you who are finding anything negative about this story find some happiness in your own lives...sounds like you need it!

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Madison on Dec 17, 2007 at 08:15 AM
Hey Nick, What crawled up your butt and died? What exactly have you done for anyone that you are so high and mighty on your totem pole? I think it is a nice gesture to do something for someone else even if it is just buying an overpriced coffee.. Not many people do those kinds of things these days, and it's nice to know that it can cause a chain reaction in other people. Happy Holidays to those who think of others and BAH HUMBUG to you Nick!! : )

Posted by: Kelli Location: madison on Dec 16, 2007 at 09:41 PM
You're jealous Nick. When did sweeping generalizations become the trademark of the socially conscious?

Posted by: Dawn Location: Brooklyn on Dec 16, 2007 at 09:19 PM
I love this story! Hopefully, it will inspire others to pass on gifts of kindness, during this season and beyond. Thanks for covering it!

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Madison on Dec 16, 2007 at 07:48 PM
Scrooge does exist and his name is Nick.

Posted by: Huntie Location: Madison on Dec 16, 2007 at 06:19 PM
Too bad it had to happen at a Starbucks drive thru rather than an actual locally owned coffee shop. Ah well... at least people are trying I guess.

Posted by: Shannon Location: Fitchburg on Dec 16, 2007 at 05:47 PM
Wow!I was the person who bought that first cup of coffee. I Can't believe that it has turned into this.When I stopped there tonight it was at about 500 people. I am so glad that my little random acto of kindness has started a chain reaction of holiday sporit. Thanks everyone you all have made my day.

Posted by: Nick Location: Madison on Dec 16, 2007 at 09:01 AM
Sniff, sniff--how touching! SUV-driving suburbanites treating each other to self-indulgent overpriced coffee. At least park the vehicle and walk in, giving us all a gift of cleaner air!