Category Archives: Pay It Forward

Best of FPF: Act of Kindness

Posted on Friday, August 15, 2025 by • 3 comments

Elizabeth posted this challenge on the Stowe Forum. We thought it was well worth a share:

“It seems that no matter how hard I try to avoid it, I am turning 60 this coming Tuesday, August 12. I am, once again (I did this for my 50th), asking everyone to celebrate my special day in a very special way. I want 60 people to perform one or two Acts of Kindness on my birthday and post your efforts that day here on FPF. To clarify, I’m gunning for a total of 60 acts, everyone can do one or two and it will add up to 60 or hopefully more. For the more ambitious, the overachievers in the crowd, those who feel a challenge isn’t real unless it’s a mega-challenge, feel free to do 60 yourself in one day. 

I am giving you plenty of time to plan. Nothing is too big or too small, just go out there and give to someone else in a kind way. Buy a stranger a coffee, donate blood, give compliments all day long, volunteer, donate money, hold the door open all day, make a meal for a shelter, CALL YOUR MOTHER!, easy stuff like that. I can’t wait to see what you all come up with and thank you for thinking of me by celebrating with love.”

This posting, and the subsequent “Best of FPF,” set off a bevy of positive activity on Front Porch Forum! In addition to many “happy birthday!” and “great idea!” postings, here are some specific acts that people from all over the region thought to share:

• Happy birthday! To celebrate you and a kinder world, I sent my friend money to treat herself to a fun coffee while she’s in the middle of a big move. – Sarah

• Attended a softball tourney in Whitingham to watch the grandkids while Mom & Dad played. The food truck woman was so nice with the kids! Brought her a mixed garden flower bouquet the 2nd day and she was delighted. Doesn’t take much. My yard is full of flowers and that’s what I have to give, plus a recycled salsa jar. So be it. One very small act of kindness that brought a smile. And crazy gardeners like me just love to share! – Sara

• We bring an 87 year old every week grocery shopping or to appointments. Takes many hours as she is not well and very slow. She lives by herself children are busy. My husband mows her lawn. It’s nice to continue her friendship. She watched my children now 43 and 45. – Sharon

• What a great idea.  I try to do acts of kindness everyday.  My latest idea is to give cold water to any person on the street who needs it.  Water is far more important than food, especially on these very hot days. When it comes to food I give away one of anything I can get two for one. As a volunteer for Age Well on Tuesday I am visting a 90 year old blind woman.  Then I am taking another client to a doctor’s appointment.  By the end of that day I probably will forget to email you. The 60’s were great.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.  Happy Birthday. – Diane

• My birthday is also on August 12, and I am grateful to have the opportunity to be turning 75. I like your post and my wife and I will be donating money to the Arlington Rescue Squad as our Act of kindness.
– Bryan and Dottie

• Happy Birthday. My husband and I visited a family member who has had two surgeries since April of this year. He is better but does not get out much. We had a great visit and he seemed very happy to have company. – Joanne

• I took a disadvantaged child school shopping. – Mary

• 1. I babysat 3 kids for a nice cpl who have no family here in Vermont so they can have a date night! 2. Bought coffee for my car pool Driver Allan. 3. Bought coffee for my car pool driver Crystal. 4. Helped my Car Pool Driver Collette load free pallets into her minivan… – Janet

• Yesterday I made arrangements to transport a 95 year old former resident of our island community to our 71st Annual Ladies Tea.  The transport involved a car to a pontoon boat to a golf cart then back.  Her smile was radiant to be able to see 39 of her old friends. – Jean

• In line at CVS, the fellow ahead of me was told his credit card was “refused.” I paid for it. He told me he got paid on Friday and could “pay me back.” Then we just stood there, looking at each other. He got it and threw his arms around me. – Allen

• My kids and I are dropping two coolers of ice pops off at two separate places this afternoon. One at the courts at Roosevelt Park. And one at the playground or Pavillion at Oakledge. Happy Birthday, what an awesome way to share. – Jaice

• Great idea. I am donating some plants to the Hinesburg Flower sale on your birthday. I will take a little food over to the food shelf, too. – Deborah

• A shout out to Cassella’s driver who exits the truck to wheel the empty trash cans up the driveway for our elderly neighbor. It ain’t the big stuff…. – Ken

• I will be volunteering at the Burlington Food Shelf (Feeding Chittenden) on Tuesday preparing sandwiches and then washing dishes. Hope this counts. Happy 60th youngster. I turned 70 this year. – Ray

• As a regular blood donor and believer in doing random acts of kindness every day, you can count on me to participate. – Sandi

• I belong to a group of what our leader has called “Kindness Angels”. Since 2016, we have made and distributed over 107,000 Be Kind signs worldwide. She began with one sign on her fence in response to the extreme negativity emerging at that time. The movement grew from there. Now, in addition to making and sharing the signs, we try to do at least one act of kindness every day. It really is a brain-changing activity. – Molly

• Shared a perennial plant division and some advice with a budding gardener. – Sara

• I bought a gift card to give to someone who really wants what it’s for! – Thea

• In celebration of Elizabeth’s birthday, I called a friend who is going thru a rough patch. I called to cheer her up, let her know she is important to me and that she is going to be ok. We had a really good chat with some shared laughter, recognition of some interests in common and a lunch date. I got more out of the call than I expected and the whole day seemed lighter and brighter. Thanks, Elizabeth!! – Anne

• You asked people to celebrate your birthday by doing something nice and posting it on FPF!! What a wonderful idea. So, my good deed is to make a donation in your honor to the Stowe Community Fund. My birthday wish is that you get many more than 60 postings today. – Tom

Sharing Kindness

Posted on Tuesday, December 12, 2023 by • No comments yet

Recently, Ruth shared a heartwarming story with her neighbors in the Montpelier Forum about a kind stranger who not only helped change her flat tire, but went out of his way to purchase and install four new winter tires for the car. The stranger wouldn’t accept reimbursement, and said that he tries to do something particularly kind like this once every few years. Ruth ended the post by expressing her appreciation, and telling her neighbors that she plans to “pay it forward.”

Later that day, she posted again to the Forum:

“I received an outpouring of emails thanking me for posting my experience yesterday. Some people said they cried and all thanked me. After receiving all those messages I realized something… I was trying to figure out how to ‘Pay it Forward’ and maybe sharing what happened is giving people HOPE. Showing them there is still kindness and goodness in peoples’ hearts.“

Thank you, Ruth, for telling your story and reminding us that both being kind and sharing kindness with those around you goes such a long way.

Garden Produce Overload

Posted on Thursday, August 31, 2023 by • No comments yet

It’s easy to get the impression on Front Porch Forum that many Vermonters are hobby gardeners. Members offer produce generously across FPF – it feels like an online farmer’s market this month!

  • “3 dozen free cukes on a table in front of our house on Church St. Help yourself!! Please leave the table!” – Wendy, Bristol
  • “Free Sunflower Heads… I have cut down all of my sunflowers and removed the “heads” if you would like the seeds for your garden next year… or your birds, furry friends… come pick them up!” – Susan, Brandon
  • “Elderberries for the Taking … Hello again! My elderberry tree is at full bloom again and the berries are ripe and ready to be harvested. I can’t use them all so come on by and cut some.” – Jennifer in Grand Isle 
  • “Basil Anyone? … My garden did not provide a lot of food for me this year, but I do have an abundance of basil! I am happy to share. If you would like some, please reach out.” – Joanna, Richmond
  • “Rhubard & Little Green Apples … You’re welcome to take small amounts of rhubarb, green onions, mint, or little green apples (often wormy, if you have a use for them), from sidewalk or tree.” – Dick, Village Green

And this member put it well in a poem… 

Lock the doors
and turn out
the lights.
Pull the shades,
close the blinds
and draw the curtains.
Hide the kids
in the tub,
do not breathe
and be very,
very, quiet.
Up the steps
comes a neighbor
with a brown
paper bag…

Zucchini… By Charlie in Marshfield

If you have garden beds overflowing, consider sharing the love on your FPF!

On another note… This year has been especially challenging for farmers due to the torrential rains and floods of July, plus a severe frost back in May. Many of Vermont’s farms and orchards are suffering crop loss. In the spirit of eating locally, growing food and offering it to your neighbors, please go out and support your local farmers any way you can! 

Sharing Hope and Gratitude

Posted on Wednesday, November 18, 2020 by • No comments yet

It’s easier to remember we’re all in this together when we experience acts of kindness that inspire hope. Check out these Front Porch Forum postings for a reminder that we have some pretty great neighbors out there! We’re all in this together.

“Thank you to the kind stranger who returned my wallet to my home address today, everything fully intact. I lost it during a particularly discouraging week, and it was incredibly uplifting to find it in my mailbox today. Beyond the relief of not having to replace all of my IDs and cards, it is wonderful to be reminded that there are good people in this community doing the right thing. There wasn’t a note, so if you who returned it happens upon this post, please reach out and let me know– I would love the opportunity to thank you directly and return your kindness.” • Olivia in Burlington

“We are now 8 months into this pandemic, and it has been a very strange and stressful time. Are you OK? Are your neighbors OK? Many folks are struggling with things like loneliness and depression. Many have disabilities making routine tasks difficult. Some of us are facing food insecurity or struggling with addiction. Please remember to check in with your neighbors who may need help, and if you need help yourself, please reach out and feel the love this community has for you. Let me know if I can help or put you in touch with someone who can.” • Mark in Castleton

“About 2 weeks ago there was a posting for a man’s wedding ring that was found at Waterbury Reservoir. I’m happy to report that ring is now back on my nephew’s finger. To truly appreciate this story I have to share that the ring was lost at Waterbury Reservoir 2 YEARS AGO! We will never know what adventures that ring went on swimming around in that huge body of water. Thank you to the people who found it and posted it. Thank you to FPF for providing the most amazing service to our community. Never give up hope.” • Lorraine in Cambridge

“Thank you to everyone who emailed me in support of my post about the signs the other day. You are all so kind to take the time to extend your warm words.

It got me thinking though about how 2020 has been a dumpster fire of epic proportions A year that has left us with so many emotional jagged edges it’s no wonder we react without thinking, tear into friends and strangers and generally not being our best selves. We all know we can do better, we just seem to not have much bandwidth left for that.

So I would like to propose a community FPF challenge. It’s an easy one too. I would like everyone who reads this post to reply with a story of something great that happened to them today or this week. It doesn’t have to be big, or life changing or deep, in fact something simple and sweet is best. The idea is to fill up our hearts with all the ways we are a fantastic community, surrounded with great neighbors and friends and that we are truly lucky even when we forget that. Our “wealth” is all around us, we just need to remember that more often than not.

I hope you will take 60 seconds to join me and hit reply all with your own story of gratitude. Thanks, Beth

I will start.

I want to acknowledge and thank the man who I see walking around town with his garbage grabbing stick and orange bag picking up other people’s trash nearly everyday. You sir are AWESOME. Thank you so much for making our roads cleaner and more beautiful for everyone to enjoy. Hometown Hero in my book. Thank you so much.” • Elizabeth in Stowe

Spread your message or story of hope to your neighbors on FPF.

Honoring those who have passed in a special way

Posted on Monday, November 9, 2020 by • 1 comment

We couldn’t resist sharing this story shared on Front Porch Forum. A unique way to “pay it forward.”

“Something amazing happened to us tonight. We went out to dinner to celebrate our 51st wedding anniversary. We had a very nice meal which we very much enjoyed. When we asked for the check the waitress said that she had heard us say that it was our 51st anniversary. A frequent customer of their’s had called in and asked that, in memory of his son who would have been 24 today, the restaurant choose a customer celebrating something of consequence, and he would pick up the bill! So we had a very nice dinner capped off by this man’s thoughtfulness! We, of course, paid the waitress a tip for 20% of what the bill would have been and asked the hostess if she could give us our benefactors name and telephone. She did so and we called him as soon as we got home and thanked him. We also decided that this was such a nice thing to do that we will “pay it forward” and do the same thing in future every year on our anniversary to honor our long deceased parents and their anniversaries.”  • John in East Hardwick

Have your own examples of “Paying it Forward?”  Post them on FPF!

Pay It Forward: The Game of Goodwill Continues

Posted on Monday, June 29, 2020 by • No comments yet

A Montpelier neighbor on Front Porch Forum started a new game to inspire neighbors. Now, it’s spreading to towns all around Vermont! See some of the newest Pay It Forward postings from this game of goodwill, plus how to play, below!

“Free Invasives removal crew! Me and my team of muscley school age kiddos are trying to do daily invasive species removal (and get snacks for the cute and hungry goats!). 

If you see any invasive species on your property or the roadside, let us help get it out before it goes to seed! 

If you’ve already removed some and don’t know where to put it, come say hi and drop it off with the friendly goats! They will vocalize their delight at additional snacks, and it might sound like this: BAAAAAAAH! MAAAAAHHH!!   Just PAY IT FORWARD!” • Debbie in Richmond, Vt.

“My family made a couple of banana cream pies yesterday. I would love to share ONE with a member of our community. I’d happily and safely drop off the pie at your curb (in Stowe) if you’d enjoy having a sweet treat. With the idea that you accept my offering and pay it forward with your own offering 🙂

We’re playing a game to highlight and spread our community’s generosity and goodwill! Have a skill or item you’d like to brighten someone’s day with? Say, you could bake someone a dozen cookies, gift a bag of veggies from your garden, some pesto you made, a sketch or print, or offer a free lawn mow, an hour of weeding, or log splittingwe all have so many ways to contribute, and random acts of kindness make people happy. So let’s play!” • Kim in Stowe, Vt.

“Last week I received a lovely kombucha SCOBY through this fun game, and now it’s fermenting away in my kombucha pot, so it’s my turn to pay it forward!

During the CoVid shutdown I have been rather compulsively knitting baby hats, mostly newborn size. I know it’s not exactly the season for these, but summer won’t last forever. (Sadly…summer is so lovely in Vermont!) I’ve got four or five to offer, so let me know if you can use one. I’ve made 13 total but some will be going to knitting4peace when they are once again accepting donations.” • Sarah in Montpelier, Vt.

“I have MIXED SUNFLOWER SEEDS, or MIXED MARIGOLD SEEDS that I have gleaned last year. A generous quantity…In small white business envelopes. Pickup/Dropoff in Richmond.
FREE, just PAY IT FORWARD!” • Laurie in Richmond, Vt.

“How to play:
–We’re playing a game to highlight and spread our community’s generosity and goodwill! Have a skill or item you’d like to brighten someone’s day with? Say, you could bake someone a dozen cookies, gift a bag of veggies from your garden, some pesto you made, a sketch or print, or offer a free lawn mow, an hour of weeding, or log splitting…we all have so many ways to contribute, and random acts of kindness make people happy. So let’s play!

–Post “Pay it forward” in your subject line here on FPF, and copy and paste this “How to play” blurb at the end of your post, so that new folks can catch on. Offer an item or task up to the Montpelier FPF community at no charge.

–Note that you will take all recommended precautions in handling your pay it forward item or task to limit the spread of the corona virus, so folks feel comfortable accepting the goodness.

–When folks respond, deliver your item or task to them in a socially distant manner.

–Rejoice!” • Lauren in Montpelier, Vt.

Start playing in your neighborhood; post on FPF!

Pay It Forward

Posted on Friday, May 29, 2020 by • No comments yet

When you need hope the most, look to your neighbors. Sometimes the most shining and inspiring demonstrations of hope are right outside our front doors. Do you want to spread some hope and uplift others? Check out this awesome game created by a Montpelier FPF member and feel free to try it in your own neighborhood!:

“In these strange times, with so many of us experiencing increased anxiety and overwhelm, I’m inspired by all the generosity and goodwill I see here on our FPF. It really helps. It gave me a fun idea, and I wonder if anyone would like to play along. I was thinking, wouldn’t it be fun to have a pay-it-forward-style chain of giving around town–and FPF seems like a great tool by which to spread it.

Here’s how it could play out:
I love to bake sourdough bread. Do you know of someone who might really enjoy a surprise gluten-full delivery? (Yes, it can be you/your family, haha). Reply to me directly and I’ll drop some off on their/your stoop in a couple days, at no cost. Then, to continue the chain, you post about some thing or some (socially distant) task you can offer, and it goes and goes. If you’d like to play, please read the guidelines below.

So, consider my bread offer the start! Anyone know of a bread fiend who would really enjoy a homemade, crusty, whole-wheaty-y loaf? Let me know and I’ll get to bakin’. 🙂

Lauren

P.S. I follow recommended precautions to limit the spread of the corona virus, and will thoroughly wash hands before handling the baked loaf and will wear a mask for delivery. 🙂

Pay it forward
How to play:
–We’re playing a game to highlight and spread our community’s generosity and goodwill! Have a skill or item you’d like to brighten someone’s day with? Say, you could bake someone a dozen cookies, gift a bag of veggies from your garden, some pesto you made, a sketch or print, or offer a free lawn mow, an hour of weeding, or log splitting…we all have so many ways to contribute, and random acts of kindness make people happy. So let’s play!
–Post “Pay it forward” in your subject line here on FPF, and copy and paste this “How to play” blurb at the end of your post, so that new folks can catch on. Offer an item or task up to the Montpelier FPF community at no charge.
–Note that you will take all recommended precautions in handling your pay it forward item or task to limit the spread of the corona virus, so folks feel comfortable accepting the goodness.
–When folks respond, deliver your item or task to them in a socially distant manner.
–Rejoice!” • Lauren in Montpelier, Vt.

Start playing in your neighborhood; post on FPF!

Need some more inspiration? See how others have started to play the Pay it Forward game:

“Great idea…And fun game! We received an extremely tasty loaf of bread and some flourless cookies from Lauren. Thank you so much!

I have a plethora of Ramps in my woods and I have some Fiddleheads to pick. I’d be happy to pick a bag and deliver to you to grill or prepare as you’d like. So delicious! Just send me an email and then ‘Pay it Forward!'” • Chris and Suzie in Montpelier, Vt.

 

“We love Lauren’s idea and we’d like to play, too. My sweetheart and I would be happy to come to your house and stack your wood for two hours. We’ll wear masks and gloves while stacking. Reply to this email and then ‘Pay It Forward!'” • Nancy in Montpelier, Vt.

 

“Today I’m going to get some fiddleheads and ramps from someone and am offering up a few thing in gratitude to this awesome new FPF trend in our community.

I’ve got a box of strawberry starts that I got for free but then realized I had no time or tools to prep a bed in my yard. They seem, miraculously, to have survived.

If you have a home for them, I can put them on my front porch! I’m just off Berlin, about 1/2 mile from the food coop.”• Lisa in Montpelier, Vt.

Post your ‘pay it forward’ on FPF!

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Ghost of Midnight is an online journal about fostering community within neighborhoods, with a special focus on Front Porch Forum (FPF). My wife, Valerie, and I founded FPF in 2006... read more

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