Coffee shops, small diners, and restaurants are starting to “suspend” acts of kindness in the latest twist of the Pay it Forward movement. During a recent trip Scott Sonnon witnessed people suspending hot beverages for the less fortunate in a local coffee house. This is a wonderful and easy way to get everyone involved and share some humanity with others. People always think one person can’t make a difference but one person can become 10 and 10 a 100 and so on.
If you frequent a coffee shop or cafe daily why not show Scott’s article to the manager and see if they would be willing to start a suspended payment program at their location. It’s a win, win for everyone. The business may receive a tax write off for charitable donations, while still being paid full price for their product. Customers who pay for suspended beverages, or meals may also receive a tax break with a receipt. Be aware tax laws vary in each location. There are many homeless veterans, and homeless families with children on the street. Recently a woman in the southern part of the country was caught stealing food to feed her children. What if there had been a suspended program in her area? The officer chose not to arrest her. Instead the officer paid for the woman’s groceries and gave the young mother a fine. Every officer may not be as nice. Wouldn’t be great if that woman had somewhere to go without the risk of going to jail to feed her children and running the risk of having them sent to foster care while incarcerated for trying to feed her children? Clearly a program like this has the possibility to even decrease crime rates slightly in high poverty areas. A little goes a long way. This winter is projected to be one of the most brutal in years. So far the brutal cold and winter storms are living up to the projected hype. If there is something we can do to help someone stay warm and or get a meal to survive shouldn’t we all make the effort? An act of kindness for humanity is an act of love and kindness for ourselves.
Starbucks is usually really proactive in the pay it forward arena. If Starbucks is your favorite coffee shop or the coffee shop in your neighborhood won’t take the suspended coffee challenge with you maybe you can find a better cup of joe somewhere close by. Suspended coffees and sandwiches wouldn’t even be hard to implement. All it would take would be a sign stating customers can suspend a coffee or sandwich for someone in the future.
Read Scott Sonnon’s full story below. Feel free to use his link to join the cause, or print out the story to share with eateries near you.
May your life be reign be royal. Live a better life today that you did yesterday. Peace, Style, and Blessings. I think I have some suspending to do.
Please join https://www.facebook.com/SuspendedCoffeess?ref=hl
www.facebook.com/ScottSonnon “We enter a little coffeehouse with a friend of mine and give our order. While we’re approaching our table two people come in and they go to the counter:
‘Five coffees, please. Two of them for us and three suspended’ They pay for their order, take the two and leave.
I ask my friend: “What are those ‘suspended’ coffees?”
My friend: “Wait for it and you will see.”
Some more people enter. Two girls ask for one coffee each, pay and go. The next order was for seven coffees and it was made by three lawyers – three for them and four ‘suspended’. While I still wonder what’s the deal with those ‘suspended’ coffees I enjoy the sunny weather and the beautiful view towards the square in front of the café. Suddenly a man dressed in shabby clothes who looks like a beggar comes in through the door and kindly asks
‘Do you have any suspended coffee?’
It’s simple – people pay in advance for a coffee meant for someone who can not afford a warm beverage. The tradition with the suspended coffees started in Naples, but it has spread all over the world and in some places you can order not only a suspended coffee, but also a sandwich or a whole meal.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have such cafés or even grocery stores in every town where the less fortunate will find hope and support? If you own a business why don’t you offer it to your clients… I am sure many of them will like it.
Please join https://www.facebook.com/SuspendedCoffeess?ref=hl
very respectfully,
Scott Sonnon
www.facebook.com/ScottSonnon
