How can you PAY IT FORWARD?

How can you pay it forward?

How can you PAY IT FORWARD?

Originally written on September 21, 2010 by Tara Cooper 



Have you ever wondered how you could do something for another person in need?  To truly pay it forward it is to do something for another person or group of people without wanting or needing anything in return.  We are truly here to help others.  Many feel they don’t have the time, money, ability & some may simply not have the desire to “pay it forward”.  I would love to hear about some ways that you have recently paid it forward to someone.  Maybe someone paid it forward to you!  Please share & by sharing you are actually paying it forward by showing others how easy it can be & that we don’t have to be a super hero to do this.

I invite you to watch this short video about a wonderful assignment we can all commit to!
Pay It Forward-assignment!

I hope that you don’t mind if I share something a group of 11 children and their parents participated in to pay it forward.  My daughter just turned 3.(2010)  She is a very lucky little girl with a home, a bed, food, two parents who love her, clothes to wear and lots of toys to call her own.  She has even more than that as she has a very loving family including her little brother, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins and many friends too!  We enjoy family vacations and she is in a number of social activities weekly including sports that she enjoys at a young age. 

She was telling us about her “birthday party” that she wanted to have, that wasn’t planned early in September.  Once we saw how much she talked about her birthday party, we decided to have a birthday party for her.  At 3 she is starting to realize that a birthday party means: friends, playing, cake, singing, candles, balloons and presents.  She has everything she needs (except maybe an FM system-that her dad and I are working towards buying-which will help her with her hearing loss), but for all things a little 3 year old needs, she has it all and then some.  We decided to have the birthday party for her, but without all the presents.  We wanted to “pay it forward” by telling the guests our plan to support a child in need in our community.  The biggest thing was deciding where to go and what child to donate to.  We started with the women and children’s shelter in our community.  There was a little girl who needed some help, she was our person!  All 11 children signed a large card (shown above), and together we collectively donated $200.  Many have generously given gently used clothing also.  I will be so happy to deliver an wrapped gift to this special little girl and to provide her with money for things she needs.  I know that I will not be so lucky as to meet her or even know her name, but I know that the gift that all Hannah’s friends have generously contributed – will not only put a smile on the little girls face, it might actually put food in her belly, clothing on her back, something she needs for school and hopefully a toy to call her own.  There are so many people who need our help.  When is it going to be the right time to start by helping others with a small gift?  You may feel like you are too small to make a difference – think again!  Everything starts with an idea – which changes into an action!  Start ACTING today – a small drop of water will create a LARGE ripple effect!  Where are you going to place your next drop?

I would like to personally thank all the little ones who attended my daughter’s birthday party on Sunday, September 19, 2010 and for all the generous donations the parents kindly gave.  We brought a smile to a little girl in need, all by making a small donation, that when put together became large.


Fast forward to today, February 15, 2013.  Our family continues to pay it forward to family members in need, friends, and strangers through donations and food. Collectively a group of us will be collecting donations to make a 12 year old's dream come true through Make a Wish.  If you wish to help make Caroline's dream come true by making a donation, please contact Tara.  You will receive a charitable tax donation receipt.

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