We can all agree on one thing: we all need to be a little kinder to each other, especially after the rough year that so many of us have experienced this year.
One customer at a Dairy Queen in Brainerd, Minnesota hoped to spread some kindness by doing a random act of kindness for another community member.
But what he didn’t know was that his act would inspire over 900 people.
Tina Jensen, the store manager at one of the two Dairy Queens in Brainerd, told CNN that a man came through the fast-food restaurant’s drive-thru on December 3 wanting to pay for his meal and the meal of the vehicle behind him.
She said that while it happens from time to time, it generally stops after two dozen vehicles.
Not this time.
“Not sure if its the sun shining, or the Christmas Spirit is already here… But it started with one and we are now at about 48 cars that have paid it forward! Lets keep this caring train going!” Jensen wrote on the store’s Facebook page.
By 9:00 p.m that evening, nearly 300 vehicles paid it forward.
And at closing on Thursday and Friday, someone left money for the first person to come through the Dairy Queen’s drive-thru the following day.
“I think this touched a lot of people that we didn’t even know it touched, deeper than we know. And you don’t know what’s going on in a person’s life.”
Heidi Bruse, a lucky recipient and participant in the act of kindness, said it restored her faith in humanity “a little.”
“The way the world is now you see a lot of anger, tension, and selfish behavior. What we witnessed was pure kindness and it was a breath of fresh air really.”
By the time the chain ended, more than 900 vehicles were involved and the Dairy Queen made $10,000 in sales. So not only did the customers treat each other, but they helped a restaurant in a time when many restaurants are struggling to survive.
These little acts of kindness give me hope too, and I think they’re so wonderful especially at this time of year.
Have you ever paid it forward at a drive-thru? Let us know on Facebook.