giving what I can

Anonymous, 39, bethpage, US

I have been thing all day long on how I could touch somebody's life, so when I went grocery shopping it came to me to but $5.oo and TGR card in top of a can of baby formula. Maybe that helped someone out and when they can maybe they can pay it forward.

2009-12-19 00:56:09

Candy Cane Classroom

Joelle, 14, Clarkston, US

I used my allowance to buy 110 candy canes, and hand-taped a Gift Revolution card to each one. The next day i passed them all out at school, it was lots of fun to do something nice for all my classmates!

2009-12-18 19:27:50

Christmas Gift

Jason, Cassandra, & Mackenzie , 27, Davison, US

Where to start? Things have been really tight for our family this Christmas. My husband was layed off about 3 weeks ago and he has been doing side job. We have been trying to come up with money for rent and Christams. Well I got home from a church were a family help with christmas for my daughter, and the school called. I called back and the secratary asked if I was sitting down. Then she told me there was an envelope droped off with $100.00 in it. I started crying. We are so thankful for this christmas gift. I wish I knew who did this for us, I want to tell them thank you and I hope god will bless them for what they have done for our family. Exspecally for my daughter Mackenzie. This will be a great christmas for us. Cassandra Gallaty

2009-12-18 16:09:08

CHEAP BOOKS!

Nicole LaBeau, 27, Swartz Creek, MI, US

My husband and I were blessed with a little financial aid money for college this year. Still after tution, books are extremely expensive, even used. I took an accounting class and I just though I would ask if anyone had the 2 classes I am taking this winter. I was happy to find out that 2 students had the same books I needed. I paid them a fraction of what I would have paid for used books at the bookstore. One I paid $70 for and the bookstore wanted $120 for a used book. The other was $20 and they were also wanting in the $100 range. GOD HAS TRUELY BLESSED US SO MUCH THIS YEAR...THANK YOU LORD!

2009-12-18 13:48:22

random acts of kindness

Cindy, 44, Little River, US

I had a client who needed to come into the salon to get her hair done for an important event on a day when our salon was closed. I told her I would come in and for her not to worry. I picked up a cup of hot tasty coffee for her when she got there. After doing her hair I offered to do her makeup for her too. After finishing all her services I told her there was no charge. She insisted but I told her about The Gift Revolution and that this was my gift to her. She was very thankful and I felt wonderful. Minutes after leaving the salon I received a call from a stranger informing me they had found my daughters phone in the college parking lot. I believe this was God returning the kindness. God is ALWAYS good!

2009-12-18 11:38:15

Changing someone's Christmas

Chris & Amy Stone, 36, Davison, US

As soon as Pastor Steve presented us with this opportunity I immediately knew who I was going to help. I work for Carter Lumber and one of my builders has always gone out of his way to bring me work. He is willing to give me a lead even though he may not get any work out of it. And in this economy in Michigan right now work is hard to come by, especially in the building industry. He has a wife and two young girls. I just wanted to be sure that they had a nice warm meal and some gifts for the kids. I had received a $50 gift card from Meijers for purchasing a gift for my own daughter. I thought, i don't "need" anything else and instead of buying her MORE gifts I decided to give it to my builder's family. So I took him to lunch the other day and asked him if he had gotten his kids Christmas presents yet. He mentioned a few small things and as I sat there comparing what I had gotten my own daughter, I decided that I could do even more. So just before I handed him his Christmas card with the gift card in it, I grabbed another $50 cash out of my wallet and put it in the card. Then I asked him if his younger daughter needed any clothes, because we had just gone through our clothes and had 4 big bags full of kids clothes that would fit her. He said yah, that would be awesome! He just came to get the clothes and I still felt like I could do more. SO I gave him 2 extra TV's that we had. My story isn't much but I think it DID change Christmas for at least one family this year. I know they appreciated it. They told me that when they get their taxes back this spring that they want to take us to Frankenmuth for chicken dinners. (I said sure but I fully intend on paying).

2009-12-17 21:08:25

Hannah Loved It!!

Jonathan and Lisa Meade, 36, West Plains, Mo. , US

Last Monday night my husband Jonathan and I got to keep our niece Hannah (age 7) overnight. Jonathan told her after supper that we had a surprise and proceeded to explain to her the concept of The Gift Revolution. She was very excited about it but I really don't think that she understood the big picture until we were out doing things. We did our stand-by of giving hot cocoa to the bell ringers at Wal-Mart and JC Penney. It was so amazing to see the look on Hannah's face as she gave the people the cocoa or the Gift Revolution card explaining what it was all about. We then purchased some Wal-Mart gift cards. Each gift card can also be used at the gas station for fuel. So we then camped out at the gas station at Wal-Mart looking for those we can "gift". The look on the peoples faces as Jonathan and Hannah gave away the gas cards were priceless. Each one of them did a double take as if they couldn't believe that someone would do something for them. We are so excited about this! We are trying to think of something unique to do next. This should be a year round project, not just a Christmas project! Much love...

2009-12-17 15:26:20

THE FOOD DRIVE

kenny b, 44, west plains, US

My son's class is having a food drive at his school, the goal was to donate 500 food items to families in out district that need a little help.We had already bought 10 or so items, when he brought home a note a couple of days ago saying that they were 100 items short with the drive ending on Friday the 18th. Found myself at Wall-mart buying some gifts when i rembered the note from school, whipped out my cell and called the school and spoke one of the teachers in charge and asked how many families we were helping and how far behind we were, swhe informed me that it was 7 families ane we were 40 to 50 items from our goal. She sounded as if the goal would not be reached, i told her i think we will make it and then proceded to purchase 49 items for fod drive. Have a great feeling in my heart. Now i have found this site i am going to start my gifting tommorow. God bless

2009-12-16 23:31:25

Blessing at the Laundrymat

Chad, 30, Portland, US

This past Saturday, our singles group from church took part in the Gift Revolution by going to several different laundrymats in Gallatin and gave quarters to several people to pay for washing thier laundry. We had some quarters leftover and tonight when I went to do my laundry in Portland, I took those leftover quarters and paid for six loads of laundry for a woman and her daughter.

2009-12-16 22:36:51

pay it forward

Joann Heisinger, 54, Gallatin, US

Last weekend, I planned to take my car up to the dealer in Kentucky for some work. I had noticed that there was an oil stain in the garage under the car. I made the 45 minute ride and was greeted by the service writer. He asked me where my husband was because we usually traveled there together. I told him that my husband was in the hospital very ill. That in fact, I was considering selling the car because I believed he was going to die in a coma. However, I was going to have a blessed Christams because my husband defied medicine and was now recovering. Ten minutes later, the service writer was able to tell me that the problem occured with my last oil change in TN - the filter was not properly installed and oil had sprayed all over under the hood. Soon after, the dealer came back and handed me my keys and said that they had cleaned up yhe mess, changed the oil and filter and had even washed the car for me - no charge. He wished me a Merry Christmas and said that he would continue to pray for my husband. Neither he nor the mechanic would take a tip from me. On my way home, stopped at a traffic light, a man about 60 years old was standing at the side of the road with a backpack, a bed roll, and a sign saying "Hungry - anything will help." I took the money I tried to use as a tip and made sure Gary had a hot meal and coffee at the Wendys across the street, and some money in his pocket. I thought he would cry with gratitude as I left him. Later on, in the same car, on my way to services, I had a flat tire. It was dark then so I pulled into a brightly lit construction site. Now I wanted to cry. A young man there immediately came out and spent the time to change my tire, put everything back in my trunk neatly, and even paid the 75 cents to air up my spare. He would not take any money either. I got to church a little late, but the bucket got the money I couldn't give away today.

2009-12-16 21:42:41

A smile on a little girls face

Teresa, 40, North Myrtle Beach, US

As I sat in the food court at Coastal Grand Mall I notice a Mother with 2 young childen sit down to share a plate of food & she had brought her own drinks. (nothing wrong with that) Just guessing that her funds were low. I walked to the creamery & purchased a gift card for them to have desert! Yum. I walked up to the lady & explained that I purchased desert for them & explained about the gift revolution (doing something nice for someone else) & gave her a card. She was so appreciative & explained that her daughter had just asked her for some ice cream & she couldn't afford it! My feeling within was so overwelming! As I sit here & reflect on the day. I came accross so many deals & it was such a productive day, but the best feeling was sharing with someone else & putting a smile on there face! Truly a day where God was behind it all......

2009-12-16 17:51:56

Stressed and Blessed

Crystal, 32, jacksonville, US

I cant believe what an awesome idea this is. I woke up this morning in such a good mood but after getting to the dr with my son at 915am and leaving at 11am i was so stressed. I then got to the daycare and got even more stressed. By the time i calmed down i realized that i havent eating anything. So i asked a co worker to go to McDonalds to get me something to eat when she got back she was like your food was free and i was like wow. Then i read the card and was like ok Crystal your turn get on it. So i am gonna go out today and bless someone that maybe like me stressed out from a long day.

2009-12-16 15:50:57

Suprised clerk

Sue, 32, Portland, US

I stopped to get gas. The lady in front of me purchased a few items, and two dollars worth of gas. She told the clerk she had left her purse in the car. When she went out to get her purse I told the clerk I wanted to pay for her items. The clerk said, wow, there are still nice people in this world. She said she would glady pass the card along.

2009-12-15 22:53:33

Robbery

Anonymous, 11, Kinston, US

When I came home from basketball practice one night last week, I saw that the police were at my house. When I went into the house I found out that I had been robbed. They stole my mom's flat screen and my Playstation 2. My mom's television was recovered but I didn't get my playstation back. I told my teacher the next day and she told her friend that my PS2 was stolen and her friend gave me a new ps2 and I really appreciated it. I am going to take the card that he gave me and do something nice for someone else.

2009-12-15 15:25:13

3 random gifts

heather, 31, west plains,mo, US

so i recieved a stack of the cards in my mail box and so so far i gifted 3 random people.it was so much fun.one person was a man that has seen hard times and needed some hope the second was a lady at the gas station and the third was a lil old lady a local thrift store.i went in looked around and found the one i wanted to have it and had the cashier to place it in her bag once she paid for her stuff. i wish i could have seen the look on their faces but didnt want them knowing it was me.the man recieved a cologne set bag of candy and some hot cocoa packs the gas station lady was a fleece blanket wrapped in a scarf with hot cocoa packets and the third was a tin can with candy canes taped to the top with some bath stuff inside with hot cocoa and snack bars.

2009-12-15 15:04:10

Almost caught....

Shannon, 36, West Plains, US

My kids and I have been working on this gift revolution for more than a week now. We are trying to be as anonymous as possible, but with 3 boys it is just hard to do! Today we fixed up a bag with a movie and some snacks to leave on someone's front porch who has 5 kids. I sent my 15 year old up to put it by the front door. When he got up to the house he noticed there were Christmas lights on the ground and a ladder in front of the house. He left the bag on the sidewalk and high-tailed it back to the car. I think that is the fastest I have ever seen him run. It was too funny!

2009-12-15 00:01:34

Second time's a charm!

Jennifer Jones, 35, Jacksonville, NC, US

My husband and I were shopping at Belk's today. When we checked out we were checked out by a frazzled, although patient and polite saleswoman named Terry. She had people from all directions asking her questions, irritated the line was so long and just generally annoyed. All the while she kept her cool and tried to smile. When we left we went to Chick Fil A and bought some $5 gift cards. I went back to Belk's and found Terry and offered her the gift card and the Gift Revolution card and told her about our church and what it was all about. Still not quite understanding what I was doing, she commented that she didn't eat at Chick Fil A, but that she would give it to a co-worker. I suggested she might just get a coke or a brownie after a hard day at work. She then realized it was a gift card, not a coupon and said that they (as Belk employees) couldn't accept gift cards from customers and suggested that I might give it to someone at my church..hummm...I didn’t bother to tell her everyone at our church has about 100 each!. :) I took it back, wished her Merry Christmas and walked away a bit dejected:) I had tried...and failed. A bit annoyed by the whole situation, my husband and I walked to the car. When we reached our car it was blocked by a locksmith van. The locksmith was working on the car next to ours to get the keys out. Outside the car stood a 20 something young woman and a VERY annoyed husband or boyfriend. She appeared to be on the verge of tears and he was clearly annoyed at the entire situation with this arms crossed and a good bit of distance from the girl. I thought, "ah ha...another shot!" I got the gift card and The Gift Revolution card, walked up to her and told her it looked like she was having a bad day and I thought she could use it. She then let her tears go and with a big smile hugged me and said thank you....I then joked that her irritated male friend couldn't have anything she bought with it unless he was being nice to her....he smiled and when we back out he was hugging her and seemed to be consoling her. Although my first attempt didn't work out as I'd hoped, the second opportunity was much better! Hopefully they got the keys out and went to Chick Fil A for a brownie!

2009-12-14 23:32:50

Blessed Breakfast

Chad, 30, Portland, US

This past Saturday I stopped by Sonic to get a quick bite to eat for breakfast. When the waitress brought me my order I gave her a tip that was 3 times what my order had cost and a card. She said "thank you very much" and then I went on my way.

2009-12-14 23:10:51

flat tire

Tony and Kim, 65, Fenton mich., US

Driving to the store we noticed a young lady driving on a really bad flat tire and we followed her to let her know. She said i no but can't fix it till i get off work. (You could tell by the tire that she had been driving on it for awhile) We asked her if we could fix the flat tire for her and she said ok but you don't have to. So my husband took the tire off and we drove to Discount Tire to get it fixed. The manager put a new tire on for her and said Merry Christmas, no charge.We took the tire back and put it on her car and gave her a gift revolution.com card and left. It just goes to show you, when you do something good for someone, then someone else will too. God Bless Everyone.

2009-12-14 19:06:47

bell ringers

J & L M, 35, west plains, US

My wife came up with the idea when we saw the bell ringers in front of walmart she said let go buy them some hot chocolate. We bought it for the bell ringers at walmart and jcpenny it was great the reaction from them was very gracious. If you havn't done it yet get out and do it & spread the Christmas joy of giving to others.

2009-12-14 17:29:10