this morning i got myself a cup of coffee at mcdonalds and i gave the attendant $2 and 2 TGR cards for the next customer in line. didn't wait to see their reaction but hope it made them smile. woohoo!
2008-12-03 10:02:35
God's Grace...
Anonymous, 30, Shallotte, NC, US
I do believe that The Gift Revolution is yet another way for God to bless us through one another! I put my daughter in a small private school against my better financial judgment. It is a stretch each month... But the school is truly an amazing, loving caring environment. Each of the children there are florishing and it is worth every dime. I started praying from the day I made this decision to put her here that, "If it was meant to be, the tuition $$$ would come, through hard work and extra side jobs." Last week I got paid on a side job that I'd been working every night on after my daughter was in bed... Today I was on my way to the school office to take two months tuition to the office and was met by the schools administrator with my bill. I opened it there in the front lawn to find a card from TheGiftRevolution.com and a $0.00 balance! I almost started crying at the generousity of this. How AMAZING! I called my husband to tell him and now we must decide how we will Bless those next in line. These are "penny's from heaven"...
2008-12-03 09:54:53
Starbucks
Jeff Campion, 37, Weston, US
I have been buying coffee for people the last 4 or 5 days -- leaving cards and about $15 for anyone behind me. Yesterday I did it again. When I went to Starbucks today the manager said, "you started a trend." I said, "what?" And, he said. "aren't you the one that left the cards and the money? For 30 minutes each person passed on the gift, paying for another." That's cool.
2008-12-03 09:31:50
My Impact
Unknown, 19, Ava, US
I have been saving up for something big in my life and to be honest it's sort of a nessecity, but I have been moved to give as much as I can possible afford this season. I have faith that God with help me get it in the end. Over the period of the last week and half I have paid for two cars behind me at McDonald's, gave a women in Walmart 100.00 dollars to help with groceries, bought a total of 500 hundred cookies for my co workers, Gave a 20.00 tip to my waitress, bought a soda for another women, gave a pencil and a pop to a man, and 40.00 dollars to another individual. I have always loved to give...I really have and I feel blessed that God has given me this opportunity to help other people when the economy is bad. I pray to be able to be used by God to have the most effective impact that I can as an individual. I want people to know that God does love them and that he desires a relationship with them.I look forward to seeing what else the Lord will allow me to give.
2008-12-03 08:17:23
Gas Station in Philly
Chris, 43, Philadelphia, US
I have been lucky enough to have visited most of the big cities in the USA and even Sydney and Melbourne in Australia ..but I have never lived in one until my recent move to Philadelphia and was a bit overwhelmed by people asking for money on the street and became somewhat guarded.
So I am pulling into a gas station on the corner of Spring Garden and Columbus Blvd..(the one that has to have security guards on the weekend) I drive a kind of flashy mustang and was delayed pulling in , I could tell I was spotted by a man in a wheel chair on the other side of the parking lot...so I thought to myself “ I better park quick and go into the convenience store before he could pan handle me . So I whip into a spot and got out as fast as I could and tried to pretend I did not see the man struggling to catch me before I entered the store. I had got there first before he could position himself, I heard him mutter a sigh. I knew all I had were $20's , I stopped and thought about how lucky I was again and walked over to him and gave him one of my 20's. I am sure he was hoping for a couple bucks at best by his expression of gratitude and it really made me feel good.
2008-12-03 02:25:39
A little extra
SH, 33, Tampa, US
My wife, our kids, and I stopped in for lunch at Chili's this past Sunday. Our pastor spoke to us about the Gift Revolution earlier in the day. We had a wonderful waitress and wanted to bless her. We gave a pretty good tip and a card to pass it on. I hope we were able to brighten her day a little.
2008-12-03 01:38:46
An Opportunity to Care
Mercy, 58, Miami, US
I was at Walmart just before Thanksgiving buy the last items for dinner. After selecting my items I looked for a line so I could pay, the lines were extremly long and only a couple of registers open. It looked like the lines when people are getting ready for a hurricane to hit Florida. I was so tired that I decide to leave the cart and go home. There was a man standing outside his car next to mine and I commented to him that if he was waiting for his wife that he had to a long wait because of the long lines inside the store. He said his wife was in the car and that is where he was living because they were homeless, he also had his 5 year old inside. He didn't ask for money but I offered him some, then I realized I didn't have cash. I told him to wait until I went to get cash but on the way I also bought him a family meal from Boston Market. While there I asked some rescue works if they knew of a shelter in the area, they said no, just the same I gave them the revolution card. I went back to the Walmart parking lot gave the man the food, $20 dollars and prayed with him and his wife. He told me he had faith that God would take care of him. If I would have stayed in the line I might have missed that family and the opportunity to provide them with a meal and some money. God works in mysterious ways!
2008-12-03 00:40:38
McD's Apple Pie deliveries :)
Desiree Kameka, 22, Miami, US
As I was going through the drive-thru... I felt the nudge to pay for the bill of the guy behind me (even though at that time no one was there) The lady at the window was super rude to me when I paid for my stuff and didn't even acknowledge my presence... BUT when I told her I wanted to pay for the guy behind me, she looked me in the eye and was like 'You want to pay for the guy behind you!' Her whole demeaner changed... funny...
The other 4 pies were for the lady who is at the gaurd gate at Univ. of Miami and for two of my friends who covered my shift... :)
I must say my day was pretty crappy, but I'm feeling way better now AND ENERGIZED:) An apple a day may keep the doctor away... But 'He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.' Proverbs 11:25 :)
2008-12-03 00:37:41
Food Drive
Food Drive for TGR , 38, NYC, US
Food Drive
2008-12-03 00:36:14
Free Ride
Jessica Hill, 25, Hollywood, US
I've been attending college now for 6 months and have become close with my fellow classmates. About 1 week ago a classmate of mine was in a car accident. He is OK, but his car was pretty banged up. Without his car he had no way of getting to and from school. So I told him that everyday until his car is fixed I would pick him up and take him home. I picked him up last week and when he got in the car I gave him a Gift Revolution card and explained it to him. Now he wants me to bring him some cards so he can give them out to. This revolution is worldwide and bringing us together! God Bless
2008-12-03 00:13:48
Redbox
Linwood Noble, 33, Middleburg, US
I stuck a dollar in the redbox machine at McDonalds and watched people get free movies it was awesoeme.
2008-12-02 23:51:25
Remax Donuts
Ileana , 16, Miami, FL, US
So, my parent's business is right next door to Remax. As most of you know, times are rough and especially right now for realtors. I went next door and delivered a dozen sprinkled donuts to the Remax next door. The donuts in the box were ridculously festive. If the donut had Christmas sprinkles, it was going in that stinkin' box! When I walked in and gave it to the receptionist, she was almost in tears. She had had one of "those" weeks and said she couldn't believe what I had done. We sat there talking for a while and she said that it touched her to see that there are still good/nice people left in the world. She said that she was DEFINITELY going to do the Gift Revolution and that she would continue to pay it foward.
As I was leaving to go home, she stopped me on my way out of my parent's office and thanked me again. She said thank you for the donuts, but also thank you for taking the time to think of her and her office today. She got it. She got the point. She said that what happened today ran much deeper than donuts. :)
Let's continue this Gift Revolution baby! Remax, you've just be T.G.R.'ed!
2008-12-02 23:46:12
Coupons they aren't that bad..
Katherine, 31, Hollywood, US
I was at the Home Depot today and I had 3 different coupons. One was for $25.00 off and one was for 10.00 off. I have one to the guy in front of me who had a lot of stuff and one to the guy behinf me and they both were a bit shocked. But I just told them to pay it forward. I handed them a gift Revolution card.... They were smiling when I left and the cashier said to the guy behind me as I was getting my stuff. See there isn't many people like this lady and more... I just smiled and wished her a Merry Christmas.....
It feels so good to do this stuff.
Keep it coming guys... I am loving the kindness that we are dishing out to the world...
2008-12-02 22:53:06
Smokey Bones
Allan, 39, Plantation, US
My wife and I were picking up dinner from Smokey Bones. I got $20 in my hand and looked for someone to bless. There was a young single mother with two young children (see seemed single) sitting in a booth. I gave her the $20, the card and explained the gift revolution to her. She said; "God Bless you." Seemed pretty fitting to me. As my wife and I waited for our take-out, the two young kids came by and thanked us again.
2008-12-02 22:37:37
My Gift Revolution Experience
Lauren, 40, Cooper City, US
Hi,
I hope you read this message that I am sending out. It is really special.
On "Black Friday" I went to Toy R Us at 5am with my friend Julie who needed to shop for her 3 kids. It's funny I really didn't need to buy anything because I was finished with my holiday shopping, but I wanted to go and see what everyone always talks about after Thanksgiving. I was wondering how many people would actually get up and go shopping a 5:00 in the morning, I was worried that people would be rude and that the lines would be so long. Well, I was right the line at the Toys R Us in Pembroke Pines was so long that by the time we got into line we were all the way back to Pines Boulevard.
As I was walking up to find where the end of the line was, there was a group of people that had their car parked right in front of the store. The back of the car was opened and there were dozens and dozens of donuts and many gallons of coffee right in the back of their car. The people were handing donuts and coffee out for free to anyone that walked by. I got a cup of coffee (it was 5 AM) and I tried to offer them money for the coffee and they said, no this is our gift of revolution. And then they handed me a card with this web site on it: www.thegiftrevolution.com.
I thought this must be another group that wants you to join them and they will ask you for money so I was skeptical (imagine that) Well... I went to their website and I now understand why they did what they did. Just a good deed, (kind of like paying it forward)all they wanted me to do was to do a good deed and give the card to someone else. I took the card and put in in my pocket, got in line and went shopping. It was so weird because our shopping experience was enjoyable, no one was rude, everyone was mellow and careful.
Now I know you all know I am Jewish and I work in a Temple and this website was hosted by churches and local businesses, but for some reason it didn't matter it wasn't really about religion or christmas, it was about doing something nice for someone else. Acts of love and kindness, Tzedakah whatever I wanted to make of it. Since it is now Tuesday, it took me a few days to get my thoughts together and write this email to you but I feel strongly about somehow trying to keep this going. So I am going to do something real nice for someone. I don't know who and I don't know when, but I know that when the time is right I will do something.
I feel lucky that I have my family and that my kids are happy and have nice things. When I sat down with my kids to tell them about this, they both wanted to go into their own toys and games and give them to someone that was less fortunate than them.I was realizing that they "got it" too. Last year both kids actually packed up their "old" toys and we gave them to a family that we knew that had 3 kids and didn't have many toys. It was a Mitzvah and this year Maia reminded me that she was so happy to give her Dora dolls and bicycle to one of the little girls and she wants to do it again.
I am sending this email out to let you know about this story and maybe you can do something simple and unexpected for someone else. Go to the web site and see what others have gone out and done!! The stories on the website are so amazing and will touch your heart. With all of the economic hardships that are all around us or even touching some of us. It doesn't take much but it makes such a difference.
This year I want to make a difference. Even if it is a small one. I hope to spread it around to as many people that are willing to do the same!! If you do, please share your story with me or go to www.thegiftrevolution.com and share it on there!!
Have a wonderful Holiday!!
Lauren
2008-12-02 22:24:25
Free Chick-fi-la
Mario Hood, 24, cleveland, US
This is an awesome idea and I had to jump in.
Me and my wife love chic-fil-a, so I thought that I could begin the gift revolution by paying for the cars meal behind me... so I head to chic-fil-a and normally this place is pack (still good service) but when I pulled up tonight there was NO ONE in the line.
Bummer, I had a great idea, but now I wasn't going to be able to get my revolution on. I was sad... so what did I do... I waited, that's right. I pulled just close enough to be the next person in line and waited tell a car pulled in behind me (took about 5 min).
Man was it worth the wait... I was so jacked to pull up to the window pay for my meal and ask the girl at the window how much was the cars meal behind me. She asked me if I knew them I said NO. She looked at me weird and said OKAY and then told me how much it was... and I paid for it...she was totally blown away..
The girl at the window said that's the greatest thing I have ever seen... I reached for a piece of paper and wrote down the website told her to go to it and then ask her to give the paper to the car behind me. It was an awesome feeling to do that.
Join the revolution.
2008-12-02 22:10:18
Baby Formula
Sondra, 56, Loris, US
My story happened last week on Thanksgiving. My husband and I have 6 children, 7 grandchildren and right now have 3 foster children. After Thanksgiving dinner I stopped by Wal-Mart in Myrtle Beach to buy baby formula for our 2 month old foster baby and was shocked at the price. When I took the formula out of the bag when I got home, I noticed something under the lid, when I opened it i found a Gift Revolution care and a five dollar bill. It really warmed my heart.
2008-12-02 21:48:56
At the RaceTrac
Jim, 41, Davie, US
A young college student walked up to me as I was getting ready to fill up my tank, $1.82, and laid down a story that his wallet was stolen from the Ale House. He needed some cash so he could get to his Mom in Miami and then get back to UCF. Whatever the story I gave $20 and wished him a Merry Christmas. He thanked me and walked away. I finished filling up and remembered I had a GiftRevolution card in the car. Luckily the student was still around, I walked up gave him the card and told him to check it out.
2008-12-02 21:37:23
Interesting
Greg K., 42, Pembroke Pines, US
On the phone talking to work, someone did the gesture of buying my dinner at Subway without any conversation taking place between the two of us. Remarkable.
2008-12-02 21:36:28
Mending Fences
Diana Latzko, 64, Davie, US
I came into some unexpected $ recently, from tobacco lawsuits and decided to do some home improvements. After Hurricane Wilma, I could not afford to chip in to replace the fence with my neighbor on the east. Now I can afford to replace both sides AND the back. When I informed my neighbors of my intention, they each told me they were having financial problems and could not contribute the $350 each (their respective share), I told them to forget about it and gave them each a giftrev card & wished them a happy holiday season. This was not $ I worked for. It came from God and I wanted to share in the bounty this holiday season! They were VERY very grateful and tearful. I made me feel good to be able to afford to do something for someone when I couldn't previously contribute even my share. Their religious beliefs may be different than my own but the power of a gift remains the same & I am hoping they will spread it amongst their communities as well!
