Paying It Forward From Pittsburgh to Chicago
The concept of 'paying it forward' doing a good deed while asking that the person helped would in turn help some other individual provided the motivation to obtain Good Samaritan in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to pay it all the way forward to Chicago, Illinois.
Around the beginning of April, the man from Pittsburgh (who wishes to be anonymous) picked Chicago at random and posted a message on the Internet site Craigslist offering to help anyone in Chicago from the weekend of April 4-5. He wrote that he could assist with such things as groceries, giving a ride, or helping with house or yard work. The only thing he wanted in return was for the person helped to pay it forward by aiding someone in the future. After sifting through the replies, the man decided can help four of the respondents, all of them strangers.
Armed with tools, a video camera, and some clothing he was planning to give to one of the several parties needing help, the man made the long trek to Chicago. In trip he received an e-mail on his cellphone in one more person requesting assistance; this brought his mission total to five. A great April 16 story, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette quoted the Good Samaritan as praoclaiming that he knew he was 'taking a risk' traveling various city to meet complete strangers, yet he didn't let fear deter your ex boyfriend.
His first mission on Saturday would have been to deliver an automobile battery to a person whose van needed a new one. Mission number two also involved a vehicle: a man had bought a truck on, associated with places, Craigslist and needed a ride to Des Plaines, Illinois, to understand it. The last mission on Saturday the one received via cellphone was to help someone remodel a bathroom, which included the twist that the remodeler was himself doing the try to help a friend.
Sunday began with mission number four: tearing down a vintage wooden swing that is set in a woman's yard. At this point the Pittsburgh Samaritan ended on the receiving end 1 of his own pay-it-forward efforts: the person who had needed the ride to his recently purchased truck showed very much assist with dismantling the swing package. Mission number five brought the altruistic odyssey to completion as the Good Samaritan donated the previously mentioned clothing to the Chicago Homeless Sandwich Run, which delivers food, clothing, and personal items to over 800 homeless people every Sunday.
The day concluded with the long journey back to Pittsburgh, putting a wonderful total of 1,176 miles on the Samaritan's car. Afterward, he posted videos of his adventure on the YouTube website under consumer name 'friendinpittsburgh' and also the title 'Pay It Forward Pittsburgh to Chicago Random Acts of Kindness.' It is since gathered over 5,000 views, and hubby from Pittsburgh told the Post-Gazette one is very happy with how it all turned out. 'Positive energy rubs off on other guests.
I figured quickly posted something and got a couple of hits on YouTube then other people would do good things, pay it forward, and there would be a chain-reaction. I didn't expect anything to this extent.'
The extent for the Pittsburgh Samaritan's influence can be affecting the comments left by his YouTube viewers. A viewer known as missmandie78 wrote: 'What the perfect start to my day to sit here and watch someone truly making a difference in the globe!. Thanks for helping inspire those around you.' And jswndrsk posted this comment: 'I shared the Post-Gazette article with my students today and just finished watching your video. Bless families! You've given me hope again.'