For three straight hours on Wednesday, September 12, locals “paid it forward” in a Gastown coffee shop, buying a coffee for the person behind them. In total, 140 people participated in a continuous, unbroken chain, buying the coffee for the person behind them when they learned theirs had been gifted by a stranger.
The generous display of local love took place at Nemesis Coffee and was inspired by United Way British Columbia, which aims to engage 1 million people in acts of local love across Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, by 2025.
One act, countless more
The chain began at 10am when United Way President & CEO Michael McKnight purchased his coffee and the one for the person behind him. After that, every single person “paid it forward”, for three hours, over the independent coffee spot’s lunch rush.
Michael McKnight, President & CEO of United Way British Columbia, with the coffee that started it all.
“I just love the feeling of being able to walk into a local coffee shop and know somebody cared enough to purchase a coffee for a total stranger,” said Michael. “These are the kinds of acts of local love that can make our community a much better place to live.”
“It’s such an act of generosity and also kindness,” said customer Heidi Bauman. “You could be having a bad day – or a really good day – and it just makes it that much better.”
Heidi Bauman received a coffee from a stranger, then paid it forward to someone else.
Warming up our cold reputation
“I thought this was really good,” said another customer, Amina, who identified Vancouverites’ general “cold demeanor” as a challenge when it comes to connecting with neighbours.
“I actually ended up talking to a really nice woman [in the coffee shop], for a good five minutes.”
Some Gastown coffee-goers went out of their way to get to the coffee shop, when they heard what was taking place.
Fellow customer Liam agreed with Vancouver’s cold reputation, but also highlighted the importance of making the first move to make a connection.
“Everyone here actually is really friendly, you just have to go out of your way to engage them in conversation in the first place,” he said.
He added the experience of having a coffee gifted to him might inspire him to do it again, on his own.
“It’s the kind of thing I’ve always thought about. It’s the kind of thing I want to start doing myself, even without this event. That kind of random act of kindness can really help someone that might really need it.”
The chain of 140 customers included regulars and first-time visitors, locals and some tourists
Local love lives here
Located at 302 West Hastings in Gastown, Nemesis Coffee is a gathering place for creatives in the community. Academics, artists and artisans frequent this communal space that fosters diversity within the community.
It came as no surprise, then, that 140 of its customers felt inspired to do something good for their fellow patrons.
Rick was one of them. For him, the question of whether to surprise another stranger was an obvious “yes!”.
“I think the easiest and most tangible form of charity is doing something small for someone, something you can see,” said Rick. It’s also more effective to make a difference in your local, immediate neighbourhood.”
Some lucky enough to participate wondered where or when it could happen next.
Rick’s definition of charity could also be the definition of “local love”; actions residents take – big and small – to foster connection and improve the communities we call home.
Everyone who said yes to surprise the person in line behind them will contribute to United Way’s goal of engaging one million people in acts of local love, by 2025.
Want to join the local love movement? Join us at United Way Day on September 20! Learn more here.
Topics : Building strong communities, Local love
