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Nelson sees good deed in a cup

One generous man determined to “Pay it Forward” handed over $50 to treat unsuspecting coffee drinkers to a cup of kindness this week.
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Mitch Kushner lets this customer know his coffee is free because of a stranger's act of kindness.

One generous man determined to “Pay it Forward” handed over $50 to treat unsuspecting coffee drinkers to a cup of kindness this week.

Mitch Kushner owns Bean Here Now, the coffee cart parked next to the old Extra Foods store. He was “flabbergasted” Wednesday when a man approached him with money to treat others to a cup of coffee.

“He said he’d like to pay forward people’s coffees and I said, ‘oh yeah, what’s that?’” said Kushner.

Pay it Forward is an old concept that’s growing in popularity as people look to start a ripple effect through random acts of kindness. Kushner is taken with the philosophy of sharing abundance rather than keeping it to oneself.

“I am intrigued,” he said. “It proves goodness in the world and gives people an idea of how things can be better.”

As people learned their coffee would be free, they were surprised and delighted, said Kushner who chats away with all who stop by his cart for their caffeine.

“It wasn’t a king’s ransom but it will last,” he said.

Ryan Lane was one lucky customer who’s been a regular at Bean Here Now for years. He was impressed by the kindness of a stranger as he ordered his mid-morning coffee.

“It’s feels nice that someone in the community would come and pay for coffee for people they don’t know,” he said.