It’s November, and the holidays are coming soon. During a time when life can be hectic for many people, KLRC encourages their listeners to show a little kindness to others.
This is the idea behind the radio station’s Pay It Forward events. John Brown University’s website says that the events started out as a three-day promotion to be kind to others over the Thanksgiving holiday in 2007.
KLRC’s Pay It Forward events are part of a worldwide effort. The Pay It Forward Foundation is based in San Luis Obispo, Calif., but it has expanded into the Global Pay It Forward Movement, stated payitforwardfoundation.org.
However, junior Devin Landis and Farmington, Ark. resident Randy Anglin represent those who are unaware of the global reach of Pay It Forward despite the movement’s increasing impact.
The movement is rising in at least 56 countries from America to the Virgin Islands, stated pifexperience.org. It promotes an annual Pay It Forward Day in April. The website, payitforwardday.com, states that the day has grown to include more than 500,000 people in 65 countries around the world.
“Performing random acts of kindness doesn’t have to be hard or expensive,” stated klrc.com. “You can send your boss an encouraging note, babysit a friend’s kids for free [or] offer to clean up after your family’s Thanksgiving meal.”
This year, in honor of their 30th anniversary, KLRC has come up with “30 Days of Pay It Forward.” Each day throughout the month of November is dedicated to a particular Pay It Forward idea.
Their website states that on the first day of November, the idea was to make a Christmas card for a soldier overseas, and the Pay It Forward events will culminate at the end of the month with the thirtieth idea: encourage people to listen to 90.9 KLRC.
Other Pay It Forward ideas throughout the month include putting coins in vending machines, sending flowers anonymously, leaving a generous tip, and paying for the next person in line at the drive-thru.
Nov. 14 was the designated Drive-Thru Difference day.
KLRC’s website states that this idea began several years ago with one random act of kindness and is now a movement that has taken over Northwest Arkansas.
“It’s simple to get involved. Take a trip through the drive-thru and tell the attendant that you’d like to pay for the person behind you in line,” stated KLRC’s website. “You never know how your simple gift could help someone find the greatest gift we’ve ever known.”
Anglin holds a positive view of Pay It Forward.
“I love to do it, and it feels great when you receive a Pay It Forward. It’s a great way to start the day,” Anglin said.
Landis shared another view.
“I like the concept, but obviously it has its issues just like any movement,” Landis said. “On Drive-Thru Difference day, if everyone is paying for the next person’s food, aren’t they all still paying just like they would otherwise?”
It isn’t only Northwest Arkansas that is being affected by KLRC’s Pay It Forward events, though. One caller shared her story all the way from Morganton, North Carolina.