Kentucky coffee shop starts pay-it-forward movement in response to string of robberies

Last week, numerous Lexington, Kentucky shops and small business were victims of robberies.

To respond to the crimes, one of the burglarized shops decided to create a pay-it-forward incentive to boost spirits and business in "The Lex."

Coffee shop A Cup of Common Wealth posted its brilliant scheme on Instagram and Facebook:

"We just got reports of more robberies here in The Lex tonight. And we aren't crime-fighters or super heroes but we know for sure what some love can do for people in these situations. So we're throwing our bandanas in the ring. Buy a coffee or cool things from @thirdstreetstuff, grab some art from The Collective, get your hair did at Hair Razors, grab some froyo some Fro-Jo's, or help any or all of the above in any way they could need to get back in business and you've got a Pay It Forward for whatever you want from us."

On Monday morning, the shop's co-owners Salvador Sanchez and Chris Ortiz discovered that their shop had been robbed. By Monday morning, customers had started a "broken window fund" for them.

"It was a very emotional and touching day," Sanchez told KyForward.

Inspired by their community's outpouring of support, Sanchez and Ortiz decided to spread the generosity.

"At the end of the day we just want the community to be happy," Sanchez told the Herald-Leader, adding that random acts of kindness create "a ripple effect. It's contagious."

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Not only is A Cup of Common Wealth offering free coffees to customers of its neighbouring shops, it's also encouraging local citizens to look out for each other this holiday season.

"We're also opening up our little shop tree for a Community Christmas, so bring in whatever gifts ya may want and we'll throw it under the tree for anyone that just may need a present here in our city. It's the holiday season, it gets cold and life can get tough. But don't give up on people. Make it a mission to always look up, say hello, give a smile or even slap a hand. We all go through life together, and sometimes that means picking up the pieces together when things go wrong. But it also lays the ground work for us to build something better together when it's all said and done. Even if it all starts with a simple cup of coffee and a high five," Sanchez and Ortiz posted on Facebook.

A Cup of Common Wealth already offers a pay-it-forward option all throughout the year. Customers can buy a future drink for a specific someone, a total stranger, or even put fun stipulations on the paid-for beverage.

"Customers can purchase a coffee for someone in advance, write down a description of the recipient on a Java Jacket and post the Java Jacket to the Pay It Forward Wall. At any given time, a free coffee is waiting for the intended recipient on the Pay It Forward Wall," reported KyForward.

The new pay-it-forward initiative is just an extension of what the shop already does to build community.

"We want to combine what we do already with positivity and support to help anyone going through a tough time" Ortiz told SurfKY.