Join in on helping others during "Pay it Forward Week" in South Lake Tahoe

Most places take just one day to officially "Pay it Forward" but one person in the South Lake Tahoe community has made it his goal to cause a ripple effect of kindness through the community for a whole week.

International "Pay it Forward" day is on Friday, April 28 and more than 80 countries and 70 cities across America have made proclamations to join the global initiative and make a difference by creating a huge ripple of kindness across the world. Small acts of kindness, when multiplied by millions of people, can literally change the world for the better.

In South Lake Tahoe, everyone can join in by doing good deeds "Pay it Forward Week" April 24-28.

Local John McDougall got the idea during a Tahoe Douglas Rotary meeting a few years ago. The family of student who received a scholarship wrote a letter to the club, thanking the Rotarians and then, after their child graduated, donated funds to grant another student a scholarship, in sense, paying it forward.

"I was real impressed with that," said McDougall. "For the most part it's recognizing people and organizations who make a positive difference in our community.

Since that day, McDougall started a scholarship program for local high school students where he honors them with a scholarship, and then asks that they do the same for someone in the future when they are able to. He also sponsors a "Day of Nourishment" annually for Bread and Broth, as well as other local endeavors that help others.'

"I just find areas where to move the message forward and do so," said McDougall.

This week challenges locals to used the five days to perform random acts of kindness in the community and in schools. "This is a great opportunity for our community to reach out to others with acts of kindness," said McDougall.

Last year he had the Rotary Interact high school clubs at South Tahoe and Whittel High Schools inspire others to pay it forward. Signs were placed around the school with a list of ideas of how a simple gesture and random as of kindness can change someone's life.

There is now a facebook page "Pay it Forward Tahoe," that celebrates locals helping others, and McDougall also started a Facebook group for kindness, something needed after the last Presidential election that divided many people.

Has someone ever been nice to you? Now is your time to pay it forward to someone else. Here are some simple ideas:

- Buy someone a cup of coffee.
- Hold the door open for someone with a smile and a hello.
- Get the next person’s food, gas, purchase...the sky is the limit and no act is too small.
- Help someone out in need
- Host pay it forward activities in your office, school, church or community
- Be a Pay it Forward Day ambassador and help raise awareness in your circle of friends and family
- Let others know about Pay it Forward Day through your social media channels
- Donate to a worthwhile cause that help people in need
- Give something to that person hanging out on the corner or post office that you see asking for money
- Thank a police officer, fire fighter or soldier for their service
- Allow someone to back up in front of you in the grocery store parking lot, or let someone cut in that is trying to move into your lane.

McDougall has placed "Pay it Forward" books in both local high schools. The students use them for reference when they write an essay when applying for a scholarship. The Lake Tahoe Art League and McDougall's own scholarships ask for examples of kindness in their applications.

Living in South Lake Tahoe since 1963, the South Tahoe High Grad ('72) doesn't do any of this for recognition. He keeps in touch with the students he awards financial aid to, checking in with them and seeing how they are doing in school. His scholarship goes to students who may not being to a four-year college, but who are furthering studies to learn a trade to become a mechanic, artist, dental hygienist, or a plumber, for example.

What are you doing to do this week to inspire a ripple effect of kindness in South Lake Tahoe? It may be something enjoy and want to continue and not limit it to a day, or a week to make the world a bit brighter.