Paying It Forward

I had a really good day last week. It all started when a complete stranger paid for my coffee (and left before I could say thanks). From that moment on, the world seemed brighter than usual that day. In turn, I was brighter and friendlier too. 

And that's really the point of "paying it forward," isn't it? You put a little unexpected generosity and kindness out there, and it will brighten the world around you. In doing so, you'll find yourself brightening too.

As I thought about this, I realized that Tisbury Turkey is a website built on paying it forward. Our goal was to build a that would raise funds for Vineyard nonprofits with the hope that we'd sell enough t-shirts to keep us afloat. What I didn't realize when I developed the idea was how good it would feel to create a means by which Island non-profits could generate a little extra income. I didn't realize how much I would enjoy meeting the people working so hard to serve others in this community. But most of all I didn't realize how great it would feel to hear the voices of those hardworking people brighten when I told them about our plan.

Thanks to your nominations, Tisbury Turkey's 2013 holiday campaign will benefit Women Empowered, Inc. If you're not familiar with them, check out their website. One of the things I like best about their organization is how they, too, enable volunteers to pay it forward as counselors to less fortunate neighbors. That alone enriches the lives of both the volunteers and the people they support.

So of course, I have to ask: Would you click through Tisbury Turkey to pay it forward this holiday season? It doesn't cost you anything extra to shop your favorite retailers through our links or book travel through our partners. In fact, when you follow us on Facebook and Twitter, you'll get insights on great products and deals both online and on-island.

As an added bonus, we are selling Martha's Vineyard Sea Salt and our logo gear on our website. We'll give $5 to the Island Food Pantry for every order that includes salt this holiday season. With Thanksgiving around the corner, t's a great way to celebrate the Vineyard and help someone else find enough to eat.