Starbucks pay-it-forward lasts 11 hours

Starbucks pay-it-forward lasts 11 hours

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A pay-it-forward in Florida lasted from sunrise to sunset — almost.

Wednesday morning, a Starbucks patron went through the drive-thru to buy her iced coffee, according to the Associated Press. She asked if she could pay for the caramel macchiato for the stranger behind her. The stranger kept the favor going when he paid for the stranger behind him.

It isn't the first time a continuous pay-it-forward has happened at this Starbucks, according to the Tampa Bay Times. Around three months ago, a pay-it-forward chain lasted for 121 people. The person who ended it used a reward card to pay and didn't see the person behind them to keep the pay-it-forward going.

The pay-it-forward Wednesday outlasted the previous one though and also broke the store record for paying it forward. The AP reported a total of 378 people participating from 7 a.m. to around 6 p.m.

Each customer received information on the pay-it-forward and was asked if they'd like to participate. Some of the Starbucks customers paid just for a portion of the order behind them, which made it easier to keep it going, according to Tampa Bay Times.

Store manager Grant Drain didn't lose enthusiasm for the good deed when he commented that each contribution counted. He also explained that many customers came to the Starbucks the next morning wondering if the chain was still going.

"It's so cool," Drain said. "All of the customers have just been so jazzed about it."

The chain came to an end when customer 379 pulled up to the window, according to the AP. Barista Vu Nguyen told the customer about the pay-it-forward and asked if she would like to participate. The customer said no because she just wanted to pay for her coffee. Nguyen thinks she didn't fully understand the pay-it-forward concept.

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Alyssa Banks

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