Free coffee craze spreads to Red Deer

RED DEER, Ab – It seems kindness really is contagious.

A fast-growing trend of Good Samaritans buying coffees for complete strangers at Canadian Tim Hortons locations has spread to Red Deer.

It all started in Edmonton on Monday, when a man in his 20’s bought 500 large coffees for the customers after him.

The manager said it took until 8 a.m. the next day for all of the caffeinated kindness to be given away.

On Wednesday, a copycat did the same thing in Calgary – pre-paying for 500 large coffees and ringing up a tab of nearly $900.

It doesn’t stop there, on Thursday a mystery person in Ottawa picked up the tab for the next 500 Tim Hortons customers.

Hours later, a man called Global News to say he had done the same at a Tim Hortons in Red Deer around 9:30 a.m.

The Tim Hortons at Easthill Centre confirmed that a Good Samaritan, who wished to remain anonymous, had purchased 500 coffees for the next 500 customers.

The mystery man told Global News he and his wife were inspired when they heard about the growing trend.

“I was told by some good friends of mine ‘when you have the opportunity, always give back’ – and it’s just one of those feel good moments,” said the stranger. “Maybe we could start a trend here, and people can think of other ways to give back to their community.”

The unexpected kindheartedness of complete strangers has prompted Global News viewers to share stories of the random acts of kindness they’ve received – CLICK HERE to read some of the touching tales.