Tim Hortons is celebrating National Coffee Day with a cup (or 10,000) of kindness.
On Sept. 29, the coffee chain is starting a “pay-it-forward” chain, giving out 100 special-edition Tim Cards at random locations across the country. The cards are valid for one free brewed coffee (any size) and are automatically reloaded. Recipients can treat themselves to a free coffee, and then pass along the card to a friend or stranger. The cards can be used again and again until 10,000 cups of coffee have been shared, or 10 days have passed—whichever comes first.
“We’re relying on our guests to keep the pay-it-forward Tim Cards moving across the country, one act of kindness at a time,” said Sam Heath, head of marketing at Tim Hortons Canada, in a press release. “We’re looking forward to seeing how quickly Canadians can treat each other to [10,000 free coffees]. Hopefully there are a lot of special moments created along the way.”
Customers are encouraged to post their pay-it-forward story online at EveryCup.ca and on social media using #WhyWeBrew. A special Snapchat geofilter is also available in Tim Hortons restaurants across Canada so customers can snap and share pictures.
For the past few years, Tim Hortons customers have started their own pay-it-forward chains, and in some cases, have bought hundreds of coffees for other customers.
The company made headlines in 2012, when a chain of Tim Hortons customers in Winnipeg picked up the tab for the people behind them, for a full three hours.
Another chain was started in Norwood, Ont. last year, in honour of a man who died in a snowmobile accident.
In 2013, a man bought 500 coffees for customers at an Edmonton Tim Hortons, and in 2014, a customer in Toronto bought two $100 gift cards to be used for subsequent orders until the money ran out.
