Strangers pay it forward to the youngest among us

STATE COLLEGE — While attending a recent conference at Toftrees Resort and Conference Cente, employees of Dominion Energy Transmission, Inc. — headquartered in Richmond, Va. – were tasked with committing random acts of kindness in our local community.

According to a press release from Mount Nittany Health, conference attendees were divided into 20 groups of four with each group given a $100 Mastercard gift card. Groups were asked to find local organizations that could benefit from the gift cards.

Miriam Powell, foundation coordinator with Mount Nittany Health Foundation, she received a call from the medical center’s women and children’s services department, informing her that four men had come to the medical center and asked to donate their gift card to the department. Powell was especially surprised when five minutes later, the front desk phoned to tell her that a second Dominion Energy group had stopped by to gift women and children’s services with an additional $100 gift card.

Mike Mitchell, Dominion Energy employee, shares, “We chose the women and children’s department because several of us remember starting out in life as young adults and having young kids without being able to make ends meet. As mature adults, we are fortunate to work for a great company that really does believe in giving back.

“We hope that in some small way [the act] will help some young folks without taking any pride from them whatsoever,” Mitchell continued. “We also hope that when they age, they will remember this and hopefully pay it forward and help someone else that is in need.”

“Accepting these gift cards from the employees of Dominion Energy was the perfect way to end the work day,” says Powell. The gentlemen who arrived at the main entrance with their donation made it clear that they wanted this gift to help a young mom in need. It is always refreshing and reassuring to meet people who simply want to help others. What might seem like a small gesture is going to make a big difference in the life of a new mom.”