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Customers At Long Island Coffee Shop Pay It Forward With Post-Its, Buying Hundreds Of Drinks For Strangers

LINDENHURST, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- An initiative on Long Island is gaining attention. Customers are paying it forward, and it all begins with a post-it note.

Alice Bopp and her family moved to Lindenhurst from Rio de Janeiro.

"I'm from Brazil, I love coffee," Bopp told CBS2's Jennifer McLogan.

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Alice Bopp, owner of Muni's coffee shop in Lindenhurst, speaks to a customer. (Credit: CBS2)

Bopp opened Muni's on Wellwood Avenue, then the pandemic hit.

"We here, and community, we stood together," she said.

Once able to reopen, they offered walk-up service, and finally, coffee can now be ordered inside, too.

"My barista popping up, saying, 'Have you seen this?'" Bopp said.

Customers were connecting with suggestions on paying it forward -- buy a coffee for someone struggling.

"Let's jump right in! Let's turn this board around. Let's start sticking post-it on it. The first post-it, we did it, and then from there, nonstop," Bopp said.

Translating to five batches of notes, totaling almost 500 drinks.

CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

"I donated one of the ice cookie rainbow lattes, and you see there's more and more post-it notes every day," patron Karen Altenburger said.

"During a time that's kind of been hard on everyone, you know, just make someone smile for the day," patron Kerry Moore said.

Customers are spontaneously spreading goodwill.

"I've never seen this in a coffee shop. I really think it's nice," patron Jonathan Pagan said.

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Customers at Muni's coffee shop in Lindenhurst are paying it forward, and it all begins with a post-it note. (Credit: CBS2)

Pagan suddenly plunked down $5 for an unknown person's future drink with a note saying, "Hopefully it will brighten somebody's day."

"Put another drink on the bill. The thing just started going, going with beautiful messages," Bopp said.

Some who don't live close enough to Muni's are wiring payments and sending messages so Bopp can post a sticky note to strangers.

Her son and husband say coffee and compassion are in Alice's blood.

"This has been her dream. We saved up and we got it rolling. People have been very generous," husband John Bopp said.

"I feel good about it 'cause these workers help people in need," 7-year-old Benjamin Bopp said.

"They go over there, they grab it, the smile right away comes up. You can tell by the eyes," Alice Bopp said.

Alice hopes the post-it empathy continues beyond the pandemic.

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