Sandridge committed to giving $10 to a different passerby every day for one year after he was laid off from a nonprofit in October 2009. The 36-year-old D.C. native is now more than 100 days into his “pay-it-forward” project and blogs about the people he meets along the way at yearofgiving.wordpress.com.
What prompted you to start handing out money to strangers?
I got laid off in the beginning of October and I had lot of time on my hands — more than I wanted — and I had met a homeless person by chance, here in D.C., that I really wanted to help. After that I was left with this idea of helping people.
Do you have any rules for giving?
I have very few guidelines in the type of person I give it to. Some people ask why I don’t only give it to homeless people. I give it to all walks of life. I don’t give to anyone twice and I can’t give it to anyone I know. And I don’t take anything in return.
What kind of reactions do you get?
I often get suspicious or confused looks. Plenty of people say no. When I start out telling people I want to give them $10, most people decline because we feel we aren’t worthy to receive someone else’s money.
Can your blog readers help the people you meet?
Absolutely … I ask everyone that I meet if there is anything they need help with — even if it’s not something physical — and readers offer advice and donate clothes and food through the blog.
Have you landed any job opportunities out of this?
I have had two offers that are not paying. But I had to decline, considering I already have a job that’s negative $10 a day.
– Hayley Peterson
