Columbia, SC (WLTX)- It doesn't take much to turn someone's day around and starting the morning off with a free coffee and donut can certainly make you smile.
But for many customers in line at the Dunkin' Donuts off Clemson Road, it was much more than just a free breakfast.
"It's calling paying it forward," said Albert Celetano, a manager at Dunkin' Donuts. "
"Paying it forward" means you go through a drive thru and pay for the persons meal behind you but the important part it: you don't stick around to see their reaction.
Celetano says of the hundreds of cars that came through Friday morning, about 75 percent payed for the person in line behind them.
"Today was even more special because it was honoring a person who had passed away, Jeanne Schmidt. She was a regular customer of ours so it was even more special."
Jeanne lived her life serving others as the Director of Camp Kemo and every Friday she would pay for the person's meal behind her. This inspired many in the community to do the same to allow her legacy to live on.
"When you are doing a good deed or an act of kindness it is contagious," said Celetano.
Customers left with much more than just coffee and free donuts.
"Some were just overwhelmed by the outpouring of support, you could just see that it did their heart good and it made their day."