Sarah Day, a Bellingham photographer, shared her story of unexpected kindness on The Bellingham Herald's Facebook page:

"I was at Haggen on Meridian just now. I get food stamps every month on the 10th. Today is the 11th. So of course I went for my monthly shopping trip of staples that I will need.

"For some reason my food stamp card did not work, so I was left there about to tell the teller that all the food had to go back. Before I opened my mouth, the man behind me in line hands me a $100 bill. Tears immediately came to my eyes.

"My total was $87. I looked at him, stunned that someone even had the thought to help me out like that. I shook my head, trying to tell him that I couldn't possibly accept it. Before I could spit out a thank you, he was gone.

"Got a quick wave from him, driving away in his white Kia car as I exited the store, still crying.

"I will never, ever forget the generosity and kindness this man showed me tonight. Thank you, whoever you may be."

Sarah wants to pay forward the help she got from her anonymous benefactor.

She's willing to donate three photo sessions to people in need. If you know of a deserving somebody, you can contact Sarah on her Facebook page, facebook.com/pages/Sarah-Day-Photography/189339381101701, or at sarahdayphotography.lens.ph.

MORE PAYING IT FORWARD

Another "only in Bellingham" story, this one from Isabelle Cormier of Bellingham, the president of Bellingham Music Club.

"A friend in the Bellingham Music Club was doing some late shopping at Haggen the other evening. He had quite a few purchases, and noticed that the young man behind him, of student age, had only a few things. So my friend motioned him ahead. The young man wiped a credit card with the Haggen logo, turned away, then came back and handed the card to my friend. When the checker explained it was a gift card, he tried to return it, but the youngster refused it and fled. It turned out the card had $75 on it!

"Honor-bound to 'pay it forward,' my friend divided the $75 equally among our three high school scholarship awards, for students of piano, voice and other instruments. Since the young man is anonymous, we hope he will see this in print, and know his gift was put to good use."

RETIRED ASTRONAUT SPEAKS AT CONVENTION

Retired NASA astronaut and Ferndale resident Wendy Lawrence delivered the keynote address at the biennial convention for The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, Aug. 10, in St. Louis, according to a press release.

Wendy - a veteran of four shuttle missions - spoke about the cause of the Columbia explosion and the challenges NASA faced in safely returning the space shuttle program to flight.

Initiated into Phi Kappa Phi at the United States Naval Academy in 1980, Wendy logged more than 1,200 hours in space as a NASA astronaut and visited the Russian space station Mir before retiring in 2006. Prior to her 14 years at NASA, she earned multiple commendations as a Navy captain and helicopter pilot.

WWU STUDENT BOARD MEMBER APPOINTED

Joseph Meyer of Seattle has been appointed by Gov. Chris Gregoire to serve a one-year term as the student trustee at Western Washington University, according to a press release.

"Joseph Meyer is an outstanding leader with a strong record of dedication and service to our campus and to his community. We are delighted to welcome him to the board and are very pleased that we will have the opportunity for his insights as our new student trustee," WWU President Bruce Shepard said.

Joseph, a senior, is pursuing a bachelor's degree in economics/environmental studies.

SOFTWARE COMPANY AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS

Logos Bible Software, a Bellingham business, awarded two students its quarterly Seminary Scholarship and Bible College Scholarship, giving each student $1,000 cash and Logos' digital Scholar's Library, worth $8,000, according to a press release.

Winning students were Alex Huguenard at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., and Samuel Dew of Criswell Bible College in Dallas, Texas.

LAKEWAY INN MANAGERS COMMIT TO MENTORING

Managers at Best Western Plus Lakeway Inn and Conference Center have committed to becoming mentors for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Washington, according to a hotel press release.

Starting in September, 15 to 20 managers with spend 6 to 12 hours a month with children in a variety of activities, giving them an adult mentor who offers emotional support, guidance, consistency and friendship. The Lakeway Inn is the second business to join the new Workforce Buddies program of the Northwest Washington chapter.

"We're so excited that the Lakeway Inn is leading the charge in the hospitality industry by providing mentors," said Bliss Goldstein, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Washington. "They have so many fun, energetic employees and children love fun, energetic people."

LAND TRUST WELCOMES STEWARDSHIP DIRECTOR

Whatcom Land Trust announced the arrival of Nick Saling as director of stewardship.

The land trust's newsletter said Nick has been a longtime resident of Whatcom County and has been a practicing conservationist since 1999. He has a degree in biology from WWU and has been an independent conservation contractor based in Bellingham since 2007.

Out and About runs Mondays in The Bellingham Herald. Julie Shirley is the Executive Editor of The Bellingham Herald. Contact her at julie.shirley@bellinghamherald.com or call 360-715-2261.

Reach JULIE SHIRLEY at julie.shirley@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2261.