During the COVID‑19 lockdowns and the government shutdowns, we all watched neighbors struggle to get food and to feel connected. A simple, unexpected solution emerged: people began pre‑purchasing meals at local restaurants and posting the receipts on a “receipt wall.” Those receipts were then taken by someone else; giving them a free dinner, a tangible gesture of hope, and a moment of community pride.
That idea was great, but it was also reactive. It only happened when someone noticed someone was going through a hard time. We wanted a way to make this act of kindness occur everyday, not just in global crisis. Kind Dine was created to give anyone – employees, volunteers, corporations, or just a generous diner – a convenient way to donate a meal at the click of a button. Now, receipts can automatically get posted to a digital receipt wall for any community member to redeem for free.
The donor is even able to track their donated meals to see when they have been redeemed by someone. It turns a single act of generosity into a daily, convenient experience that feeds hope, builds connection, and gives local restaurants love as well.
Daniel and Jasmine, the people behind Kind Dine, are driven by their faith and a deep belief in the power of loving others. Daniel’s tech skills combined with Jasmine’s non-profit experience made it possible to build a platform where people can express kindness by buying meals for others. Think of it like a virtual “pay-it-forward” chain, fueled by delicious food and genuine generosity.
Right now, Kind Dine is all about brightening someone’s day through meals. But they have big dreams to expand beyond just food and cultivate a culture of kindness in every aspect of life.
Pitch Competition
In October 2025, Kind Dine stepped onto the stage at Prince George’s Community College in Largo, Maryland, to pitch their vision for a kinder, more connected world. The judges were touched by their story and the potential of the pay‑it‑forward food platform, and they gave enthusiastic, constructive feedback. As a result, Kind Dine has earned a spot in the final round, set to take place in May 2026, where they’ll share even more of the hope and joy that fuels Kind Dine.
The App
Drawing inspiration from the “receipt walls” that sprung up during the pandemic, Kind Dine is a user-friendly app that lets people share a little extra kindness. By buying food for someone else, users can provide a free meal to a someone else in the community who can redeem it at a local restaurant. It’s a modern take on the classic pay‑it‑forward moment, just like the time you’re in the drive‑thru and discover the person ahead of you has already paid for your meal. With Kind Dine, that feeling of generosity travels further, turning ordinary meals into memorable acts of kindness.
Here’s the simple overview of how it works:
- Donate Kind Meals: Donate Kind Meals from one of our partner restaurants through the Kind Dine app. Visit your Kindness Tracker to see when your donated meals have been redeemed.
- Redeem Kind Meals: Anyone in the Kind Dine community can browse donated meals and redeem one for themselves. Once redeem is pressed, users will have 30 minutes to 1 hour to pick up the order depending on their account type.
- Express Gratitude: Once someone redeems a meal, they are encouraged to leave a kind message on our Gratitude Wall, thanking the person who purchased their meal.
- Pay it Forward: If the person who redeemed a meal is feeling inspired, they can keep the kindness train going by donating a meal for someone else.
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