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Thousands Of 'Pay It Forward' Roses Being Handed Out In Chester County

COATESVILLE, Pa. (CBS) -- Thousands of roses are being handed out in Chester County today as a "pay it forward" gesture that started at a local flower shop several years ago.

Every August 23, Greg and Dorrie DePedro, owners of the Coatesville Flower Shop give out 10,000 red roses, by the dozen, to honor their daughter who lost her battle to cancer on this day 12 years ago at just 30 years old.

"Lisa was a wonderful mother, a dear daughter, a loving sister and a friend of many...Roses were her favorite flower," reads the flyer accompanying the roses. "In her memory, please accept these roses under the following conditions of kindness."

It is today please come on in and see us

Posted by The Coatesville Flower Shop on Tuesday, August 23, 2016

The shop is giving the roses out until closing time but the free flowers don't stop there.

Each person who comes in for the free roses is supposed to keep just one and give the others away to 11 different people, whether it be to a friend or a complete stranger who may be in need of a friendly gesture.

Her parents explained the idea for the "pay it forward" roses came from Lisa herself who said, "Do something nice for someone today."

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