That's nice. Are you sure the "hobby friend" wasn't looking for a Pay It Back gesture? Was it really out of nowhere, or was he paying something back himself? Or forward?  

One time someone gave me a tv, no strings attached. I have no idea why.

One random act of kindness I received that sticks out was something a provider did for me awhile back.  What she did is personal and had nothing to do with the hobby or anything of financial value, but its impact on my life was tremendous.  The other noteworthy thing about it was that by doing it, she knew she could end up losing me as a client. But she did it anyway because she wanted to help if she could.  

I like doing random acts of kindness that can't be repaid to me.  My hope is the recipient will pay it forward to someone else. For example, paying for someone's meal when I pay for mine at the register or brushing the snow off the car(s) next to mine in a parking lot.

One time I was waiting at a shop to have tires put on my car when a 40 something lady in a pencil skirt suit came in and you could hear when she drove up that she needed help with her SUV, it was LOUD.  So the salesman went out with her knelt beside her car and looked under it and then had her open the hood and he looked in there.  Came in while she waited and told her it would be around 700 to fix her SUV because the exhaust system needed to be replaced from the engine back.  You could see the dejected look on her face as she walked away mumbling to herself.  I got up and followed her out and asked if I could take a look, she shrugged her shoulders and I looked.  Got my tool box out of my trunk and reconnected system between the converter and the muffler.  I got up and told her to drive around curbs and parking lot blocks because they can do way more damage than pulling a muffler system apart.  She looked at me with a sheepish grin and asked "you can tell" I said I could see the dent and scrape but no holes or damage to the rest of the under carriage.  She started it up and quiet as a mouse.  Told her to have a nice day and got in my car and left, got my new tires down the street.  The relief on her face was worth the effort a hundred times over and I got a nice story to tell.

Well at least according to TER.   UNREAL

If you received a gift card for the Apple Store while in the Apple store from a hobby friend  randomly.  Well blessed indeed you are.

I have paid for meals at restaurants for other dinners.   When I bartended at a restaurant I would occasionally pick up the tab for people.    I have bought rounds of drinks for entire bars many times.

I have shoveled drive ways of neighbors, cleaned off cars in the morning in my parking lot, shoveled off the side walks of neighboring businesses, same thing with removing snow and ice from windshields when I left work.

Helped people carry grocery bags to cars, help people load things into vehicles while at a store.

There are so many lil things you can do that take little time and effort to help people.

Again all I hope is that they pay it forward some day.

Paying for a meal whenever I see anyone in uniform.......mostly military but occasional police,fire or medics,etc. Usually anonymous,but a simple and heartfelt thank you for putting their lives on the line....and I love doing it...