Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Yogurt Shop Angel

I was stopped at the traffic light and a homeless man was pacing up and down along the divider. It was a scorching hot day.   'This will make him smile,' I thought, and I turned my car towards a frozen yogurt shop. I grabbed a cup and filled it with couple of flavors and came to the counter to weigh it.   I wanted to add some toppings but my change was not enough for that, so I asked the lady if she would take a $100 bill.   She said she wasn't allowed to accept a bill that large. Alright, I thought and paid for the yogurt.    As I was about to leave, she said, “Ma'am, don’t disappoint your child. Please add their favorite topping.”   I turned to her and said, “Thanks for your offer but this is not for my child. It's for the homeless man across the street.”   She smiled  with surprise and said, “Oh! ... Read Full Story >>

Flowers For The Under-appreciated

I am a junior in high school. There is a lady who works at my school as a campus monitor and her job is to hand out call-slips and prevent people from leaving campus without permission.  Before today I had never seen her smile.    The other day my friends and I were eating in the cafeteria and I saw her walking around. When she came closer to us I could see that she was crying. She pulled out a tissue and quickly wiped her eyes. I thought to myself that this lady is so under-appreciated and needs to be recognized for all her hard work. So ... I wrote a note telling her that the students appreciated everything she did and that her contribution to our school made a difference in all of our lives. I signed it "Some thankful students" and slipped it into an envelope.    Then I realized I didn't even know her name. ... Read Full Story >>

Picking Up the Tab for Breakfast

After church this Sunday morning, my daughter and I went to a local restaurant for late breakfast.. An older woman was seated next to us at an adjoining booth. What drew my attention is that when she came in and seated herself , she walked straight toward us with a smile, as though she was going to sit with us and knew us, but then turned to her table and took a seat by herself. I thought to myself that I should have invited her to sit with us. When we were done with our food, my daughter and I left our booth (the woman was still seated at her table) and whispered to the waitress to put the woman's breakfast on our tab.   The waitress seemed surprised at what I was doing for a stranger. So I told her of a card I had received the previous day from a complete stranger, ... Read Full Story >>

Smile - It's Okay

Hello, my help others family! I want to share my experience when I had taken my daughter to Walgreens'.

I had parked away from the other cars, a bit isolated, the parking lot was busy so it was fine.  I heard a distance voice, as it got louder I realized a woman coming near my car. I turned to see what she was saying... then realized she had just been released from the hospital as I could see that she had had an IV drip in her arm. 

She asked if I had  $2.00 to get her medicine.  I said yes of course.  She was very grateful.  She had been out here all day and no one would help her.  She said she was about to start crying.  I said it was okay and that she should just smile. 

Cheap Funeral and a Good Party

The derecho was unkind to our town of Lynchburg, Va., on the night of June 30, 2012. The 80-mile-an-hour straight-line winds tore trees out of the ground and dropped them on top of houses in almost every neighborhood. Most of the city was without power. However, I was about to discover that damaged homes and lack of electricity were just the beginning of my challenges that week. I am a building contractor, and I was inspecting a neighbor's tree-damaged home the next day when I got the call from my sister in New Jersey. She told me they were taking my 87-year-old mother to the hospital because "she just doesn't look good." Late that afternoon, I got the call we all dread. The doctor said my mother's lungs were about done, and we had better get there. My wife and I quickly packed and got on the road for the 430-mile trip ... Read Full Story >>

Buy A Book, Share A Book

Kindness At The Post Office

I helped a young man at the post office who is working in our city. He had just received his salary and was was trying to send money to two different people. 

Cuddly Bears And Beenies

Today, when I was out in town, I went into the pound shop. Everything they sell costs £1.  

My Chicken Flock Is Growing

The Blanket In The Dug-Out

In my new position as manager of parks and recreation in a small California mountain town I have the great privilege of being able to visit parks and playgrounds as part of my job responsibilities.  A month or so ago, on a cold autumn morning, I walked through a ball park near my office. In the dug-out I noticed some trash and an old blanket which I picked up and carried toward the trash bin. As I lifted the blanket to dispose of it I caught a whiff ... and it occurred to me that it was being used, probably by a homeless person. I stopped, thought about it, and reluctantly returned the blanket to the dug-out.   Over the next couple of weeks I would pop my head into the dug-out. The blanket was always there, always in a different place. As our maintenance men were in the park often I assumed ... Read Full Story >>

A Frustration Pinata

Someone I know was going through a tough time and feeling pretty depressed.

Salvation Army Snail Mail

I recently got some smile cards and was looking forward to doing something great for someone, but I wasn't quite sure what to do.

Then, the other day, I received a random letter in the mail. It was from the Salvation Army.

Inside, there was a blank card. Attached was an invitation to write a note for a homeless or lonely person inside the card. There was a free post envelope to mail it back, as well, and this could all be done anonymously!

It was the perfect opportunity-- I absolutely jumped at the chance to do this! As I wrote the card, I smiled at the thought of its future recipient--whoever he or she is. I thought about how that person might feel when they receive it. I hope they know that someone out there cares about him or her!

I also included a Smile Card before mailing it off! :)

Lost License And A Bonus

When I arrived at work this morning I had an e-mail from a co-worker saying he had found someone's driver's license.  I stopped by his office and picked it up. I didn't recognize the face on the license so I e-mailed the manager of our housekeeping staff to see if it was one of our 3rd shift staff that I hadn't met.     As luck would have it, it was indeed one of his employees! So I told the manager that I would leave it in an envelope at the front desk. I would put the gentleman's name on the envelope and he could pick it up when he came to work later that night.   I quickly printed out an anonymous note thanking him for all his hard work and then stuffed $10 and a smile card - along with his license - into the envelope.     Who knows ... maybe he will treated ... Read Full Story >>

A Chocolate-Chip Birthday Cake

I work in a small department store. I decided to celebrate my fellow employees birthdays - if they wanted to be remembered! 

Pumpkin Pie And A Smile Card

This past Thanksgiving the company I work for decided to open up its doors and serve a Thanksgiving meal for the less fortunate.  I couldn't pass on this and decided that I wanted to help!    I arrived at my work around 11 and found a line of families waiting outside the doors. I wasn't sure who I wanted to give my card to because there were so many people there but I knew I wanted to give it to a mother.    I served numerous tables plates of turkey with all the fixings and slices of pumpkin pie for desert. Everyone was so happy and honestly seemed thankful for what my co-workers and I were doing.    At my last table there was a older lady with about eight kids, ranging from toddlers to teenagers. She looked tired, but happy that her children were eating. After talking to her for a while she told me that ... Read Full Story >>

The Gift Of A Vacation

I was a single mother of two, trying hard to make ends meet. I had not taken a day off work for several years. 

Grocery Store Kindness

As I was finding a parking spot at the grocery store today, I noticed someone sitting outside. She appeared to be selling something. I knew it wasn't the season for Girl Scout cookies, and in that moment, I was feeling irritated that someone would be out there at this time of year.

Then, as I walked into the store, I saw a sign saying she was collecting food, hats, and gloves for those in need. As soon as I read those words, my irritation at a potential solicitor dissolved. As I shopped, I picked up some canned goods and pasta, and gave her the bag when I left.

I knew if she was sitting out in the cold and rain it must be important. And it felt so heartwarming to do a spontaneous act of kindness!

Free To Me - A Gift To Them

Six months ago I joined an online couponing/saving website. They post a lot of free samples of products, coupons and some instant-win and other sweepstakes!   I try to enter these sweepstakes as often as possible.   Well! I won a $50 giftcard to Olive Garden recently. Instead of keeping it for myself I sent it, anonymously,  to a couple I know where the husband has been off work due to health problems. So, I know money has been tight and I know a night out would be a real treat for them.   Neither one knew it was me but the wife posted on her Facebook page that, "An angel sent me and my husband a gift-card in the mail today. I dont know who it was but they probably didnt know our ten year anniversary is coming up and now we can afford to go have a nice meal. So, thanks!"   This is something I ... Read Full Story >>

160 Dresses

We are five women who wanted to make a difference in the life of our local girls. 

A Bus Ride, a Lost Hat, and a Happy Ending

Some days ago, I decided to leave my bike at home and take the bus instead. It was cold outside. I put on my only warm cap and my gloves, glad of their protection. I was glad I'd managed to quit my habit of losing gloves and caps as I couldn't easily afford new ones. On the bus, I pulled the cap off, it being warm inside. When I got to my stop, I jumped up and got off the bus. As I crossed the street, I realized something was missing: My only cap! In the middle of the street, I turned around, ran to the doors of the bus, pushing the button to open them, but to no avail. The bus pulled away from the stop. I kissed my cap goodbye. Just then, the bus stopped a short distance away because of a red light. While I sadly looked on (drivers aren't ... Read Full Story >>