Random Acts of Kindness

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 27/10/2012 (4714 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Beautiful people, all having a good day

 

OCT. 20, what a great day this was going to be! My son would be arriving from Sydney, Australia, later that day for a visit with his old man (age 88).

To celebrate, I arose early and washed the kitchen floor. (Me and my dog live alone, and it sometimes gets a bit messy.)

Not to change my usual Saturday morning routine, I walked the six or so blocks to Portage Avenue and caught the No. 11 bus to Polo Park. I entered the mall at the Ness entrance, waved to the (beautiful) barbers at Manhattan. A short walk in the mall, then I purchased the Free Press and headed to Second Cup for some java.

Here’s where the action began. While fumbling for my change (I’m an exact fare transit retiree), a dime slipped out of my hands. Not an ordinary dime, this one landed on its edge and took off toward the elevators.

I should have mentioned that just before the errant dime took off, I noticed a young woman greet a dear friend. I assumed a sister and brother reunion for coffee.

This young lady seemed just as amazed as I was at this crazy dime heading for the elevators.

“Coffee money,” she said and retrieved the dime. I headed for the java counter.

The clerk took my order, a small medium-roast java, and asked if I wanted anything else… Well yes, I said I’d like a piece of carrot cake but not today.

I went to pick up the java, and there it was: a piece of carrot cake.

“All paid for,” said the clerk.

“How come? Who paid?”

“The lady ahead of you.”

I quickly thanked her and asked why. No answer.

“I know,” I said, “you’re having a good day.” That’s it.

Like me, meeting my son later after several years absence. She also was having a good day. People are beautiful.

 

— Leo Johnson

Kind help for a senior

 

I stopped at Starbucks on Corydon Avenue. As I was coming out, I tripped on a cement parking barrier, fell right down and hurt my face and knees.

Within moments, concerned people were helping me get up and sit on a chair. Ice was then applied to my face and knees and caring hands were holding mine.

Dutchess, one of two young women who were having coffee with friends, provided first aid, then insisted on driving me home, which was well out of her way. Dutchess drove me home in her car while her husband followed in theirs. Many thanks to all the wonderful, caring people who came to my aid.

 

— Josie Geib

 

It’s my turn to pay it forward

JUST a short note to let everyone know there are still good people out there.

I drive about an hour into Winnipeg every week to play volleyball in a men’s league. A couple of weeks ago, I got out of my vehicle at the Investor’s Group Athletic Centre at the University of Manitoba and put my wallet into my pocket.

That was the last time I saw it.

A couple of hours later when I was leaving, I realized it was gone. I retraced my steps and even drove back into Winnipeg the next day looking for it with no success.

I had $180 in it along with credit cards and the rest of my ID. That’s more cash than I normally carry. I cancelled my credit cards and dreaded the task of replacing everything else.

Five days later, I received a call from the Bank of Montreal in Tuxedo that someone had turned my wallet in to their branch because of a credit card that I had. When I picked it up, everything was still in it, including the cash.

Sadly, no name was left. To whomever returned the wallet: thank you! I guess it is my turn to pay it forward.

 

— Matthew Rempel

 

Thanks Hanifa and Aunt Mary

 

I was in a meeting when a phone message interrupted me. I learned that I had dropped my credit card and another card in a parking lot.

The young woman who found it methodically called Gerbrandts listed in the telephone directory until she found one of our relatives, who provided a direct contact number. (Thanks, Aunt Mary!)

Thank you, Hanifa Dostmohamed, for your kindness and thoughtfulness. Your integrity spared me potential financial loss and great inconvenience. What seemed like an interruption to my session was really a gift, one that cost you far more time than I lost.

— Pat Gerbrandt

 

Thanks for great care at Grace

 

At the end of August I had orthopedic surgery at the Grace Hospital. I want to say thank you to all the staff: from the security guard who greeted us on arrival to the surgeons for their wonderful care.

I especially want to commend the second floor staff — pre-op clinic and ward — as well as the physiotherapists for their excellent care. They all presented high levels of professionalism.

Thank you all.

— W. Pfeiffer

 

Stranger deserves recognition

 

Last week we came home to an envelope on our front step. Inside was our daughter’s driver’s licence that she did not even know she had lost.

Some kind soul found it in a parking lot and could not find our name in the phone book so this person took the time to drive to our home in Lindenwoods. They left a note but did not sign it.

I wish I could call this person and do something special for them. They deserve to be recognized for going above and beyond.

The world would be a better place if more people where this thoughtful!

— Darcie Guarderas, mother of Teigan Harrison

 

True spirit of humanity

 

I was at the Mcdonalds on Grant Avenue across from the Grant Park High School when I experienced a random act of kindness.

I had been on a field trip with the school that I work at, and I was standing in line with two of our students to help them purchase their lunch.

As we approached the cashier, an older gentleman was behind us in line, and he stepped forward and told the cashier he was going to pay for all three of our lunches. At first there was shock and surprise, and then much gratitude, he himself only ordered a small drink, then he was gone!

Thank you, thank you, thank you to this kind man and his random act of kindness. Not only did he touch the three of us but the rest of the class as well! This has shown us the true spirit of humanity, and we shall pay it forward.

— Susan Still

 

The zoo with heart

 

I took my friend who was visiting from Ontario to the zoo. We didn’t notice that the sign directing visitors to a special presentation at the tigers’ cage at 1:30 p.m. said the presentations stopped at the end of the summer.

We hung around Kendra and Sarma’s cage waiting for the show to start. Zoo staff stopped the work they were doing to explain there are no special presentations after summer.

We chatted and I said that I always take out-of-province visitors to the zoo because I think it has such heart.

Zoo staff members Jacquie and Mike stopped their other tasks to talk to us about the tigers, really a mini presentation just for us (although soon a small crowd had gathered.)

Jacquie even fetched a bucket of chicken parts and showed us how the tigers are trained to come to the fence and reach for the chicken, which comes in handy when staff need to examine the animals.

Thank you Jacquie and Mike for making our visit to the zoo special. It really is the zoo with heart.

— Julie Carl