Random acts of kindness

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This article was published 29/11/2014 (4164 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Stopped traffic to pick up ID

HALLOWEEN Friday, I was getting ready to leave my office when I had got into a minor vehicle collision in the parking lot.

After exchanging information and already being upset and frazzled about the incident, I believe I left my driver’s licence on the roof of my car.

It was only once I got home that I realized I had lost my identification card as well. With the accident and not having a piece of ID for the whole weekend, it felt like a really terrible weekend.

On Monday evening, I returned home from work and there was a handwritten letter in the mail with no return address. The envelope contained my drivers licence.

The letter stated that this person had found my licence in the middle of the road around 4 p.m. — downtown rush hour traffic. It also stated this person was in their late 60s and used a walker and had a “heck of time” bending over to pick it up. Impatient drivers honked at this wonderful person.

The letter did not give a name, only the initials, HJJ.

I thank you so much, HJJ, for returning this to me. This random act of kindness made my day and restored my faith in humanity. I thank you again, HJJ, and I will definitely pay it forward in the future.

— Alexis Birdsall

Paid it forward with donation

MY sister and I stopped at the Petro-Canada station on the corner of highways 1E and 207 to gas up before heading to Kenora.

Unfortunately, I fell and lay outside, unconscious with a head wound, bleeding profusely. The staff and one of the customers came to my aid. They called 911 and relayed instructions, brought large towels to put under my head, covered me with a jacket and brought more towels to use as blankets.

One customer, a young lady named Monica, who works at a nearby construction site, applied pressure to my wound and for the next 15 minutes helped my sister and encouraged me to stay awake.

I am so thankful to the staff, Monica, the paramedics and the ER staff at St. Boniface Hospital for the assistance and care I was given.

And also a bouquet to my sister who was understandably quite shaken up by the incident.

In appreciation to everyone, I have passed my thanks forward by making a gift to the Kenora and Lake of the Woods Regional Community Foundation in their honor.

— Diane Pochailo

Kenora, Ont.

Thanks, Cheryl and Shayne

I WAS leaving Tim Horton’s Halloween afternoon, shoving my sandwich in my purse, and I didn’t see the curb. I sped, face first, plowing onto the parking lot surface.

As I lay there assessing the damage to my face, teeth and glasses, two separate people came to my rescue and helped me into Tim’s washroom where they and the staff brought me ice, napkins and bandages. I was a bloody torn mess and badly shaken.

They checked to ensure I did not have a concussion. Cheryl, the woman, insisted on driving me home in my car, Shayne, the other helper, followed us in his car to drive Cheryl back to Tim’s.

I want to thank Cheryl and Shayne for coming to my aid. I am now healing as I write this note.

— Liz Lielke

Angel in the night

I WAS at Victoria General Hospital, all by myself at about 2 a.m. one day in September.

I was feeling just miserable. I had been sick for days, throwing up, dehydrated and had pulled a muscle in my jaw.

I was all alone because my husband has a brain tumour and an aneurysm and is unable to come with me when I am sick.

But in the middle of the night, a complete stranger came over and got me a blanket as she saw me shivering, found me an easy chair and comforted me.

Not only were you taking care of your son with the flu you made time to take care of a complete stranger. Your act of kindness in the middle of the night will never be forgotten I truly thank you.

— P. Holmes