As a new mom, I had my special needs son at Disneyland when he was about 4. He had a complete meltdown. As he screamed and flailed, I got all kinds of dirty looks and muttered comments about how I should be controlling him, he was spoiled, he shouldn't be there if he couldn't behave, etc. It was extremely stressful for both him and me. He couldn't control his dysregulation, I had him in a safety hold and was unable to do anything more than keep him physically safe.

Then a mom came up and said "do you need a juice box or some goldfish crackers? I have extra." She even stuck the straw in the juice box for him. He was immediately able to calm down and regulate. I could have cried. All of those people walking past us giving us looks and comments, and one person recognized that he just needed some sugar and carbs to get through a rough patch. Now that my kids are older and I'm more experienced, I always look for ways I can help other parents in distress. It takes a village, but I wouldn't have thought I'd find that village from a random stranger at Disneyland.

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cerinamroth

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My sister had a similar experience with her eldest in a museum. I was there with my SIL and we both said to her afterwards how well she handled it. You do get some looks sometimes as a parent, but you do also get moments of solidarity from other parents that are worth diamonds. I've had them too myself. I remember seeing a mum with a baby in a pram and a toddler who needed a wee at the airport. There was a queue and the toddler was acting up (who knows what time zone their wee brain was on!). The pram wouldn't fit through the door and the mum was starting to look very stressed and on the verge of tears. I went up with my kids and offered her a small bottle of water I had got for free on the plane but didn't need and a little bag of snacks. Offered to stay with the baby in the pram while she took the little one to the toilet and asked everyone in English and the local language if they would mind the mum taking the little girl to the front of the queue. Big smiles :)

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I bought a dining room table off Facebook marketplace after my ex took ours during the separation. It was a tough season. Went to pick it up and there was no way I was fitting both the table and chairs into my vehicle. I also failed to bring bungee cords. The FB stranger, knowing very little of my situation, immediately loaded up her van with the chairs, helped me secure the table into my car, followed me home (all the way across town, tailing me to make sure the table didn't fall out on the highway,) and helped me move the new furniture into my dining room.

It was one of the kindest things anyone has ever done for me. I sent her a hand written thank you note and gas money, but there is no way to adequately express the gratitude I have for that person and her kindness.

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Lyoness

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Not all heroes wear capes. Trite but true.

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My daughter came upon a teenage girl sitting on the edge of a bridge over the highway. My daughter pulled into a parking lot and walked over to the girl. She talked with the girl for about an hour and was able to convince her to get off the bridge. They got coffee and spoke for a while longer before the girl was picked up by friends.

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Anthorn

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oh wow, bless your daughter!

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This was about 10 years ago. I vaguely remember trying hard to hold back tears on the subway one night coming home from work. Someone walked past me and made a quick movement to leave something on the seat next to me -- it was a tiny origami crane folded from a paper transfer ticket. That little act instantly changed the trajectory of my evening. I still have the crane in my jewelry box!

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Beth Wheeler

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Awwwww

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I worked as a search and rescue coordinator for a while (US Coast Guard). We'd had a rough case that went late into the night - a kid fell off a boat and we didn't find him. I'd just come out of the calls with his family to tell them that we were suspending the search and then I had to drive home.

It was raining and it was probably around 2 in the morning. About 10 minutes from home, I got a flat tire. The nearest place with any kind of parking lot was this private school - I rolled into the parking lot and started to change my tire. After a few minutes, the security guard came over and started to say "hey man, you can't be here, this is private property." I told him that I'd just come off the worst day of my f*****g life and that if he didn't mind, I'd change my tire and be on my way.

He backed off and then came over with an umbrella. He held the umbrella over me for the remainder of the time that it took me to change my tire. We didn't speak. After I got everything taken care of, I looked in his direction to say thanks, but I was on the verge of tears and struggled to get any words out. As he held the umbrella over me, he said it was okay and that he hoped things would get better. I'm even tearing up a little bit trying to type this all out. I didn't say anything - I hopped in the car and got home.

That meant so much. There's a little more to the story, but the point is that he didn't have to do or say any of that. He could have just gone back to his booth and watched me change my tire, but he didn't. He cared and it made such a significant impact. I'll never forget it.

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Sonja

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I was freshly 18 and the ink on my driving license was probably still wet at that time, when I drove by car back to the city where I studied on the 1st January morning, everything still closed. I got flat tire. I tried to call roadside assistance, but lady on the phone seemed more confused than I was. While still on phone, an older couple stopped next to me and the man stepped out and started to change the wheel. I put the phone down and the lady was "Don't worry, dear, he drove truck for more than 3 decades. He'll change it for you in no time". I don't know, who they were. I don't know their names. It is 18 years later and I still remember it. I don't know if they are still alive. They asked no questions, took no money. Just stopped, changed tire and left again.

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We had an older couple that was quite well off (as in could have bought the dinner house I worked in) come in usually every Friday. If it happened on prom night they would watch all the highschool couples come in and choose a couple and buy their dinner. It was never the popular kids. It was the couple that was dropped off by Mom. Probably on a first date, a little awkward. They always left with a bit more confidence, grace.

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Lyoness

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What an amazing couple, and even more so as it sounds like they did it anonymously. No "Look at how great I am!" Just doing something kind. The 'influencers' who film themselves giving to people drive me bonkers. It's great that they're helping, I just find it irritating that they need to post it online and humble brag.

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I was in my early 20's flying from the US to the UK to see my boyfriend at the time. On the way over, I was sexually assaulted by the man sitting next to me. I had at first believed him to be a kind of grandfatherly type, but that quickly faded as we got into the air. The flight attendants wouldn't help me. That 8 hour flight was a living nightmare.

I had a layover in Amsterdam. When we landed, he turned to me and said "during your layover, we are getting a hotel." I was crying and pretended I didn't hear him.

When I entered the terminal, I tried to lose him but saw him racing to catch up to me. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a man who looked maybe late-20s ran up to me and put his arm around my shoulders. I was in such a shock that I can't recall his name....but he said "Hi. My name is ___. I'm from Texas and I am here to visit my girlfriend. I'd like to walk you to your gate if that's alright."

At Schipol there is security at each gate, so I was safe from there. He dropped me at my gate and went on his way. To feel like someone was looking out for me after 8 hrs of that hell was an indescribable feeling and I am forever grateful for him and people like him.

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Sandella

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My goodness, go the press about that airline and smear their s****y name as much as you can, that's awful!

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I went to Cook Out once in college. I was in a really bad spot because of a horrible TBI, and I had been crying in bed most of the day but finally ventured out that night for some comfort food. My voice must have sounded pretty horrible over the speaker, because as the guy at the window handed me my food, he said, "Hey, it sounds like you're having kind of a rough day, so I put some extra caramel in your milkshake and extra cheese on your burger. Hope that's cool."



That was probably twelve years ago and I still think about him because it was just such an unexpected and sweet gesture. If you read this, Cook Out superhero, I'm sorry I started crying again after you said that- that was probably super awkward- but you are a wonderful human and I hope life has rewarded you richly for it.

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Multa Nocte

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She went to a cookout after "a horrible TBI" (traumatic brain injury)?

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When I was 16, I was at an employment provider appointment(they help you look for work if you're getting unemployment payments in Australia). I was living pretty rough back then, all I wanted was for somebody to give me a chance. Lynda came out to me after the appointment, put $20 in my hand and whispered "please, get yourself something to eat". It wasn't a secret that I was in a bad spot, I was clearly malnourished, covered in bruises, and wearing donated clothes. I bought as much food as I could with that money, and cried while I ate it in a parking lot. I'll never forget her.

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Sedona

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What sort of laws does Australia have? The kid is not in school, has no family and is not getting any help from the state? They are a literal child, what?

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I had a car that was on its last legs. It was in the shop and I asked the mechanic if the car would make it out of state and back.( only 5 hours to the next state). I explained I had family death to deal with. He gave me the keys to his car. No questions asked. Thank you Jesus 🙏!! I made it there and back. I filled the tank, washed and cleaned the inside of his car, bought floor mats and a thank you card! I always recommend his shop! THANK YOU JOHN, from the bottom of my heart ❤️.

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LuckyL

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I had a flat tire on the way to work when I stopped to get gas (my fault, young driver, and i hit the metal edge of the platform for the pump). The owner gave me his car and told me he'd organise tires till the end of the day and to just go to work and come back. Which he did. At an other repair shop, they told me, that they didn't have an heateable outside mirror right now, but that they would install a regular one and I should come by next week to have it switched. They didn't want any money right now or contact information - just come by and then we'll deal with it.

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I was working in a kiosk at a mall. I had just gone through a pretty rough break up that left me feeling worthless after I had been cheated on. I must've been pretty bad at hiding my emotional expressions because a random stranger walking by stopped and asked if I was okay. I surprisingly felt compelled to tell them I wasn't. Which is out of the norm for me with a stranger. They asked if I wanted a hug and I agreed. I cried on a stranger's shoulder and didn't even explain why. They said that I will be okay and it's okay to not be okay and that they hope I feel better soon and walked away after I thanked them and apologized. A complete stranger made me feel like I wasn't alone anymore by hugging me and letting me cry on their shoulder. It really helped me.

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Lyoness

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Stupid onion ninjas.

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My wife bought something off of FB marketplace and found out the lady selling stuff was a single mom moving out of state and had no help. My wife went over to her house every day for a couple of weeks and helped her pack up her stuff.

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Lyoness

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She's a keeper.

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Some time ago, I witnessed an act of kindness that left a deep impression on me... I was in a small coffe shop when an elderly lady reached the counter and, upon trying to pay, realized she had forgotten her wallet. She clearly felt uncomfortable and embarrassed, nervously apologizing. Just as the situation started to become awkward, a man who was further back in the line stepped forward, and without saying a word, paid for her coffee. He did it so naturally, as if it were something he did all the time. The lady tried to apologize, but he simply smiled and said, "Don't worry, we all forget something from time to time. Enjoy your coffee"

What impressed me the most was the simplicity with which he acted, without seeking any recognition. It made me think about how the simplest actions, those that seem small, can have a profound impact on someone else's life.

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Geoffrey Scott

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My wife and I, on a rare occasion, dined out. We went to a Bob Evans, where seated across from us, was an elderly couple. She with a cane shuffled toward the bathroom. The husband was standing outside for quite a while, occasionally opened the door and called inside to make sure she was good. My wife noticed this and entered the rest room to help if needed, it was needed. Husband was grateful and thanked her profusely. My wife suggested, and I readily agreed, to buy a gift certificate for a meal on us for them. They both teared up as they rarely went out due to her infirmity and finances and looked forward to a treat. Just as they were preparing to leave, the waiter came up and informed them the meal was comped. He then came to our table and informed us our meal was comped also. We thanked him and Bob Evans. "It wasn't me/us". As we left, there was a couple in the car ready to leave, she waved at us, we mouthed the words "thank you". Quite a good experience.

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I was in a coffee shop in denver downtown. There was a homeless guy in bad shape as well in the shop sheltering from a snowstorm. A stranger came in, saw the guy and went back to her car and gave him a package that said "homeless kit" , which I think had some packaged food, blankets, some papers and other things that I couldn't see. Honestly, it was really cool to know something like that exists, and I genuinely think it helped him in the short term.

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Myoviridae

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That is a fantastic thing to keep in your vehicle! (along with survival stuff and road flares, etc.) Just had to google these. They can be quite expensive! (but worth it) You can probably make one yourself for much less.

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It was a hot summer day, and I was working minimum wage at the time. My card got declined, trying to buy a one gallon jug of water. The lady behind me goes, "Aww baby, don't worry I got you. I started to tear up.

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lovemy suffolk

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Being thirsty, genuinely thirsty with no relief, is torture. Being hungry is also no picnic, but not as bad as being thirsty. Blessings on the lady who helped 🙏.

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My boss and I closed up the restaurant and he stuck around with a homeless guy. Sat down with him and they ate food together.

We were the last one's out, so like 1am. Didn't say anything about it, just walked over with a bag of food, sat down and ate with him.

Something so delicate about the simple stuff that makes us human.

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BrownEyedPanda

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It's the basic acts of kindness that keep us human.

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I buy 5 or so Ikea umbrellas and keep them handy when driving around in the rain. Sometimes there's a perfect opportunity to roll down the window and ask a pedestrian if they'd like an umbrella.

Recently a student leaving his class said his umbrella was just stolen and he seemed thrilled with the timing of the umbrella offer!

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Spannidandoolar

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I can't believe someone does this! I always think this when it's raining but I never remember to actually go on a hunt for cheap umbrellas!

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When I was homeless and still with my ex, we would camp out at McDonald's to use their wifi, and if we were lucky get a deal on food through the app.

It was close to Christmas time and we were there doing our usual thing, and a man got up and dropped a $100 bill on the table as he went out, not saying anything. I barely had time to say thank you as he went out the door.

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Geoffrey Scott

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He was probably just as grateful as you were. He had the means to help.

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A few years ago I needed to buy food for my kids and I for a few days. I had about $48 in my bank account. I was having a bad day and was in a hurry. I stopped by Walmart on my way home and started rushing through.

A man and a Walmart employee were talking in front of the last item I needed. I was impatient and they were talking for a while. Finally I removed my headphones (I was listening to music) to hear what they were saying. The man needed cabinet liners.

The employee didn’t know where they were so I interrupted and said I would take him. I rushed him to the other side of the store and pointed out the different cabinet liners. (I try to do random acts of kindness as often as possible)

I rushed back to the aisle I needed and grabbed my last item. I rush to the self checkouts and scan my items. It came to $36 and some change. I start to take out my card and the man taps me on the shoulder and insists on paying.

I will never forget what he did for me that day. Did he watch for me or was it an impulse when he saw me at the registers? I will never know the answer. It still brings tears to my eyes. He saved me that day and I can never repay him. He was my angel that day.

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Sandella

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And that could've ended really differently if op had just snapped at them instead. Glad to see acts of kindness returned

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My mom was pick-pocketed at a Walmart. A few hours later a woman called saying she found the wallet - the thieves threw it on the side of the road. We met the woman to get the wallet. My mom offered her money for returning it; the woman refused and just asked her to pay it forward.

A few years later I found someone’s pet cat and arranged to return him to his owners. The owner offered me money for caring for the cat until she could come get him. I did the same as the woman who found my mom’s wallet, and refused any money and asked them to pay it forward when you are able.

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Jacquie Carr

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I looked after a dog that had been hit by a car for a couple of hours last week until the owner could come & take her to the vet; I didn't know the dog or the owner (tracked by microchip) but the guy's boss wouldn't let him leave work immediately. Dog just needed a safe place for a while - I told him to pay it forward too

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I was in Kerala, South India, trying to find an ATM on a busy motorway as my taxi driver had to a do a loop as there was no where to stop. A bunch of people figure out what was my issue and I was grabbed by the arm and helped to cross this insane motorway to an ATM on the other side of the road.

One of the guys watched my back as I painfully looked outplace. I didn't think I needed help but as I was an obvious tourist they helped me cross again and we convene with my taxi. I was expecting they wanted some money but they wanted nothing to do with it.

They just saw a foreigner who was panicked, sweating like a waterfall, in a high stress situation and chose to help him.

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Multa Nocte

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That is VERY sweet!

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Today the librarian must have noticed my 2 year old was reaching his limit of staying-quiet-and-not-grabbing-all-the-books and offered him a sticker just in time. I didn't even notice she was there until she saved the day!

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BeKind&Rewind

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I have crayons and coloring pages in my desk at all times for this exact reason.

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May 2005 I was driving from Atlanta to Chattanooga. Car in front of me was pulling a trailer. A wheel came off and got lodged under my car. I was on the interstate and my car started spinning. My car went backwards down a hill until it hit a tree.

A woman who had seen it happen pulled over and ran down to my car to get me. She’d seen sparks under my car. It hadn’t rained recently and she risked her own safety to help me get out of my car. My door wouldn’t open, so I had to crawl out the passenger door. My shoe had come off and she told me, “Forget the shoe!” When we got to the road, she hugged me as I cried.

I wish I’d gotten her name. I’ve never forgotten her and like to think of her as my guardian angel.

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Tiger

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My friend (an elderly grandmother) had her brand new car accidentally hit by a teenager reversing into her. They both got out of the car and my friend, who is a little feisty, was enraged, and started yelling “what were you thinking?!” The teenage girl started crying, which took my friend off guard, and she instantly hugged her, calmed her down, helped her figure out the damage (just a bent license plate, no big deal) and then took her out for lunch at a very fancy restaurant to cheer her up. I thought it was so sweet.

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I once saw a AskReddit post asking what people wanted for Christmas. I said a InstaPot. Some stranger on reddit messaged me and sent me one via Amazon. That was like 5 years ago and I still use that thing every week. Thank you again fellow redditor!

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ZuriLovesYou

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That's so great!

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I work at a coffee shop in a bad part of town. One of our regular customers rides his bike to one of his jobs, he stops in every morning for some coffee, well one day his bike got stolen, his only means of transportation. A customer overheard the hubbub and went out and bought him a bike, we had it waiting for him in our backroom the next day. Bike lock included.

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I was in high school sitting alone in class (during lunch hour). had a teacher randomly come in to talk to me, I guess he sensed that I was depressed or something. we talked about life for about half an hour. he left the room and came back 5 min later with a picture he drew for me. it said "take it day by day" in green/blue graffiti letters. I still have it in one of my folders!! i never saw him again sadly.

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Lisa Lilla

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A good ghost teacher wandering the halls to help lost kids in their time of need….

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Standing in line at the packed grocery store, I waited in line. A teen stands in the back of a line one over, holding flowers. A middle aged guy in that line sees him and goes over to him, offers him a short introduction and a handshake then pays for the guy's flowers. It was so random and so sweet. Right around homecoming time.

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Anthorn

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Aww, hope that kid's homecoming went well <3

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Actually it was my kids when they were nine. An older lady fell down in the supermarket parking lot and they both ran over and helped her up and made sure she was ok.

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Multa Nocte

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Must have been a great parent to have kids act like this!

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ONE TIME, I was at a café, and a stranger paid for an elderly woman’s coffee without her knowing. When she found out, she smiled so big and said, ‘I guess there’s still magic in the world.✨’ It was such a small gesture, but the joy it brought her was unforgettable. 😊It really made me realize how a tiny act of kindness can ripple through someone’s day in the best way.🌟.

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Tiger

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This is so cute

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ONE TIME someone did the pay it forward in the McDonald’s line in front of me. One. Time. That moment stuck with me so much (I was living in my car and 17 at the time) that for the past decade I have not stopped doing it when I can. I forgot to for a while. Maybe a year. I was “busy” so something in my gut said “just leave the change for the next person” last time I hit the drive thru. Man. I never look back for reactions but this time I did and this man (BIG MAN) had this beaming smile and I swear, I just hope I had a big smile like that when it first happened to me cuz those people deserved to see that. I was full of joy and so was he and it was a wonderful moment. We should all keep paying it forward every day even in the small ways.

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FoxEcoLimaIndiaCharlieIndiAlfa

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Yes this is very similar to the story I shared in a post just prior to this one. Imagine if everyone paid it forward if/when they could

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