Random Acts Of Kindness...

[Guy Fawkes]

In the console of my car I keep an Altoids tin. It's just the right size to store gift cards. Whenever I have an extra $5, I buy a Jack in the Box gift card.

 

When I see one the kids that is in need, I hand them one.

 

What's your random act of kindness?

 

http://erroraccessdenied.com/files/images/cinnamonaltoids_0.preview.JPG

[bigvalboy]

Not sure if this counts, but I practice "Kindness" everyday...

[Guy Fawkes]

Only if you document one of your kindness'!

Not sure if this counts, but I practice "Kindness" everyday...

[N13]

Helped a lady carry her shopping bags down the subway steps. Wasn't looking for it, but a train came right away and I got an empty end seat on a crowded car.

[bigvalboy]

Only if you document one of your kindness'!

 

The 75 year old secretary of our association, who helps me daily manage the tedious work of running the place, lives next door alone on a small pension in a rented apartment. She is really only able to make it every month because of this side job as secretary with our association. Unfortunately the hours she is needed is too little, and the pay is too short. I have loaned her money from time to time to help her over a tight spot, but she is a proud woman and takes the money reluctantly and only when she knows it can be paid back.

 

Her two grandsons, both 13 have behavioral problems, due in part because their parents are more fucked up than they are. The parents, her son and daughter in-law, sent the boys away several months ago to a hardcore, no nonsense facility for "behavioral adjustment training" (whatever the hell that is). For the kids it was like prison, they were terrified, it was a horrible solution, and everything began to spiral downward. She cried everyday, barely slept or ate. By the grace of God, their parents realized this month what a stupid idea it was, and the facility released the boys early so that they could be home for Christmas. I knew she didn't have money for gifts, so the other day I told her I needed 300 hundred dollars out of petty cash. When she gave it to me, I pulled out a Christmas card and put the money inside, told her it was her Christmas bonus and wished her a merry Christmas. She started to cry and was telling me how I couldn't do that. I said I can do anything I damn well please and if someone has a problem with that they can come see me. I then pulled out another card with another $300 in it that was from me personally. I told her to go buy the kids something nice for Christmas, and I got up and walked out.

 

Seniors have a hard time in this country, we tend to discard them. Out of site, out of mind. Too many, for no fault of their own, live hand to mouth and worry everyday if they will have enough for food or rent. In many respects they are a forgotten generation. Their golden years tarnished and full of fear, and often spent alone. I see it everyday here. Perhaps more so because I am a senior now myself. So everyday I count my blessings and am grateful for what my higher power has provided for me, for the favor he has found in me. Pay it forward, spread the wealth...Merry Christmas

[jjkrkwood]

This looks like BVB's tree......

 

 

http://68.media.tumblr.com/5a13d689bb1ee22c3b7f33e5e9dddcd3/tumblr_ohas6sfNv51vja6o9o1_500.gif

[+ José Soplanucas]

This school year I am working in two campuses. When I have time during my transition, I stop by Harry's Teater to get my lunch, and always buy a stray of cup cakes or a box of cookies. When the school day ends, 15 minutes after dismissal, when the only kids left in the building are the ones that prefer to be at school rather than home or the street, I go around through the classrooms giving away the treats.

[Epigonos]

My condo complex was built in 1963. There is only one remaining original owner still here. She is an 89 year old retired junior high school teacher. Her fiancee was killed in the early days of World War II and she never married. She has no living relatives. She used to get together with two other owners for drinks once a week but they have both died. We now get together once a week for a drink and local association gossip. The "old girl" drinks Chivas Regal on the rocks with a twist of lemon. After finishing her first drink, upon my urging, she accepts "just an additional splash" more. She is also invited and attends my small Christmas Eve party and my family Easter Brunch. The joy on her face during these occasions is the best gift I could possibly receive.

[+ WilliamM]

Making sure that my young freelance journalist friend in Ukraine has enough money for food and lodging when he is not selling articles, as is the situation right now. I just sent him $225 via his parents.

[+ glennnn]

Even in my small, rural town there are indigent people as we are on a major highway. I never turn them down if they ask for help, or if I perceive their need. It may be only $5 or $10, but I think, "What if I was hungry and broke?" I'm secure and still working, and I can afford it.

 

I do like Daddy's gift card for food, but sometimes what they need is gasoline to get home. My son was recently stranded almost out of gas, having left his wallet at home. A man bought him enough gas to get home and refused repayment. He just said, "Pay it forward!"

[Nvr2Thick]

My next door neighbor has aged from active retiree to struggling elderly in the past ten years. Even though she's the one who paid for her house and paid every dime toward maintenance she lives in the upstairs apartment and hangs onto it for her domineering son who lives in England with his wife and kids, and who comes home maybe four times a year for short stays to network with friends and business associates. She talks of moving to a more manageable condo, but she'll never bring herself to sell her house, her primary retirement asset, because her son has established that it's theirs and it will become his when she's gone. Her tiny front yard is all garden, which she used to proudly tend, but which now wears her out. When I'm home and I see her put her shopping cart and bags in her car and I know she'll be gone for a while I do a quick round of stealth weeding for her. She used to mow her own back yard, but three years ago she found herself calling a local landscaper to cut it on an as-needed basis. He charges her way too much, and she worries about spending into her savings. Originally she was hiring a local kid, but I'm convinced he stole her lawnmower. Anyway, when I get a chance and she's out I quickly cut her grass and run around the edges with a weedeater. She used to think that her grass was growing slowly, but she's starting to catch on.

 

I stock up on $20 gift cards at my supermarket. Sometimes I'll leave one with the cashier when I'm finished checking out. I'll ask her to apply it toward the total of the person behind me. A few of the cashiers have come to know me, so all I have to do is nod while I hand a cashier the card and she'll nod back with a poker face. Since the gift doesn't become known until all the scanning and most of the bagging is done I'm long gone before the customer receives it, and he or she probably doesn't remember me.

[+ azdr0710]

very nice comments above @Nvr2Thick

[+ glennnn]

Anytime I see policemen, firemen or military service personnel in a cafe, I try to pick up their check as a small thank you.

[+ bashful]

When working, I commuted by train in bad weather. Between my office and the train station, there used to be traffic people at each street who would coordinate pedestrians, and car traffic. They weren't police, but a civilian jobs. One rainy day, while walking to the train station, I didn't make the light, and was the first person just off the curb. The traffic person returned from the middle of the intersection to stand in front of me, and I noticed rain was hitting her face. I held my umbrella out over her head so her face wasn't hit by the rain.

[Guest]

I will buy servicemen in uniform their drinks (one round) to thank them for their service. Oh, and maybe because I love men in uniform...

[OneFinger]

I currently live in San Diego and travel quite a bit to my other homes in Utah and Oregon. On those flights it's not uncommon to have service members flying home after completing boot camp. They're very easy to spot. Many are with family who came in for the graduation ceremony. But, there are some traveling alone. I usually offer to buy them a meal or drink while waiting for the plane. Other times, I just hand my credit card to the flight attendant and have them buy a beer, wine or cocktail for them.

 

While it wasn't a random act of kindness, there was something I did for my father when he was ill. I knew his medicare supplement didn't cover the cost for a lot of his medications. His pharmacist was a neighbor that I had known for years. I contacted him and asked him to have my father only pay a $10-15 "co-pay" and then put the remainder on my credit card. This went on for about 3 or 4 years before my father died. But, I knew he was getting the medications he needed and was no longer worried about having to choose between meds or meals.

[+ poolboy48220]

Monday while I was at work somebody cleared my driveway and sidewalk with a snowblower. Still don't know who it was. I know one of the neighbors did it Sunday night, but the Monday perp has yet to be identified.

 

Last year the guy across the street cleared all our sidewalks, he's got a monster snowblower. I brought him over some hot chocolate with cinnamon whiskey in it while he was doing his own driveway.

[instudiocity]

http://s7d7.scene7.com/is/image/Starbucks/cobra-card-2016?$shopallcards$&$card-image=Starbucks%2Fcobra-Thank%20You%20Cup&cache=off&$message-hide=1&$to-hide=1&$mask-area-hide=1

I buy 20 of these at a time with $5 pre-loaded on 19. The 20th card gets $30, so a nice round cost of $100. As I travel through airports seeing service members, I hand then a card. Most of the time, I don't say anything more than Thank You for your service. Sometimes I hear a lot more. These are good people and I enjoy shaking their hand.

[+ nycman]

The other day I was traveling on business and was having lunch at the bar in a fancy French Bistro.

 

Two very young gay men came in and sat down at the bar next to me. They were both dressed to the

nines. The "older" one (MAYBE 21 years old at best), was trying HARD to impress the younger one.

He was carrying on about the wine, the oysters, the foie gras.... The younger man just looked on in

rapt admiration. Half of what the older one said was dead wrong...but it didn't matter.

 

Through out the meal the French bartender and I kept smirking and shooting each other knowing

looks. As it progressed we turned to eye rolling and the bullshit just got deeper and deeper. Of course,

none of the mattered to the two young men, who were having the time of their lives. The older one

"teaching" his eager and adorable "pupil" the finer points of enjoying a meal in a French Bistro.

 

When my bill came I discretely asked the bartender to put their tab on my bill and to not tell

them until after I left. He said, "are you sure?...the one is kind of an asshole". I said , "I know...

I used to be that asshole 25 years ago. He's trying soooo hard and he means well. He'll figure it

out eventually. Besides...assholes need love too...."

 

The bartender and I got one last chuckle and I was on my way.

[coriolis888]

Anytime I see policemen, firemen or military service personnel in a cafe, I try to pick up their check as a small thank you.

 

 

While I think your kindness intended is great, did you know this about the salary of police and firemen?

 

California police officers made, on average, $111,800 during 2015, according to a Sacramento Bee analysis of new data from the State Controller's Office. That figure reflects base pay, as well as overtime, incentive pay and payouts upon retirement. Firefighters and engineers earned, on average, $134,400.

 

For military the pay is quite different - for example:

 

As an example, the Army website broke down the annual $29,380 compensation of a military police sergeant into $29,380 for salary, $16,164 for housing, $3,900 for food allowances, $1,800 for special pay, and tax advantages of $2,716.

[+ glennnn]

While I think your kindness intended is great, did you know this about the salary of police and firemen?

 

California police officers made, on average, $111,800 during 2015, according to a Sacramento Bee analysis of new data from the State Controller's Office. That figure reflects base pay, as well as overtime, incentive pay and payouts upon retirement. Firefighters and engineers earned, on average, $134,400.

 

For military the pay is quite different - for example:

 

As an example, the Army website broke down the annual $29,380 compensation of a military police sergeant into $29,380 for salary, $16,164 for housing, $3,900 for food allowances, $1,800 for special pay, and tax advantages of $2,716.

 

No, I didn't specifically know that, but the gesture isn't meant to offer financial support anyway. It's meant to say thank you for taking on a necessary and difficult job that I couldn't and wouldn't do. I hope you weren't indicating I should stop because fire and police personnel are decently paid. IMHO, $111,000 doesn't seem excessive when you consider the rigors of the work and what many other less essential jobs can pay. Do I need someone to put a ball through a hoop, to buy and sell stocks, to act in films, to record rap music? OTOH, do I need someone to deal with the dark, dangerous side of modern life?

 

Often, they refuse my gesture anyway, but the gratitude and pleasure in their faces is palpable, especially in the highly politicised climate of today. I don't mean to start a controversy, but a number of my family members are fire and police personnel and they are worthy of both their salaries and gestures of thanks and respect.

 

On the other hand, our military personnel are woefully underpaid and shamefully treated. With them my gesture is both financial and grateful.

 

All of this is respectfully and calmly submitted.

[jjkrkwood]

It's the Holidays, and my random act of kindness is not cock shaming guys with small dicks. In the spirit of the Holidays, I happily, and with a smile on my face service ALL sizes, big and small, without as much as a sneer at the Small ones... For me, you cant get more random that THAT !

 

Cheers to All !