Swandeh Terhide

A SINGLE ACT OF KINDNESS SPARKS A MOVEMENT

When Andrew Levy, a real estate agent in Palm Beach Gardens, learned that over 400 children in the Jupiter area were unable to access a proper lunch due to outstanding debt, he knew he had to act. “These children that were in debt were going to either not eat or they would get just cheese sandwiches and I thought that’s crazy,” Levy said. “I thought you know something? If for a modest sum I could make that change, I’m gonna do it.” Levy promptly paid off the $944.34 debt across all nine Jupiter area public schools, ensuring that no child would go hungry. But his generosity didn’t stop there. After posting about his act of kindness on Facebook, over 200 people commented, many asking how they could help. Levy realized that his single gesture had ignited a chain reaction of compassion within the community. Determined to maintain the momentum, Levy decided to establish a quarterly fundraising initiative to prevent future lunch debt accumulation. His goal is to ensure that children never have to worry about a hot meal and parents never have to stress about the bill. Each of us has a role to play. If we view life through the lens of humanity, we would be creating a world no one has to go hungry. May we embrace kindness this day, all day and every day.

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A MISDIALED CALL LEADS TO A HEARTWARMING ACT OF KINDNESS

An elderly woman’s misdialed phone call turned into a delightful surprise when she accidentally left a voicemail for a local attorney’s office instead of a medical supply store. Bernice, a resident of Albuquerque, New Mexico, attempted multiple times to reach the store to order a new walker. However, due to a mistake in dialing the last digit, she consistently connected with the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s office. Kyle Hartstock, an office agent, shared with KRQE, “I put it on speaker and played it for everybody because it was a different kind of missed call, and it was kind of cute and humorous at the same time.” When someone from the office returned her call to clarify the situation, Bernice simply expressed her need for a walker. Rather than leaving her to fend for herself, the staff members decided to pool their resources to purchase a new walker for her and deliver it as a surprise. Despite their refusal to accept any payment from Bernice for the walker, she expressed that the best part of the visit was the warm hugs she received from the young staffers. This heartwarming incident clearly shows how kindness can emerge in the most unexpected circumstances, and also serves as a wakeup call for us to always be ready to lend a helping hand.

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PASSENGER WIPES OUT UBER DRIVER’S COLLEGE DEBT

Uber driver Latonya Young has given rides to hundreds of passengers—but there is one particular car ride she will never forget. The 43-year-old single mother from Atlanta, Georgia had been studying criminal justice at Georgia State University until she was suddenly barred from continuing her classes due to an unpaid $700 balance on her account. “Every time I got ready to pay the money, my kids needed something,” Young recalled to WIST-TV. “I said, ‘Okay, I’ll just wait.’” Young, working as a hair stylist by day and an Uber driver by night, had been driving a passenger to a soccer game one night when she mentioned her financial struggles with the university. A few days later, she received a call from Georgia State University saying that she was free to reenroll in more classes since her Uber passenger, Kevin Esch, had paid off her remaining balance. “I was literally blown away. A stranger has never done that or done anything like that for me,” Young told reporters. “When he paid the balance, I had to do this for him. I maintained my grades, As and Bs, just trying to do everything to make sure he knows I appreciate him.” Esch was in the audience when Young graduated with her associate’s degree a few weeks ago—and he is still serving as an inspiration to her as she prepares to study for her bachelor’s degree.

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FLORIDA FIREFIGHTERS GO THE EXTRA MILE TO ASSIST FAMILY IN CRISIS

Compassionate firefighters in Florida are receiving recognition for their extraordinary efforts to assist a family in distress during a medical emergency. Captain Dennis Noble, along with firefighters Joe Clark and Duane Norman, were among the first responders who quickly arrived at the scene where a family of four had run out of gas while en route to the hospital. At the time, one family member was experiencing a medical crisis, prompting paramedics to provide on-site treatment before transporting them to the hospital. This left the remaining family members stranded on the roadside with a flat tire, an empty gas tank, and no funds to refuel. Taking initiative, Noble, Clark, and Norman pushed the minivan a quarter of a mile to the nearest gas station. They not only filled the family’s gas tank but also repaired the leaking tire. The Hernando County Fire Rescue (HCFR) later shared a photo of the three firefighters pushing the vehicle on social media, commending them for their selfless actions. Regardless of our job descriptions, if the willingness to show kindness is in us, there’s hardly a portfolio that will obstruct the free flow of empathy. Let’s evolve to make our lives revolve around kindness.

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COMPASSIONATE CAB DRIVER SAVES ELDERLY WOMAN FROM $25,000 SCAM

A compassionate cab driver is being hailed for saving an elderly woman from getting scammed out of $25,000 two weeks ago. Raj Singh, who is the owner of Roseville Cabs in California, was called to pick up a 92-year-old woman from her home in Sun City and take her to a nearby bank. As they were driving to the bank, however, the woman revealed some alarming details about her trip. The woman told Singh that she had received a call from an IRS employee telling her that she owed the government $25,000. She was on her way to the bank so she could withdraw the funds and settle her debt as quickly as possible. Singh knew that the phone call sounded fishy. He then asked the woman if he could call the “IRS employee” to ask him some questions. Upon calling the number, the man posing as the government agent claimed he didn’t know the woman. When Singh pressured him for more details, the man blocked Singh’s number. The woman was still hesitant about the scam, so Singh took a detour to the Roseville Police Department and asked for an officer to sit down with her. Sure enough, an officer sat down with the woman and confirmed that it was a scam. After Singh took the woman home, the officers posted about his good deed to Facebook. As a thank-you for Singh’s gesture, the officers also invited him back to the station and presented him with a $50 gift card. “We love this story because several times throughout, Raj could have just taken his customer to her stop and not worried about her wellbeing,” they wrote. “He took time from his day and had the great forethought to bring the almost-victim to the police station for an official response. “His quick thinking saved a senior citizen $25,000 and for that, we greatly appreciate his efforts,” added the department. We can’t just emphasize this enough, everything advances towards beauty and harmony when our thoughts, words and actions are in synchronization with kindness. This day, don’t just watch someone ply a destructive path, a kind counsel may help.

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NAVIGATING ADVERSITY: GIADA COLLALTO’S ONE-ON-ONE WITH A KIND SOUL

22-year-old Giada Collalto had been living in the Spanish city of Bilbao as part of a European language studies course when—unfortunately for her and thousands of others—the COVID-19 outbreaks left her quarantined without hope of getting home. After a series of remarkable misfortunes, it was a stroke of luck in the opposite direction that got her safely back to her family in Venice. After word of the outbreak in Italy reached Ms. Collalto in Bilbao, she decided to wait and see what would happen. But in mid-March the semester was prematurely ended, and lectures began to be broadcast online. Studying abroad doesn’t make much sense if you are stuck in your apartment staring at a computer screen, and with the possibility of COVID-19 being the next historic influenza, Collalto became determined to return home. She managed to purchase a plane ticket from Madrid to Paris to Rome, then to Venice on April 8. However, the Italian government had already implemented the harshest quarantine measures, including a 200-meter restriction of travel around one’s house even in rural areas, and a flight attendant informed her she was not permitted to travel home. Aside from being stranded in a foreign country, she was now stranded in a foreign city: Madrid. “I was desperate and angry; my parents were worried but couldn’t do anything to help me. I called the embassy and they told to me to send an email. All hotels in Madrid were closed, with no public transport to go back to Bilbao,” she told CNN. A friend of hers from Bilbao contacted a taxi driver, a 22-year-old man named Kepa Amantegi. “He immediately said he was available to come to pick me up and he drove nine hours from Bilbao to Madrid and back,” Kepa said. However, when she returned, she was informed that her apartment was no longer available, whereupon Kepa invited her to spend the night. “His parents and his two sisters welcomed me as a member of the family, I will never forget their kindness,” Collalto recalled. The next morning, she and her new friend Kepa pondered if it were possible to simply drive the 1,500 km back to Venice. Kepa made attempts at calling local authorities and, surprisingly, receiving all the necessary authorizations for her journey home, as she was permitted to travel and the taxi driver was allowed to work. Despite her insistence on paying him for the 3,000-kilometer round trip, he graciously declined, stating, “I don’t want to take advantage of you; I see you are in a difficult situation, don’t worry about the cost.” After staying overnight at Collalto’s parents’ house in Montebello, Kepa returned home the next day with a tote bag filled with regional treats like grappa, wine, and chocolate Ms Collalto couldn’t contain her joy and gratitude as she expressed, “It’s something I will never forget; I was a complete stranger to this young man,” and added, “I think this pandemic can bring out the best in people.” Just like the pandemic brought out the best in people, every life experience gives us a neutral opportunity, it is up to us to do the noble thing by Trying A Little Kindness. Tough times may stretch us beyond our limits, but it’s crucial that we don’t use them as an excuse to be mean and inconsiderate. When we find people in a fix, we must resist the temptation to take advantage of their situations to exploit them; instead, our sense of humanity and kindness should overshadow every contradictory, self-centered personal ambition.

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FLORIDA MAN DONATES CAR TO A TEACHER IN NEED

Cory Schneider, a Florida man, faced a difficult decision when he needed to part with the 1997 Ford Crown Victoria his late grandmother had gifted him after a car accident. Instead of selling it, he chose to do something meaningful. He shared on Reddit, “1997 Ford Crown Victoria—white—around 100k miles, almost all driven by grandma. Damn good physical appearance for a 24-year-old car. I want to help someone who needs it with a free vehicle.” The response was overwhelming, and after reviewing numerous requests, Schneider decided to give the car to Mark Selby, a 31-year-old substitute teacher, who had recently been in an accident that totaled his vehicle. Selby was living with his mother while recovering from his injuries. Marcel Gruber, another kind hearted fellow from St. Petersburg, learned about Schneider’s generous act and decided to contribute by placing $400 in the car’s glove compartment to cover registration and other expenses. As we can clearly see, kindness inspires kindness, therefore let’s not hold back on empathy, love and all that’s needed for a peaceful coexistence as we may just be the catalyst for a chain reaction of breathtaking acts of kindness.

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Aloha! Moments: Acts of Kindness in Hawaii

We’ve all heard of an “Aha! moment”—when something confusing suddenly makes sense or a brilliant idea shows up out of the blue. Well, it seems that in Hawaii, there’s also something known as an “Aloha! moment”—an occasion that offers the opportunity to bestow an act of love or kindness. Chloe Marino was shopping at a Kahului, Hawaii supermarket with her 5-month-old son. As sometimes happens, she got distracted and accidentally left her wallet behind. Luckily, the wallet was spotted by eagle-eyed store security guard Aina Townsend, who volunteered to return it to its owner after his shift. Not having a car, the plucky 22-year-old took it upon himself to bicycle for nearly an hour—uphill three miles in the dark—to the Marinos’ door. “You know, I lost a wallet before too and it’s the worst thing in the world,” Townsend said. “I was just doing what I felt was the right thing to do.” Chloe, who didn’t even realize she’d misplaced her wallet, was blown away by Townsend’s determination as well as his willingness to help out a total stranger. Her husband, Gray, was so impressed that he posted an account of Townsend’s good deed to his Facebook page, and one reader was so moved that he started a GoFundMe campaign after learning Aina’s story: “This young man moved to Maui 5 years ago, and works as a security guard at the grocery store to support the family and put himself through college. What really got me was that he rides his bike to work and school every day because he doesn’t have a car, and has been doing this for 5 years,” wrote Gregory Gaudet on GoFundMe. “When I put myself in his position after a long day of work and school, wanting to go home to see my family and go to bed, but choosing to ride my bike to the next town miles away, instead, to return this women’s wallet, I know this guy has a huge heart.” On New Year’s Eve, the friends and family of Aina and Gray gathered at a local car dealership and presented a brand-new automobile to the Townsend family after collecting $25,000 in Aloha donations.

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HOW A SIMPLE QUESTION CHANGED TWO LIVES

McNeil works as a barista at a Starbucks in DuPont, Washington. Back in January 2017, she noticed that one of her regulars, Vince Villano, had been looking rather depressed every time he came in to order his cold brew. He kind of seemed like an Eeyore, just a little bit grouchy, a little bit of a sad sack all the time. After several visits, she finally decided to ask: “What’s been going on with you?” She insisted that she was willing to listen to him, so Villano got the courage to sit down with her and explain that he had polycystic kidney disease, an incurable genetic condition that causes cysts to form on his kidneys. Villano needed a kidney transplant – otherwise, he would be facing a lifetime of dialysis or worse. McNeil was heartbroken. As the day progressed, she could not stop thinking about Villano’s predicament, so when she finally got home from work, she recounted the story to her husband Justin. Then without hesitation, Justin said: “I’ve got a kidney, you know, we could do this. I think I’m willing to do that.” After volunteering to get tested, Justin and Villano began spending holidays and weekends together only to find that they had a lot in common – they were both Army veterans, they both liked hiking and camping, and even more excitingly, they were perfect donor matches. Although we often focus on our own lives and avoid interfering in others’ affairs, life would undoubtedly improve if we looked out for one another and showed genuine concern for each other’s well-being. After all, there is only one race— and that’s the human race. Let’s nurture and protect it with kindness.

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A REMARKABLE JOURNEY OF REDEMPTION AND GRATITUDE

A woman who once appeared on the ‘Most Wanted List’ in Franklin County, Alabama, is expressing her gratitude to the officer who arrested her by donating a kidney to him. Jocelynn James struggled with opioid addiction and resorted to theft and other crimes to support her habit, leading to multiple arrests by Officer Terrell Potter between 2007 and 2012. Now, she strongly believes and also appreciates the fact that Potter played a crucial role in saving her life by helping her turn her life around. In November, Potter discovered that his kidneys were failing, with doctors estimating a wait of 7-8 years for a transplant. Upon learning about his situation, James felt a divine calling to donate her kidney, and as good graces would have it, they turned out to be a perfect match. The surgery was successful. Today, James leads a non-profit organization that offers drug counseling to women and is celebrating nearly eight years of sobriety. Potter now regards her as a daughter, taking pride in the strong bond that has formed between them. “It’s made a great relationship and a bond between us that can go forever.” He said. When we approach life with compassion and humanity, the Universe has a unique way of showing its gratitude. Hence, we can never overemphasize the importance of weaving kindness into every aspect of our human experience. Let’s stay kind for no reason.

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