What's Your "Random Act of Kindness"?

I used to pay the tolls for people when I had to get change and they had to wait for me to get the change. They would wave and smile. Makes you feel good. Two of my neighbors passed away this summer :( Just being friendly and taking the time to talk to them when I saw them outside and making special plates of cookies or taking over meals. I take over meals once in awhile to my neighbors who both lost their husband/wife. If someone is in the grocery line and has 2 things and I have 10 I let them in front of me. If they are short a dollar or so if I have it I will pay for them. I bought a military person breakfast once. That was a great feeling. There are so many ways even with not spending money. Pull weeds for a neighbor, smile at a person who needs a smile.

One of the moms at school had a husband over in Iraq. I sent them an anonymous gift card for the movies for her and the kids over the holidays when I knew it would be more difficult for them. I just wanted to brighten their day.

My sister and her family is struggling financially, so every couple of weeks I have been buying groceries and include everyones favorite foods. I call her and ask her to come outside and open the trunk and unload it.

Odd this would come up today, I just did one today at work. I teach young children and it was annual school picture day today. Only one child ( from low income family ) did not bring in the pkt or any $ in to have his picture taken and today was his birthday. Quickly asked my supervisor to get approval to have the picture taken and pay for it myself anonymously. I wanted one to give to his parents. The child's smile was like bright sunshine when the photographer asked him to come over for his picture to be taken. Not sure how I will explain to Mom about his portrait pkg whe she gets it paid for when they arrive next month, but I have a few wks to think about that. I don't want her to feel offended and hope its ok but I really felt a need to help this little guy. I cant call it a b-day gift because as general rule we are not supposed to not to give the kids b-day gifts at school. It just happened that today was picture day. I will think of something :D

Sadly, I haven't done one lately that I can think of. BUT, when my nephew died in June, we saw the wonderful hearts that are inside complete strangers. His funeral was paid for by a random church that none of us attend. A snow cone stand gave all of their profits for a weekend to my sister. It made enough to put $3000 in the bank for my other nephew's college. Stores set up donation jars for the family, etc. His grave has so many things on it from strangers. We have no idea who most of it from. We all complain so often about how terrible people are these days, but sometimes you get to see how wonderful people are in their core. :)

Wow Mar, what a debbie downer!
Sometimes random acts of kindness end up being "pay it forward also".. Your pious answer took all the fun out of Random for EVERYBODY! There are times just an act can change even a person with money (shameful of them ) to have a nicer day. You can sit back and pat yourself on the back for your choices, but honey, you have no idea of what all we do.. I cannot even begin to list the hundreds of thousands of dollars (I am not exaggerating) that I have been a part of making sure went to people in need and organizations while I do not have my own money.

You do as you feel is right, but I also like to look around and see that all people can be having a down day, can looked stressed upset or lonely. All of us deserve a nice surprise of kindness.

I hope that someday out of the blue someone is kind to you or your family and you realize what I am speaking of..
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Great question. Like Mary, I will not mention names..
Pay for meals for young couples with children. Pay for elderly ladies having breakfast
In the drive through pay for the order in the car behind .

At Christmas put up Christmas lights for neighbors who can no longer put theirs up.There was a young lady that opened a business in the neighborhood around the holidays.. She was given a custom Wreath for her front door of her business.

Taking trash cans back for the neighbors that are elderly. Take cookies to the Fire station in the neighborhood.

Pay for an ad in a high school football program for a player with a family that could not afford it.Provide complimentary hair and mani pedis for girls going to the prom that could not afford it. .

Sent gift cards to a mom so she could purchase gifts, food and clothing for her family while she was very ill and unemployed.

Mow the lawn for neighbors having a hard day.
It is easy to do when you just look around.

I plug peoples meters when I go shopping downtown..it sucks to get a parking ticket!

I also pick up trash while taking my dog for a walk thru my neighborhood...sadly we have a McDonald's right close to our local park and there is always a TON of trash all along the street and in the park, it's not just McDonald's tho...the teenagers hang out in the park every weekend and their are always beer cans and cigarette butts all over the toys-ick!

I have done several acts of kindness over the years, my two favorites are paying for the car behind me at a toll or helping an elder person load their groceries into the car. I have had several people around my age (40) comment when they see my gesture of helping an elder person, and I tell them to pass it on next time they see it. I feel that if there were more thoughtfulness and kindness to our fellow neighbor this world would be alot more peaceful.

I'm a fan of picking up trash when I'm out for a walk. I guess most people would never notice it, but I figure picking up a few pieces of trash a day - if everyone were to do it - would pretty much eliminate litter!

Put everything I can on Freecycle.org. I try to "share the wealth" with things we are done with, but that still have a lot of life left in them.

Donate all our used baby clothes/maternity clothes/misc items to a local women and children's shelter in our area. They even take formula and diapers.

Used to buy a round of drinks for a group of men or women that were looking a little down. It really cheered them up to know "someone" thought of them. It was fun to watch them looking for who it might be.

Donating gift cards we have to families in need, esp during the holidays. We sometimes trade in our "points" accumulated on our credit cards to donate that way too.

Holding doors open, letting cars get in when traffic is tight, flashing lights for semis trying to switch lanes and teaching my young children to be "door stops" and hold the doors open for everyone who's coming in after us so they learn to be nice too.

Thank you for your post. It reminds me that I should do something again SOON! I love everyone's ideas.

Reading some of your responses brought tears to my eyes. Thanks for helping me put things into perspective after a very hard day.

Same as Teds Mommy, Pick up things that other mom's kids drop, open doors, float people money when they don't have enough at check stands, clean for friends, What ever I see that needs done, I try my hardest to do.

Last week there was a woman stuck in traffic in the middle of morning rush hour. I rolled down my window and found out that she had run out of gas. I had my two kids in the back and as the light turned green the cars behind me started to honk so I wished her my best and drove on. I then thought I cannot just leave this woman there and had a gut feeling noone would stop to help. So I told my kids that we are going to be late to school today because we are going to help that woman. My daughter instantly got all excited saying "we are the rescue people!" (my son is too young to know what was happening). We bought a gas can, filled it up, and brought it to her - who was still waiting helplessly in traffic trying to reach someone on the phone. Needless to say she was very grateful and I was glad that I took advantage of an opportunity to teach my daughter about the importance of random acts of kindness and helping people out.

I like to donate my children's outgrown clothing to families in need.

When we are at a restaurant for lunch, etc and we see police officers, we buy their meals. Most of the time it is only 1-4 officers and it is not that much $$ when you consider all they do for us.

We are fortunate enough to be able to buy high end clothing for our 15 yr old and myself. She is quite a fashonista. When she outgrows or gets tired of things, I choose to donate them to the Womens Shelter or Goodwill so someone else can enjoy them.

We just went to the Kansas City Chiefs home opener Monday night. Shortly into the first quarter it started POURING! Caught many, including my family of 4 off guard!
My daughter and I stood in line and bought the last 3 cheapo rain ponchos for $2 each and a sweatshirt, which was worthless against the rain. My daughter and I were heading back to our seats when my husband texted us (isn't modern technology great) and asked us to get him and my son hats. I knew at that point they wouldn't wear the cheapo ponchos since they were too cool. We went back to get the hats when they announced they were out of rain ponchos throughout the entire stadium. I saw an older couple who had been standing in line and asked them if they wanted the ponchos. The woman said she had been waiting in line at 3 different areas and didn't get one. I handed them the 2 ponchos. The guy asked how much I wanted and I didn't take any money.
That is the most recent example. My husband and I too have bought food/dinners for random people when we go out.

I was at our small town grocery store in line waiting to purchase my one thing and the guy in front of me, probably my age, was a little over a dollar short. So he was trying to figure out what to put back, but he needed it all. I was just picking up a 2-liter of pop and had an extra $2 in my pocket. So, I handed it to him. At first he said no, but I eventually got him to take it. He was so shocked that I had done that, he couldn't stop thanking me.

I walk my dog constantly, so I pick up trash if I see any. And I guess it isn't a law of any kind in my town to pick up after your dog, so I also do that! I know that isn't really a random act of kindness, but I don't see other people picking up after their dogs...:)

I try to do stuff like that as much as I can. It makes me feel better about myself.

I put my exersaucer on craigslist, and the lady who bought it said she was having a difficult time, so I gave it too her - made me feel good, even though we are flat broke LOL

Five people paid for my drinks at Starbucks. One young man tried to buy my groceries, but I was so embarrassed that he thought I was needy I refused. I decided I need to not visit walmart while wearing my gardening clothes and no make up. LOL

Once we mailed our neighbor money orders anonymously because we thought she must be struggling since her husband left her with 5 kids. She took it as a sign to QUIT her management job with health insurance and great pay. Turns out she got a free house plus child support and was not really hurting for money. We decided never to do that again.

i didn't punch my boyfriend's daughter's mother in the mouth when she blantently lied this morning about going to have him taken off child support because she has come to live with us since the beginning of the summer and we still have her!!! and with my temper and attitude believe me, IT'S A RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS! (sorry)

Aww! This almost made me tear up a little bit. We dont have a lot of money to throw around these days, we always donate our old clothes. We try to donate as much as we can to our daughters school. I know it isnt always about money, so when I see people upset or needing help, I always feel like I want to make them feel better and I try. Before I take my daughter to school, I tell her everyday, if someone is upset, or feeling left out, PLEASE try to make them feel better. There is also this little old man that lives on a farm on the way to my daughters school, he walks down to the end of his road every morning and waves to the parents and kids going to school. No matter how Im feeling that morning, it ALWAYS puts a smile on my face, and Im so thankful to him for that! Im also thankful for this so I can learn new ways to help. :)

I like to help elderly people in the stores when they are trying to get something they can't reach easily. Or help a child close a car door when there parents are sitting inside. I will help someone in a store find things they can't and I don't even work there. Trying to say hello and give a smile to a "stranger" is a nice thing too. My kids think I'm crazy, always helping others that I don't know, but I've caught them doing the same things now!
Thanks for bring this to the attention of others!

I do so many things but it's just my nature to be over-helpful and a busybody. I plug meters, give mom's with babies rides that are waiting for the bus, pay of food when someone is a little short, help people find things at the store, donate ALL of our clothes and my sons toys. My family tells me to sell stuff on Ebay and Craig's List but I JUST CAN'T DO IT! I just want to make someone else's day better. I feel the good karma pays off in little ways. I always feel SO GOOD when I drop off clothing to the the women's shelter. I just dropped off four bags of clothing and didn't even bother to ring the bell, I just dropped it off knowing someone would see it within minutes. Sure enough, they were coming out the door as I was pulling away.

I think the world gives you back what you put out there. I have a normal everyday life going but have great experiences that I like to attribute to my day random acts of kindness.

I paid for the person's coffee behind me in the drive thru line at Starbucks.

My elderly neighbor (90's) lives alone and has no living relatives. Last year I brought him a Thanksgiving dinner plate over to his home. He was so happy to have a home cooked meal, something he wouldn't otherwise get. He doesn't drive and likes to take the bus, but when it's really cold or hot outside and I see him walking, I give him a ride to where he needs to go so he doesn't have to walk to the bus stop.
I also do freecycle a lot. People always seem very appreciative of things I offer and that makes me feel good to help others in need whether it be food, clothes or furniture.
Coincidently, someone just posted a "wanted" on freecycle today for a scroll saw. I have been wanting to get rid of the one my husband bought a few years ago since he only used it twice! She was ecstatic that someone could be so generous.

I was driving down a stretch of road today and the woman in front of me had her brakelights "stuck on" (an obvious problem) I pulled into McDonalds for a Happy Meal for the kiddo and she pulled in behind me. While paying, I asked the girl to tell her that her lights were "bad"...she did....I hoped it saved her from an accident or ticket. That is one of those thins that you dont know if someone doesnt tell you.

Another random act of kindness? I am a SAHM with an adorable 3 year old. When we are out during the day at the grocery store, I make sure to give a few minutes of mine and my DD's "cute" time to stop and talk to any alone elderly people that are interested in talking with her. I will often ask them about their kids and Grandkids....whats 5,10 minutes worth? ....millions!!!!

Nothing grand. When I walk my dog and I see that a neighbor has a weed on the lawn near the sidewalk, I will reach down and pick it for them. They'll never notice but it's one less weed that they'll need to think about. And then there's the usual stuff like helping someone out whenever I see a need that I can fill without putting myself out too terribly much. I don't think about it too much, to tell you the truth, because it all seems kind of ordinary and there's been a lot of people who have done nice stuff for me.

what an appropriate name..F.. A random act of kindness means so much especially when it's unknown as to where it came from. It allows the recipient to look at the world as filled with hope. Thanks for that, F.. I try to buy a 50 lb. bag of dog food and the largest bag of cat food each month and deliver it to the food pantry for the elderly who might otherwise have to give away their precious pet. These times are so difficult for most of us but they can't "pick up" extra income. How scary !! Be Well, R.

I won't mention any names, but I know people who pay their freeway toll and that of the unknown person behind them. I know people who pick up newspapers (remember newspapers?) from the sidewalk and put them on their owners' doorsteps. I know a person (I happen to be married to him) who does the neighbors' walks as well as ours when it's snow-shovel weather. And I know people who leave notes for their neighbors saying, "Your yard looks beautiful today!"

I practice randoms acts of kindness (my job is filled with it, with a minimal income...and I choose to stay in this job for this reason), but buying fast food is absolutely not one of them. If you want to feed people, donate that money to a food bank instead of people who can afford to go through the drive thru. I am sure you are doing that already, but helping people everyday without monetary means is just as important.

Have you ever thought of how you would feel is someone would do that to you? The thought is a little discomforting.