Love it!

Love your mitten story! That's what it's all about!

It was meant to be - fate put you in each other's path.

God bless you. I mean it.

Oh. That’s so sweet! This morning I put plenty of quarters into a ziplock bag since I was sure the toll pass on my car wouldn’t work on my car anymore after 5 years of not using it. Surprisingly it did. On my my shopping there was a bell ringer. I thought I would hand him the bag on my way out. He wasn’t there. Hopefully next time.

A beautiful story, Lukkiirish! A beautiful kindness. Thank you for sharing it with us. It made my evening.

Humanity is beautiful.

What are "rag mittens?"

A wonderful story, and you were meant to be there at the right time.

Thank you for sharing and confirming what the holidays SHOULD be about.

Nice.

Ragg: : a yarn formed of two strands of dyed wool and one strand of undyed wool often combined with other fibers (such as nylon)

Sweet!

Sheilajoyce, these are Ragg Mittens. They’re one of the least expensive hand wear I’ve found but some of the warmest. I think about that guy every day now.

Great story! Your kindness is pure joy & sweetness to my ears. :0)

You are wonderful for providing those mittens

Now that's what this season should be all about - helping out others in need rather than pouring on unnecessary and expensive gifts to those who can well afford their own!!

Thanks to both of you for your generosity and kindness!

I was more focused on the right place at the right time aspect. I think it's cool when things line up like they're supposed to :) and to be a part of it is gratifying.

Just and FYI many of the bell ringers in this area are employees of SA, $7.95 an hour. If you hand them money they can be fired unless they immediately put the money in the kettle. Some businesses and individuals do volunteer to be bell ringers but please put the money in yourself as the person probably needs the job.

Two wonderful acts of kindness. Our world needs a lot more of this. Thanks to both of you for helping another person in need.

I love that! And totally agree with Linda; our world needs so much more of this!

Wonderful stories. I can't help thinking that you were the lucky ones, Lukki and Rob. Merry Christmas.

Thank you for sharing your beautiful stories! I agree with the others here, the world needs more kindness and sharing. Not just at Christmas, but all year long!

Rusty

These are such heartfelt acts of kindness. Thank you.

rob, fate had the same plans for you too. For months, I've been trying to be a kinder, more generous person and both of you have inspired me to keep trying.

Two very nice people made Xmas a lot nicer for some. Kudos to you both.

Wonderful act of kindness Lukki!

Thanks to both of you for meeting an apparent need!

Would that more of us would live with such a spirit not just at a special season but throughout the year.

In our area, much (most? - don't know) of the helpers with the kettles are provided by local churches, often in 3 hour shifts. Recently I've seen a kettle standing unmanned/(unpersonned?) by the door of a grocery store on two or three occasions - perhaps at rather not busy hours.

(That "threw the window" in most situations would have a different expectation than to be offered a hug through a car's door).

ole joyful

Lovely stories!

Just as I despair of people so wrapped up in themselves that they don't even SEE the world around them, I am 'propped up' by someone. It takes so little to do the smallest thing that recognizes a fellow human being. I started to push my shopping cart back to the grocery door yesterday when a woman walking toward the store offered to take it with her. Yes, it wasn't out of her way, but I appreciated that womeone was 'in the moment', being aware, making the helpful offer. (It IS kinda sad that this 'used to be commonplace' gesture should surprise me.)

Rob! I love your story!!! Thanks for sharing it!

Beautiful story!!!!

There's a van in our city that collects things for the homeless. I gave hubby's clothes and things that I didn't want-----underwear, socks, jeans, t-shirts, sweatshirts, golf shirts, deodorant, etc etc, all to the van for the homeless.

I could have taken them to the second-hand stores, but they went to a real good use instead.

Good for you lukki and rob! My late niece used to keep hats, gloves, and scarves in her car. If she saw a homeless person without any of those things while she was driving to her work as a nurse in a city hospital she would stop, roll down her window, and give them to the person. She was a treasure. As are you two.

Sunday I walked to Panera, where we sit and knit on the third Sunday of the month. I don't always make it... cause I am not always in town.

But this time I was.. and the weather was nice, and I decided to walk. There were two fellas digging in the dumpster.

See, I walk around the back, cause it is a shortcut, instead of walking along the street.

After getting inside I bought two grilled cheese sandwiches to go, packed up in individual bags.

I walked outside, and gave them to the fellas, that sort of looked like they really needed something... and were prolly homeless.

To often, they get overlooked.

Moni

Gardenweb has the best people.

Writing a check to a charity is a wonderful thing to do, but when you can help someone directly, it’s a good feeling.

i had a stack of new clothing, jeans and shirts, etc., to return to a store. I met someone who was collecting and delivering clothing to California fire victims. I was more than happy to turn that stack over to him to deliver.

Socks, I agree. I would prefer to actually see and know that my contribution is actually going where I want it.

I do donate to two large organizations.

What nice stories and acts of kindness. There used to be a guy...his name was Jerry....who sold the Sunday paper outside Walmart. In the summer, with the heat radiating off the pavement and building, it was terribly hot. I bought an umbrella for him.

Thanks for sharing your heartwarming story of kindness.

I was merely relating was why I posted mine, but what I really think of myself is, I need to do something like this everyday; it's not enough! I feel like, if I opened my eyes, I could find people in need easily. Wonder if we could do that, look for someone once a day, week, month, etc., really seek out others and just do one thing for them. How much better would this world be?

I appreciate everyone sharing their stories. It’s inspiring and heartwarming to see how generous and kind people are still. Giving comes in all forms, for me it’s the reaction of the receiver and that moment shared that I really enjoy. I appreciate the kind words from everyone, I didn’t post to get credit, I was just so tickled with his response. It’s one of the best I’ve gotten so far.

ETA: Rob, we posted at the same time, and that’s exactly it. That feeling and connection you get from helping someone, one on one, is addicting so it’s not hard to do. I’ve been helped many times and just see it as a way to pay if forward.

I love that you posted it lukk! It was nice to see. I love Okla's sandwiches, Marilyn's umbrella... these are heart warming.

I wish I could l give everyone everything. The end to my story is, it broke my heart I couldn't give her my coat. I don't have the means for that. I WISH!!!!!

Rob and all, I hope, this shows up good enough to read... I saw it on facebook. I shared it saying:

These are all really good. We should do them year round!

Personally, I have started to some of these in random order, but didn't even think about it, on Sunday.

Giving comes in all forms, last winter, as I was leaving one of my clients, there was a older guy parked next to me cleaning the snow off of his car and I had a good inch or so on mine as well. “Merry Christmas” he said as I passed, “Thank you so much! Merry Christmas to you!” I chimed back... and before I knew it, he was cleaning my windows for me. Totally made my day (especially since I didn’t have a brush with me)

My husband was pretty much housebound for seven years before he died. When I could, I took him out in his wheelchair to a restaurant or took him shopping with me. One day we were approaching a restaurant and I was dreading the process of getting him in the door.

Two very young, raggedy looking boys appeared and carefully opened the door for us. I have never forgotten that, as they didn't look the part. I was so grateful. I'll bet they grew up to be kind.

That has to be the sweetest Christmas story I've ever heard! Thank you for sharing.

That story brought tear to my eyes.

Sometimes when approaching a door or other situation where there may be competition as to who goes first e.g. at store checkout, I smile, nod my head and wave an open hand toward going ahead and say in rather a light-hearted manner, "You go first, please: I'm retired, so I have more time than you do". Sometimes the other person says that he/she's retired, too. That may lead to further, often rather humorous conversation, e.g. "Well - maybe we better flip a coin, then".

I often talk to folks in passing when out in public, e.g. store checkout, frequently about something humorous, reasonably often producing a smile, or, occasionally, some laughter. Sometimes I walk away a few paces, then return to say that if we can put a smile on someone's face where there wasn't one before it adds joy to the day. Or if we can offer a smile and perhaps a warm word to someone as we move through our day, that it may give some folks who really need it a real lift to their spirit.

ole joyful