Tag Archives: paying it forward

Good People Doing Good Things — Little Things Mean A Lot

Posted on by under Bits 'n Pieces, Good people doing good things, Social commentary

16-year-old Gabe has autism and his bicycle was his ticket to freedom and solace, providing him with an outlet to express himself and find tranquility in a world that can often be overwhelming.  He once told his mother that when he was riding, it was the only time his brain was quiet.

And then one day a few weeks ago, Gabe’s bicycle was stolen, and Gabe was heartbroken.

The story made the local news where representatives from two Spokane businesses, Cherry Hill BMX and Two-Wheeler Dealer, stepped in without hesitating and ordered a brand-new custom bicycle, carefully designed to replicate the features that Gabe cherished in his stolen one.  Last week, the new bicycle was personally delivered to the family’s home.

“To see the joy in a kid’s face away from screens and on a bike is something that should never be taken from them,” said Eric Emerson, the President of Cherry Hill BMX. “This small act of kindness brings a smile to a kiddo’s face, and that’s all that we need.”

Gabe’s parents say he spent the better part of the weekend bonding with his new bike.

I love reading about young people, especially teens, going out of their way to do something for someone else.  Teens always seem to get a bad rap, but there are a heck of a lot of really great teenagers out there, my friends.

6-year-old Michael Bartlett was at a fall festival in Evansville, Indiana with some friends when he heard a child screaming.  That child was three-year-old Maddox Wargel who, overwhelmed by the crowds, lights, sounds and such, was in the middle of throwing a tantrum.  His mother was beside herself trying to calm the toddler, but to no avail.

Michael had just won a stuffed red panda at one of the festival’s games of chance, and he walked over to where Maddox was melting down, asked Maddox’ mother if it was alright if he gave the child the panda, and proceeded to place it in his arms.  Maddox did, in fact, calm down and his mother was so moved by Michael’s act of kindness that she pledged to go out of her way to spread kindness to others, paying forward the goodwill she and Maddox had received.

This, my friends, is how we change the world … one act of kindness at a time.

And last, but not least, a personal story from a woman named Karla who tells us …

“I couldn’t wait to share this heartwarming story with all of you! Today, something truly amazing happened to my parents at Cole’s in Cessnock. Brace yourselves for some serious warm fuzzies!

As my parents were going about their grocery shopping, a complete stranger stepped forward and did something that left them absolutely speechless. They paid for my mum and dad’s entire grocery bill, which came to a whopping $273!

You can only imagine the shock and gratitude my parents felt in that moment. It’s not every day that such a selfless act of kindness comes your way, and it truly restores your faith in humanity. They were so touched by this stranger’s generosity.

This incredible gesture has inspired my parents to pay it forward in the most amazing way possible. They’ve decided to spread the love and kindness they received by doing something wonderful for someone else. It’s like a ripple effect of positivity that will keep on giving!

It’s a beautiful reminder that even the smallest acts of kindness can have a profound impact on others. Together, we can create a world filled with compassion, love, and generosity.

So, let’s take a moment to celebrate the incredible stranger who brightened my parents’ day and inspired them to pay it forward. Let’s also remember that we all have the power to make someone’s day a little brighter, whether it’s through a smile, a kind word, or a small act of kindness. Together, we can make this world a better place, one act of love at a time.”

See, folks … there really ARE good people out there.  It’s not a matter of politics, ethnicity, gender or religion … it’s just a matter of human kindness, of caring about others.

Good People Doing Good Things — Yasmine Arrington

Posted on by under education, Good people doing good things, Social commentary

Well, here it is Wednesday morning again and time for more ‘good people’ to give us a lift, to restore our faith in humanity, so to speak.  Today’s ‘good people’ is Yasmine Arrington, a young woman born and raised in Washington, DC, whose father was frequently in prison. Arrington’s mother died in her freshman year of high school. She attended Benjamin Banneker Academic High School in Northwest D.C., where she was in a program called LearnServe International, a DC non-profit that equips youth to be social changemakers. She studied Strategic Communications and History at Elon University in Elon, North Carolina. Arrington graduated in 2015.  But it’s what she did afterward that make her this week’s good people, and also a nominee for the CNN Heroes award this year.

But I think that rather than me telling you all about what Yasmine has done, I’m going to let Yasmine tell you in her own words, for she tells the story far more eloquently than I could possibly do!  Take a look …

I give Ms. Arrington high marks for stepping in, understanding a situation that most of us would never give a thought to, and providing solutions to a problem most of us are blissfully unaware of.  Thank you, Yasmine Arrington!

Good People Doing Good Things — Random Acts Of Kindness

Posted on by under Bits 'n Pieces, Good people doing good things, Social commentary

This week I’m doing something just a little bit different with the ‘good people’ post … I’m letting the beneficiaries of some random acts of kindness tell you their story in first person!  A regular feature in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette chronicles these stories and I stumbled upon it last night.  They are small things, just … random … acts of kindness … but they are things that mean so much to the person on the receiving end, as you will see.

Random Acts of Kindness

Generous neighbors provide string of good meals for Delmont woman

On the first Sunday of the “lockdown,” my neighbor, Jill Cassidy, called to ask if I would like a Grab & Go turkey dinner from The Lamplighter.

She and her partner, Mick McFarland, were getting them for their own dinner, and thought I might enjoy one, too.

I am in a wheelchair and no longer have a car, so I gladly accepted. When I tried to pay them for the dinner, they refused. That meal fed me for two days and provided a sandwich as well. Quite a bounty.

On the following Tuesday, Jill called again. They were going to do Grab & Go, and would I like a meal? “Only if I pay for it,” I said, but Jill refused, saying she had received an unexpected bonus from work, and this was how she intended to use it.

What Jill didn’t realize was that I was suffering a painful bout of tendinitis, and my energy level to put together a decent meal was close to zero. I told her this as I thanked her, and for several days throughout the next month, she and Mick brought meals from The Lamplighter and Manor Grill.

On two occasions, Mick brought meals he had made — and that man can cook! Each drop-off provided food for two or three days, and really helped in my recovery. And they wouldn’t accept a penny of payment.

Generosity and kindness like this are so unexpected in today’s world and impossible to reciprocate. My mother always said the good you do will come back to you, and in my 71 years, I have found that to be true.

So Jill and Mick have a boatload of good coming to them because I know they did the same thing for other neighbors as well. Such neighbors are more than a blessing.

PEG SASSE, Delmont

Lunch cures cabin fever, comes with gift card

On June 11, my husband and I took my sister to buy tires for her car. Needless to say any excuse to get out of the house.

After installation, hubby said, “since you girls were so patient in the tire shop, I’m taking you to lunch at our favorite Red Lobster on Route 51 in Pleasant Hills. I heard they were open for business again.”

We were thrilled, since cabin fever had set in with COVID-19. We  were seated in a corner, social distancing for certain. No seats at the bar, every other booth blocked off.

We were like youngsters out for the day, almost wanted to do a happy dance. During mid-day lunch, a gentleman commented how lucky hubby was to have two lovely lunch companions.

We chatted a bit during what was a very slow day at the Red Lobster. He departed and we continued our amazing lunch out that day.

When we paid our bill, our waitress, Joan, said, “That nice man in the grey shirt wanted to treat you for your next lunch,” then she handed us a gift card.

What a delightful gesture, he can’t imagine what that meant.

Thank you, kind sir. I hope you read this and know you are blessed. We have you in our prayers, and we will certainly pay it forward.

STEPHANIE A. PAUL, Baldwin

Helpful strangers spring into action after fall

On June 22, my husband took me to Vision Works in Fox Chapel to pick up a pair of glasses, but we didn’t make it inside the store because he fell in the parking lot just a few steps ahead of me.

I hollered for help and just about everyone came running. Two young women offered to lift my husband, but couldn’t. Then two strong men lifted my husband and placed him in his car. And I can’t say how many people were on their phones calling 911.

These strangers stayed with my husband until medics arrived. They examined him and took him to UPMC St. Margaret Hospital, where he was admitted and was treated beautifully.

My husband, who is 85 years old is home and is getting stronger every day, It’s going to take time.

I’d like to thank everyone who was there with us on June 22. I want to thank them for their attention and kindness. I can assure you this restores your faith in humanity. It proves there are good people everywhere.

I’ll be the first to say that Pittsburghers are the best.

JACKIE BOEHM, Bloomfield

Stranger attaches part to Duquesne Heights woman’s venerable car

My 21-year-old Volkswagen Beetle is aging (as am I), which means parts periodically loosen and fall off. In fact, I have a bumper sticker that reads “Honk If Parts Fall Off.”

Recently many of the small roads in my neighborhood were torn up and closed due to workers replacing the asphalt. Though driving very slowly, I hit a bump and the plastic guard under the front of the car fell off, hanging on noisily by just a small piece.

I stopped on the narrow alley to which I’d been directed. Several men were building a deck, and one came over to help, saying “I can fix this.”

He got a portable screwdriver and some screws and lay down on the hot, pebbly uncomfortable surface and struggled to attach the guard, managing to get two screws in.

Voila! I was able to drive home.

I didn’t get the name of my “Knight in Shining Screwdriver,” but I am grateful for his generosity. Many thanks to him and all Pittsburghers of good will

SUZANNE POWELL, Duquesne Heights

Lawrenceville restaurant helps make intended wedding day special

On what supposed to be our wedding day, June 27, 2020, my fiance and I, intent on still enjoying the day, ventured out to dinner with a bottle of our homemade wine.

The wine had specifically been made by us and my father and brothers for this day. But instead of having our special wedding wine with around 300 of our closest friends and families at the Pennsylvanian in Downtown Pittsburgh, we enjoyed the wine while dining outside at Piccolo Forno (BYOB) in Lawrenceville.

We had made custom labels for the wine with our photos and wedding date on it and the attentive staff noticed the date and put two and two together. Everyone at Piccolo Forno could not have been nicer and we had the best time and meal.

At the end of the meal an employee presented us with a gift card to pay for the meal. The gift card had been sent to the restaurant by an anonymous person at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in an attempt to help small businesses and to pay it forward. The employee had held onto it since April, not knowing exactly who to give it to, but she said she knew this is exactly what she was waiting for.

June 27, 2020, ended up being pretty special after all.

NICK TOLOMEO and KAJSA SIEWCZAK, South Side

Again, these aren’t big things that are destined to change the world, but to me, they show the heart of these ‘helpers’ … and haven’t we all been in a situation where we desperately needed one of these people to help us?  I certainly have, and most often there has been such a person … a guardian angel, if you will.