To ask for random acts of kindness that you've carried out...

[IchWill]

I believe that kindness breeds kindness. I often carry out random acts of kindness, because:

1. If I'm able to, why wouldn't I?
2. The world would be a nicer place if we all helped others out more often.
3. It makes me feel good to make a positive impact on someone's life.

Most I go about and do quietly, genuinely not helping people for recognition or glory, but when I have shared one or two examples with friends, they've said I've inspired them.

Let's hear your random acts of kindness...

This thread has inspired me to try to do RAK and teach my dd about kindness in and throughout Dec. I’ll look here for ideas- starting today!

I found a bus pass wallet containing driving licence, bus pass, student ID etc under a seat on the bus the last working day before Christmas once. I used to live in a huge university city. Could tell from the D.O.B that she must have been a first year! I tracked the owner down on Facebook (with difficulty as their Facebook name was slightly different!). She had gone home for the Christmas holidays and was panicking about her lost wallet! I sent it recorded delivery back to her in a Christmas card

Went into a local shop recently and the lady on the till said she was struggling with her hands in the cold as she was filling up the fridges and she couldn't wear gloves as they weren't grippy enough. I ordered a pair of special retail freezer gloves off eBay (very thin but warm and you can still grip with them) and dropped them in a couple of days later. She looked totally confused tbh so no idea if she'll actually wear them or not!

I usually let anyone behind the supermarket checkout queue with a small basket to go in front of me.

I paid for the shopping of an elderly lady before when she forgot her pin number.

Sandwich and hot drink to homeless people etc.

Try to be thoughtful and kind, sometimes it's unappreciated. Recently offered a pound to a woman outside lidils who was rummaging around in her bag near the trolleys. She refused and looked me up and down like she was judging what I was wearing. Felt hurt and embarrassed and regretted offering. Wouldn't stop me again though, some people are just ungrateful!

Love this thread, lots of lovely people out there.

Heart warming thread!

Some of mine;

Years ago before mobile phones; just moved to a small town, somebody from else where in UK randomly called the landline, saying he just used the known local dialling code in the hope of getting someone in the same town. He was worried about his elderly relative and unable to contact all day and was meant to be at home. No a-z or mobiles so with given address in torrential rain my friend and I scrambled up muddy hill, trying to find a given address, nobody at home, knocked on neighbours doors etc eventually tracked the elderly lad down at a Christmas play in local church. Let her know re relative, back down the hill, called person back to let them know they were safe and well. Took hours in torrential rain but was exhilarating and felt good to help.

Few weeks back stop and chatted to homeless guy, for an hour he'd managed not to revert to drink /drugs so far, bought him hot takeaway/drinks plus 2 more for later and breakfast (albeit they'd be cold by then). Gave him £20 to get to centre point the next day.

Well known homeless lady in Chiswick, using health centre to change her leg bandages in the loos. Torrential rain (theme going on here!) outside, offered money to for coffee for when she left; this one didn't go down well, got an almighty punch across the jaw for my efforts... (mental health issues and unbeknown to me doesn't like to be offered charity).

Give the odd random £10 to homeless people after payday (esp if err heavy rain again).

After a night out in central London, went to fish and chip shop and persuaded manager to give me 10 x 1/2 price chips and gave them to the homeless nearby. Also if I'm going to get takeaway after a night out I often by 2 meal days and give the other away if a homeless person near by.

Get your random act of kindness advent calendar here!

bearhugsgifts.com/advent (link would help!)

Not random as such, but I bake for an organization called “Free Cakes for Kids” and they operate (through volunteers) in lots of different areas. They get referrals from different agencies for kids whose parents wouldn’t otherwise be able to provide a birthday cake for them eg. Because they’re living in a refuge.

An email goes out to all the bakers with details of the kids’ first name, age and what they would ideally like for their cake, and if you’re able to make it, you say so. I’ve had quite a few emails to say thank you. It really does make a difference. Hopefully some MNs may be able to join the organization in their area (or if there isn’t one, you can go ahead and set it up!)

My pregnant daughter was recently flying alone with her 2 year old. She ordered the kids mealbox from the flight attendant. The box was put on the tray in front of hangry two year old and the lid was opened. Flight attendant then discovers that the card payment machine isn't working - daughter had no cash on her. Flight attendant decides to remove the open box from 2 year old...cue the first inklings of a meltdown. The lovely passenger in the seat behind paid for the meal and meltdown was averted. If you were that passenger then thank you

I’m a Tesco shopper but sometimes go into Sainsburys. I do large shops (always over £100), I look for either young mums or the elderly and ask them if they have a nectar card and would they like my points I also give them any vouchers that pop out too.

I too give my parking stubs to others if I’m leaving and there’s time still on it.

One thing I did and not told anyone about because I thought if I told my husband he would think I was mad/crazy. A while ago, after dropping my dog in to pets at home to hair his hair done, I saw a big burly man sitting on the chairs for the vets, he was crying and crying. Cat basket sitting next to him. It was clear very bad news. He was alone. So I went over to him and asked if he wanted a hug. Which he did and I gave. I sat with him about 15 minutes, talking with him until he was called in with his cat (and offered to go in with him) while his cat was put to sleep.

I am new to this site.
I really don’t know if this is an act of kindness or not.
Yesterday I met a woman who has similar thyroid problems as me (although her problems are worse) But we got talking and she told me about her 18 year old son who has aspergers. Turns out that her son knows my youngest (15 years) through Instagram. I spent an hour and a half talking to this 18 year old. He is a genius.
Well, today I spoke to my 15 year old and I told him everything. I asked my son if he would like to make a new friend.
I was very open with my son.
And I let him decide
Result: my son wants to get to know Oscar. My son knows what it’s like to have no friends. My son is happy to reach out and be there for someone.
My act of kindness. I did nothing.
Perhaps my son will

I do try to help people if I can from giving someone a tissue , offering up some money to a lady who was £1 short in the train ticket queue , putting food in the food bank trolley, helping with pushchairs up or down stairs etc.
It's not every week but I do try to help out now and again if I can see there's a problem. I always clear my table in a restaurant or cafe too!
It's the little things sometimes. I've had people help me too.

Went to see Santa with DD aged 3 today at a local garden centre.

Went to the toilet beforehand. The cubicles were small so just enough room for DD and me.

After using the toilet I sent DD out to wash her hands and a lovely lady offered to stand with her so I could close the door and pee in private myself.

Was very nice of her as it took 5 minutes out of her day

2 years ago I received off family and husband £150 for my birthday. We used £130 to tax the car as we were so so skint and then my husband begged me to spwnd the remaining on myself. I went up the town with my £20 Saw 4 homeless men outside McDonalds begging for an 89p burglar to share. Yes one burgar. And people threw chips at them. I was fucking livid. Went and broke the 20 in to 4 divers gave them one each and they cried said if they clubbed together they could get 2 burgers each and stay in emergency accommodation for 2 nights and also get a shower. Came back 20.mins later to get the bus home and they were tucking into the burgers ignoring the staff being rude and waved at me. Homelessness make me angry I try and do what I can. Never ever told my daughter's this because it's too sad and in the summer they had a fiver each off my dad to spend they went and bought 3 quid worth of slime and the asked me would it be ok to give the remaining 4quid to the men who have no home to get a got drink....

Once drove passed some people carrying a bed mattress. It started to rain. I drove back, we squeezed the mattress & people into the car and took it to its new home. Just one of those random things that you see !

I go to watch football regularly, there was an elderly gentleman who sat in the same area as me and would go with someone younger. One match I noticed he was alone, and waiting for a steward to help him to his seat, so I asked if I could help instead of him having to wait. Sadly I've not seen him recently.

Unfortunately I've been to hospital far more times than I would like, I usually arrive a bit early for outpatient appointments so I can get a coffee to drink while I wait. There was a couple looking a bit lost, I asked if they were okay they said they didn't know where they needed to be so I took them, as it was the PIU Ward I had to go to every month.

Last year found a dog running loose near road. Caught the dog. Made a lead and walked around the local area and found the owner. The dog was very lucky !

Not really AOK more the right thing to do but I found a purse last night, I handed it in to Police and put something in Facebook where it was lost to try and tell her.

Thursday I gave my day bus ticket to a teenager waiting for the bus

A few months ago I learnt just how much some people struggle for sanitary products, and how many girls miss time off school due to not being able to afford it. I went to the supermarket and spend £10 which was a carrier bag of products, I donated it to a local shelter that were asking for them.

Today we took some junk to the tip. DH spotted an old Star Wars toy in someone's boot and commented to me that they could be valuable. I encouraged him to mention it to them, so he did. Before we left we looked it up for them. It should be worth about £150 - it was left in the loft space of their first house which they just bought. Hope they sell it for plenty!

Mum and aunt have knitted shed loads of poppies, blankets and scarfs for charity. They are currently into double numbers of hats and blankets for prem babies

Changed an elderly lady's car tyre in the pouring rain to save her waiting for the AA.

2 very young teens or even pre teens were being chased by older teens with (I later found out) a knife. One of the little lads fell to the floor and was dragged by the hair by the older teen. I was horrified. I was on a station platform full of adult commuters who did nothing. I was a teen myself but once the older boys ran off I went over to the little kids and took them to the next train station so they could be safe and get help (days before mobile phones).

I went to court and gave evidence. There must have been 50 people on that platform and I was the only one who came forward to give evidence.

Digging out any new items in the house that we haven't used and donated to the local women's refuge.

Donated 3 shoe boxes of new toys/clothes to Romanian kids (not the Christian one!)

Very, very small - but my (tree) bushes are in flower and are massed with bees. They often get caught in eager spiders’ webs. If I see a bee struggling in a web, I free it. It’s wonderful too see it buzzing off happily.