FOOD FOR THOUGHT Small Acts of Kindness Add Up to Make a Big Difference
Everyone wants to feel that they matter and are cared about; it’s human nature. Recently, I saw how an entire community of strangers, me included, came forward for a family that needed help and how a terrible moment turned into not only a wonderful outcome but also a restored faith in people. It all started one night while Michael was watching a police car chase on TV. I don’t know how it is in other parts of the country, but in Los Angeles, the TV news follows police chases from beginning to end in their helicopters until the suspect is caught or, in rare instances, escapes. I walked into the family room, and Michael filled me in on the details, saying the person was driving the third car he’d carjacked. I usually don’t watch car chases, but as several police cars pursued the man in the stolen vehicle, I wondered how he was able to steal three automobiles and not get apprehended. Intrigued, I sat on the couch. It was 6 p.m. and dark outside. The carjacker was driving a landscaper’s truck filled with tools up a curvy hill at top speeds that showed on the TV screen of 60–70 miles per hour. Since it was during rush hour, I felt nervous for anyone driving down the hill, not knowing what was going on and possibly running head-on into the truck. The suspect drove crazily, sideswiping other vehicles. The newscasters in the studio and the helicopter pilot were talking about the chase: when it started, the other two cars taken, and where the action was taking place. One newscaster started talking about the truck and said it
looked like a big, new, expensive truck filled with landscaping equipment. Much of it had fallen out of the back as the driver drove fast and turned corners. In my mind, I knew — this truck belonged to someone who had worked hard to buy it and the tools in it, and they were in no position to replace what they were losing. I felt sad for someone I didn’t know. Within the half-hour, the suspect smashed into a police car at a gas station, barely missing the pump, and was finally apprehended. The camera shifted to a reporter interviewing a young man who owned the truck. His name was Andres, and he was at his house and said he bought the truck three weeks prior, saving for years to buy it. He lived with his parents, and he and his brother worked with his father. He shared how the thief broke into his house and stole the keys to the truck. As Andres ran after the thief, his mother grabbed her son’s arm so he wouldn’t get hurt. I know what it feels like to work hard to own something, then have it stolen from you. It’s a terrible feeling as well as a shock to your system. Something struck a chord in me that I wanted to help in some small way. The next day, I did an online search to see if there was a GoFundMe page. I’ve never donated this way, and honestly, it would take an entire other column to describe why I wanted to do this. But when I found the page, I realized I wasn’t the only person who thought this way, as there were literally hundreds of people who donated from as little as $5 to
someone donating $1,000. Within two days, a couple thousand people had donated. There were so many caring notes written, too. Best of all was the response from Andres and his family. He posted several notes over a few days sharing their appreciation and gratitude for a community of people who helped and didn’t know him or his family and how they were able to buy a truck and tools and get back in business. And Andres paid it forward to the person who owned the second vehicle, as his car was totaled. Andres met with that man, who shared his story of his stolen car, and Andres handed him an envelope and shared some of the donated money. Talk about a kumbaya moment! It was so wonderful to see so much good coming out of a terrible moment. Of course, it’s not possible to donate to every GoFundMe cause. My point is that even one small act of kindness can make a difference. In this instance, so many people acted that all those small donations added up to make a big difference. Best of all was the appreciation the family had for all the strangers who helped them out and that they were able to help out another family.
My question to you is this: What small act of kindness have you done recently?
Whether it was a small or large gesture, just know it matters, it all counts, maybe even more than you know. –Roslyn Rozbruch
2 • www.rozstrategies.com
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