People Helping People
We couldn’t resist another good deed post! Stories of people helping people during rough economic times are becoming more prevalent. And It’s about time! Good Deeders are on fire these days to help others in need in whatever ways they can. We came across some more incredible stories of people helping each other that made us smile, stories we just HAD to share!
- The Salvation Army in Missouri was stunned, as for the fifth year in a row, an anonymous good deed donor has slipped a $50,000 cashier check into their charity collection kettle outside a local Walmart Store. The issuing bank of the check identified the mysterious donor as simply, “Santa Clause”.
- The owners of a local Michigan “mom and pop” pancake house were taken by surprise when 17 goodwill employees decided to work without compensation for a day to help the struggle company during economic hardship!
- A 72 year old man raised $16,000 for charity. How? By shaving his bushy eyebrows! The old man pledged his eyebrows if the public agreed to donate money to people in need. His wife says he looks 20 years younger! The chariy money is to be donated to polio eradication in 3rd world countries.
- A teenage girl, Mikela Mercier, found $1,000 in a Richard Simmons workout video she purchased from the Salvation Army thrift store. Instead of splurging on a new fancy pancy track suit, she donated the money back to the Salvation Army stating:
”I want to help more people in need.”
- Marilyn Mock purchased the home of Tracy Orr at a foreclosure auction this past year. However, after seeing Mrs. Orr in tears at the sale, Mock gave the house right back. Now dubbed the “foreclosure angel” Mrs. Mock stated:
“People need to help each other and thats all there is to it.”
When economic times are rough – there is no more of an opportune time to reach out, make a difference, and help people in need. So what do you think?! Leave us a few thoughts in our feedback section!
And don’t forget, MicroGiving is seeking true life stories and experience of people helping people, random acts of kindness, and good deeds (Track your good deeds at MyGoodDeed.org)
- Has someone done something special for you that made an impact in your life?
- Do you know of someone in your community who has illustrated an act of kindness you’d like to share?
- Or have YOU ever done something kind that made a difference in the life of someone else?
Submit your stories to support@microgiving.com and we will choose one to post as our top featured good deed story!
And if you like this post, share this link with others on Myspace, Facebook, and Twitter!
Tags: random acts of kindness
30. March 2009 at 2:39 pm :
Thank you so much for posting this. So many times as I struggle to barely keep my home and knowing at any day it can be taken away just knowing the that there are kind people in this world. When I focus on other people and their needs somehow mine are meet. Maybe not exactly how or when I want them but, there is loving people in this world that do care. Thank you Microgiving for being here for being a support to those in need. You are remarkable and I hope someday I will have my struggles behind me and have a chance to help many in need!! Have a wonderful day everyone!!!!!!!!
~BLESSINGS~
31. March 2009 at 2:42 am :
These are are the stories you read about people doing good deeds that touches your heart with great magnitude.
I will say it again we as a nation need to pay more attention all over this blessed nation the importance of doing good deeds. Only if we how much blessing one can acheived by helping some one in needs, that is such a marvelous gratitude.
I cant even imagine how proud these courageous people feel when they sit back and read their good deed stories in the news or in the news paper about them self. I commended them on their courageous effort and genorosity to these well deserved causes. (God bless them all)
These are the reason i am so delighted i found MicroGiving Foundation. Bacause i say this with great pride and joy in myself, (That some time in life one can achieved some good from a very sad terrible situation). For example my accident make me realised the other side of people in needs, Before i never think or even thought about people in needs. Very great experience for me i am enjoying every moment of it.
Regarding my family situation we have faith and believe god, Faith is a very powerful tool in our every day life. (The old saying is once there is a will, There is a way out)
Much love to the entire MicroGiving team Keep up the good deeds.
Peace Jamel
31. March 2009 at 6:08 am :
So many times I wish I had so much more to give to this site. So many new people and many more to come will see the joy this site brings to botht the giver and those who are in need. We all have the ability to do some kind deed every day. Wishing everyone a wonderful week!!!
31. March 2009 at 6:33 am :
This is a great entry! Many in my community I know of, are barely holding on to dilapidated homes. They are a paycheck or paycut away from losing everything, most have sold their cars already or have them parked cuz they can’t afford the insurance. Just about all the folks I know can only afford one meal a day…but these are the folks you always see giving a few bucks at the local benefit events.
We had a man die recently in our group. Sunday I was at the organization meeting where the hat was passed because the family didn’t have funds to cover the very basic final costs. The man didn’t have money for life insurances or anything like that, he had been dying of cancer and all funds were going into his medical care. Anyhow the hat was passed for his long time partner and help for the final costs. I know the poverty level of many in this group. People often think bikers have money….many got rid of the cars long ago and got bikes because they are far cheaper on fuel for the long distance traveling to/from work and the upkeep is less costly too….anyhow I know of quite a few who are barely…just barely scraping by but they dropped money for this family’s final costs of their loved one. Nobody skipped the hat, even if it was just a few pennies, everyone in that room dropped something into the hat.
31. March 2009 at 4:48 pm :
“fifth year in a row, an anonymous good deed donor has slipped a $50,000 cashier check into their charity collection kettle outside a local Walmart Store.”
5 years in a row outside of walmart? That is quite a bit of money for a “walmart” regular. Who has an extra $50,000 annually? I can’t even make half that to support my family nowadays.
Some facts to know about Missouri where this money was donated:
Median HOUSEHOLD Income: $37,934/12 months = $3,161.17 per month
Median Home Cost: $89,900 @ 6.26 avg rate @ 30-year fixed = $478.70 per month
Average Family Size: 3 persons (2 adults + 1 child average)
Say you are married with 1 child and you make $18,967 and your spouse makes $18,967. You would be the perfect example of the median. In a perfect world where you didn’t have other bills, emergencies, and the killer debt you might think:
$3,161.17 – $478.70 = $2,682.47 WOW! No more worries for me~
Here’s the reality:
$50,000 was donated so an income of $37,934 would not have covered it. This wasn’t one time, this was 5 years straight totaling $250,000. No I know the cost of living in MO is fantastic on the index, but $50,000 is $50,000 in any state and the income level of MO is among the lowest.
My point is, because a specific dollar amount was given in of one of the lowest income states, this was an act of purpose. Gracious giving regardless of the consequences and seeking no attention. And to my knowledge, “Santa Clause” does not receive tax deductions the following year~
1. April 2009 at 2:28 am :
This wants me so much to get my bills taken care of so I can do something in return. Some people when they give want the whole world to know but, to do it quietly must be so rewarding. Thank you to those who take the time to share to those who are hurting.
MJ
1. April 2009 at 3:03 am :
Giving in the Bible:
Luke 21: 1-4
Matthew 25: 31-46
1. April 2009 at 3:20 am :
“The owners of a local Michigan “mom and pop” pancake house were taken by surprise when 17 goodwill employees decided to work without compensation for a day to help the struggle company during economic hardship!”
17 employees became so selfless that they ALL donated their time. Here are some things to imagine:
A. You are one of the employees: You donate a day (maybe 8 hours) to wait tables, host, bus, cook, et cetera. You must like your job and the people you work for if you are willing to volunteer. You lose nothing, but gain respect and friends.
B. You are “Mom” or “Pop”: Even if all 17 employees only made the Michigan minimum wage, you would be receiving $7.40 x 17 = $125.8 per hour of business. If all 17 employees worked 8 hours = $1,006.40 to put towards your business. That in return lets you know at least those 17 employees are happy to work for you! Not just do they want to keep a job working for you, but that they came together as a unit to do such a thing. That it something special.
Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8
Luke 6: 30-31
1. April 2009 at 1:37 pm :
I was taught that giving as the Bible says 10%. I had got away from that idea when things got tough and only cared for the pain I was going through. As I have started giving again I am calm through storms that I have to deal with. I am blessed in one way or another. Giving is so much more that the word money. We all have so much to give. Smile at someone today. You just gave someone a reason to smile back.
1. April 2009 at 5:55 pm :
I’m not sure how 10% came about, but it is known to me like so:
10% is required in the sense that you can give AT LEAST that and still survive. That first 10% should always be the first/best of what you have to give before the other 90% is distributed. And because 10% is the minimum of what God asks, anymore than that is considered to be investing into your own soul above and beyond.
I see it as like a minimum credit card payment to a debt that I can never repay fully. I give as much as I can so that my family and I can reap the benefits of God’s generosity when he sees fit~
5. April 2009 at 12:54 am :
I think the more we give the more we receive and it is not always by money but, by a heart full of joy to be able to help someone else in their time of need. I have learned that when I am down the most that is when you share what you have and it all works out. It is better to give than receive.
13. April 2009 at 11:55 am :
This last month while my daughter & I was gone it meant so much to me for the kindness that people showed my daughter since she has had so many health problems. It is very hard to see her sick so much and when people take time to care it takes a lot of pressure off of me. There are still many people who care and have ways of showing kindness. Thank you everyone on here to has been so kind to us.
18. April 2009 at 2:34 pm :
Mj I can really relate to your life and having a child as your sweet daughter.I saw her pic and she is a cutie!! I have a 9 year old daughter and she is special needs as well… and that also reminds me where som eone posted that they had walked into the DFACS and was told they didnt look disbled?? Was that you? Or someone else?
Anyway a person doesnt always have look in appearance wise they they have a sd disability. I get so upset when a person is discriminated against for that very fact! I have fought the Public school system for YEARS. My daughter whom I adopted her at birth was born addicted to crack. Later diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Effects ( not the syndrom) People fail to reconize she is still special needs. I knew she was going to be effected by these two substances before I even adopted her… I wanted her.–I needed her… also the fact that no one else did made me want her even more– I wanted a chance to give her a better life… maybe not money wise but to raise her knowing God and get her all the help she needed medicaly to help better her future.
Because she doesnt “look” challenged I have had to fight everyone in the past 3 years once she entered into school. All because she is above grade level..well DUH.. that is because off all the evaluations and therapies she was in all her little life so she would do well in school.
Yet she stays sick all the time… and they fail to see its b/c she was a crack baby and has FAE. They give her an N in her handwriting b/c they fail to see she has slow fine gross motor skills. But will not do an EIP on her because she” looks fine.” Even though I can point out the FAS (yes syndrom there) effects in her face, and hands..so she actually has partial fetal alcohol syndrom techincaly.
So I can understand you completely… and just know there are many of us out here that do relate and do have compasion for you and your daughter.
I know how hard it is..I really do…
Big hugs to you and your daughter!
21. April 2009 at 11:53 am :
Sheri,
Thank you for such kind words. You have put a smile on my face… Some times you just get so tired of the cruel things that people can say but, in return it makes you strong if you let it. We love to do good in return of negativity. My daughter just smiles and brings so much sunlight into my life. I am truly thankful you have taken the time to add me on as a friend. this site is wonderful and we have so much to share with one another on here and many others that we are in contact with every day of our lives. Thank you Sheri, for who you are. You are helping people by your kind words. Have a great day!!!
23. April 2009 at 2:32 pm :
awww MJ…. I am all teary eyed now!! Yes! yes! yes!…. others negativity makes YOU stronger! That a girl!!!
Thank you for making ME smile!!!
26. April 2009 at 11:42 am :
You know, it is so fun to give~ From giving a piece of candy to a child to a couple of dollars for someone who has no money for dinner. If you truly comes from the heart not only is the person receiving it blessed but it makes your day go so much brighter. To take a person who never smiles and is frustrated with life and just share something with them can change the course of their life~ Have a wonderful day everyone~
5. May 2009 at 7:23 pm :
I have read all these wonderful comments, and I am moved deeply by the compassion of this community. I never expected to find this, not online, not on the internet where all you hear and read about are the predators and scammers that constantly feed on people exactly like you all, with loving and giving hearts. I came across Microgiving by accident really, however I no longer believe that, because whether I am ever given a dime in support of my mission, I am inspired and encouraged daily by the outpouring of support and gratitude, and encouraging words from those who leave comments and blogs here. As a newcomer I looked at the header for this blog….People Helping People, and this is it!!! This amazing site, this internet community, IS a community of People Helping People!!! So much of what has been said in the comments above really says it all, because the kind words each of you have shared, touch people. You have touched me, not because of a financial deposit, but because of an emotional one that you all are providing eachother. I am thankful to be involved in this movement!
5. May 2009 at 10:51 pm :
I used to feel so bad when i goes to church and things was so rough and I could only give a few dollars for tithes . I know you should give 10% of your earnings. But, you are having a hard time. I told my mother-in-law (just passed on the first of april) about how i be feeling . She told me to give what i have. and when I am able I can give the 10% . She said God knows your heart. I felt better. Like Keryl said. it is nice to be able to talk to people without all the stuff. You have touched me too. Thank you!!!!
with lots of hugs!!!!
12. July 2009 at 8:26 pm :
Aww Elaine what she told you is right! God always knows your heart…and whatever you do give or able to give God will always return it to you…! One way or th eother a giving heart is also a recieving one!!
God (will) bless you!!
3. November 2009 at 9:39 pm :
i need help….i’m a man of faith but i’m unemployed and have a family…any amount of money would help,,,godbless…