Stories of Good Deeds on National Public Radio

Stories of good deeds was the topic of today’s show on the regular National Public Radio piece known as Morning Edition. The point of today’s segment was to reinforce that very often one small gesture, no matter how miniscule it may seem at the time, can often have a significant impact on someone’s life.

Good Deeds Remembered

Several stories were relayed, and one particular tale touched on a daughter’s memories of watching her mother stop to feed a homeless man while their family enjoyed a park picnic years ago. That small deed set the daughter’s ongoing penchant for helping others and contributing to charitable efforts at every opportunity. If there’s one thing to be learned from those who give, it’s the associated air of positivity surrounding the act can spread far and wide, influencing others to do the same and make a difference.

In another story, co-workers helped out a fellow colleague at Christmas, who had been off work due to illness. His co-workers helped to give their fellow employee a Christmas for his family by donating their remaining vacation days to him, so that he could receive a full pay check. Other stories of good deeds highlighted children helping out other children – one simple but heart warming story focussed on a child befriending the new kid in class, and another story touched on a child who takes books to younger children and reads to them.

The people in receipt of these random acts of kindness were obviously touched by the actions of these inspiring individuals, prompting them to recount these stories on national radio. People are often reticent to give their hard-earned money to those in need, but the world would obviously benefit from more charitable acts across the globe. Ditch the trend of cynicism and start spreading hope in your neck of the woods. You never know, your actions may snowball into something huge and infectiously positive!

If you wish to give to charity, you too can have a lasting impact on the lives of people – visit Microgiving.com and see what good deeds are available for you to contribute today.

Stories of Good Deeds Highlighted in Iowa

The Iowa Hospital Association (IHA) recognizes stories of good deeds at its annual Association meeting since 2007. The stories are to be included in a program called the “Iowa Hospital Hero Award”.

Employees Nominated for Good Deeds

Recipients of the Iowa Hospital Hero Award are chosen from a pool of approximately 70,000 employees each year. Such stories include individuals who have gone above and beyond their day-to-day work and those who have made significant contributions to their community.

One of this year’s IHA recipients, pharmacist Marlin Duren, was nominated by his coworkers because he has gone out of his way to care for patients at his hospital pharmacy. So caring is Mr. Duren, that he traveled through a particularly heavy snow storm just to pick up a patient’s medication that was left at home, after the patient’s wife was landlocked by a trapped car. He then shoveled the snow from their driveway.

Past recipients include employees such as Edra Fouts, a registered cancer care nurse who contributes significantly both to her job and community. Outside of work, Edra is devoted to breast cancer awareness activities.

Then there is Timi Brown. Timi is dedicated to her job and is also a volunteer grants writer. Outside of work, she has helped to successfully secure funds for child obesity programs.

There are many more inspiring stories, and each and every one of them provide a heartwarming insight into charitable work that is often overlooked in mainstream media.

Why not donate online and create your own stories of good deeds?

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!

People Helping People: Stories of Good Deeds

There are people helping people everyday, but it’s those surprise moments of “divine” help and goodwill when needed most that leave a lasting impact on our lives.

This post spotlights an inspiring story of goodwill and seeks to hear YOUR personal stories of people helping each other in a remarkable way.

An NPR morning special broadcasted an interesting edition: real life stories of people helping people in an unforgettable way. NPR highlighted a particular story of a single mother who received an anonymous random act of kindness her family will never forget.  After a rough divorce, Amy Scharman remembers the struggle of trying to raise thirteen children on no child support. She could hardly satisfy the needs of her family at the time, let alone a bleak and disappointing holiday that was shortly to arrive. 

On the morning of Christmas Eve, however, a surprise visit from Goodwill came knocking on the back door of their home.  She recalls tears of astonishment as she looked down at ten bags full of clothes, food, and toys – the author of the good deed no where to be found. 

A single mother’s memories have been forever branded by a mere random act of kindness—a good deed her family will never forget.  

Ten years have since passed and to this day her family does not know who helped them during that time of great need.  

“It’s that kind of generosity and act of good deed that can really make a difference”.

The story doesn’t end, however, as the story of people helping people continues to play out in the everyday lives of you and me. 

We’d like to hear your true life stories and experiences of people helping people, random acts of kindness, and good deeds.

Submit your stories to support@microgiving.com and we will choose one to post as our top featured story!

As for further discussion here:

1. Can you think of people in need in your community right now that could use a helping hand?
2. What are some random acts of kindness you could do to help someone today? 

Random Acts of Kindness

Ever considered making “R.A.O.K” a habitual practice? Like brushing your teeth and putting on clean pantaloons. . . (hopefully)? There is a whole plethora of little itty bitty ways you can incorporate an act of random kindness each and every day of your living existence. Now tell me—wouldn’t it be a marvelous world if we all employed such repetitious practice?! 

The other day Michelle updated all of us on a little R.A.O.K action that occurred while she has been travelling about; I thought it would be nice to share with you:

So as it were, our darling little damsel was skipping about the streets of N.Y.’s beautiful Big Apple during her layover to India, when she paused to marvel at some knickknacks and paddywacks. Being the congenial lassie that she is—she orchestrated some kindred-convo with the kind gent who was monitoring the stand. 

One thing led to the next—and somehow she managed to fandangle a whole bag of freebies for the kiddies in India. Jackpot: Thanks man! Talk about true social activism and person-to-person giving. 

So in summary, we can make an example of this benevolent merchant whose little R.A.O.K has out-stretched all the way across the world.

Sugar Rush!

Ok. We recently received a mysterious and rather quite outlandish donation—from whom we cannot say, for the benevolent body has chosen to humor us by remaining incognito. We were bouncing off the walls—literally, when we received a jillion kila-pounds of candy! We want to know—who’s the cheeky monkey responsible for turning the MicroGiving headquarters into Candy Land? To you we owe the gratitude of sticky door knobs, candy wrapper spit balls, and a new dental plan!

Your donation brought many grinning faces to the little monsters, scary dinosaurs, and rug-rats that plagued our doorstep.

We All Need Ice Cream

The following story illustrates just how something as simple as ice cream can help people.

We all need ice cream!

Last week I took my children to a restaurant. My six-year-old son asked if he could say grace. As we bowed our heads he said, “God is good, God is great.

Thank you for the food, and I would even thank you more if Mom gets us ice cream for dessert. And Liberty and justice for all! Amen!”

Along with the laughter from the other customers nearby I heard a woman remark, “That’s what’s wrong with this country. Kids today don’t even know how to pray. Asking God for ice cream! Why, I never!”

Hearing this, my son burst into tears and asked me, “Did I do it wrong? Is God mad at me?”

As I held him and assured him that he had done a terrific job and God was certainly not mad at him, an elderly gentleman approached the table.

He winked at my son and said, “I happen to know that God thought that was a great prayer. “Really?” my son asked. “Cross my heart,” the man replied.

Then in a theatrical whisper he added (indicating the woman whose remark had started this whole thing), “Too bad she never asks God for ice cream. A little ice cream can  is good for the soul sometimes.”

Naturally, I bought my kids ice cream at the end of the meal. My son stared at his for a moment and then did something I will remember the rest of my life.

He picked up his sundae and without a word, walked over and placed it in front of the woman. With a big smile he told her, “Here, this is for you. Ice cream is good for the soul sometimes; and my soul is good already.”

Sometimes we all need is some ice cream.

A lesson in giving

A couple of months ago our very own John Ferber decided to go for a ride and grab a quick bite. On his way back from Burger King he noticed a man on the side of the road, the man was homeless, and asking for anything one could spare. So John, with a few dollars left over decided to pull over and give it to the hungry man. Of course he was delighted with Johns generous gesture. As John pulled away he glanced in his mirror to see where the man was, but to his surprise he didn’t see him anywhere. John stopped and looked around but there was no sign of him anywhere, so John decided just to go home and enjoy his burger. As John started to drive away he was stunned with what he saw, the car in front was barreled into by another car. If he hadn’t stopped to give to the homeless man, that could have very well been him that was hit. Some people don’t believe in what goes around comes around, but not John, not after that experience. We may not have a lot to give, but we all have some way we can help. Maybe it’s just a few dollars, maybe it’s your time, or maybe it’s just a simple compliment to stranger who looks sad. If everybody just spreads a little bit more love and positivity it will make everyone’s day just a little bit better, after all we are all in this together. And feel free to report to the forum and report what you did to make someone’s day a little bit brighter, we’d love to hear the story.

Thanks,

The MicroGiving Team