San Angeloans Share Random Acts of Kindness Stories

SAN ANGELO, TX- Paying it forward, sharing the love, and returning kindness are all random acts of kindness people enjoy during the holiday season. This week, LIVE! asked our readers to explain some random acts of kindness they experienced this year, and here are a few responses we received.

One reader said, “Before Thanksgiving, I had a guy purchase my items at the Dollar Tree, and another lady bought my son a toy. But the best one was [when] my boyfriend and I were walking around Walmart window shopping and a lady saw m[e] looking at a dress and bought it and a pair of boots for me! I wear them all the time. [It’s] my new favorite outfit!”

Another reader shared an act of kindness at the Dollar Tree, and received one in return. She said she saw a homeless man sitting outside of the store in the cold, so she gave him money and told him, “I pray that God bless [you].”

The reader added that the man was moved to tears. In that moment, she noticed something move in his lap. The homeless man had three puppies. The reader said, “He expressed that he was truly thankful and wanted to do something in return. I told him that there was no need, but he said that he really felt in his heart that he wanted to repay my kindness.”

The homeless man picked up one of his puppies and explained that the puppy was all he had to offer.

“I insisted that there was no need to repay, but he said, ‘Please take her for your family. She is cold.’ So, we have a new furry family member,” she said.

This next reader had a husband who was stuck in New Mexico for over a week. She explained that they have no family in New Mexico and all of their resources here were all tied up.

The reader said, “After many unfortunate circumstances, I reached out to a former friend. She reached out on her Facebook page and received an extremely generous outpouring of support!”

From the support of people in an unfamiliar state, the reader's husband was home early in the week to celebrate Christmas with his kids.

This next story about an act of kindness also involves a puppy. A LIVE! reader took her puppy to the Los Caballos Veterinary Clinic for a test, but she only had $30 in her pocket. She said that she was devastated when she was told by the vet that they needed to test the puppy for Parvo.

The reader said, “I could cover the test to know the results, but I wouldn’t have the funds at the time to cover her treatment if it were needed.”  

Therefore, a lady, whom the reader believed to work in surgery at Community Medical Center, said that she would cover the cost of treatment for her puppy beyond what she could pay, if it was needed.

“I felt blessed, and she stayed to find out the results with me. [I] found out it was negative, thank goodness,” the reader explained.

Although the test was negative, the surgeon covered the reader’s puppies first round of shots.

“I was beyond blessed that day. I’m glad she did this for this puppy," the reader said. "She is currently healthy and growing, and I only wish I had gotten [the surgeon's] name!”

This next story takes place at a Dollar General. A reader’s 11-year-old daughter saw an elderly man sitting on the sidewalk at the Dollar General, with his bike, looking sad. The reader said, “When we went inside, [my daughter] asked if he was one of the homeless, and I told her I didn’t know, but he could be.”

The reader said she and her daughter were at the Dollar General because her daughter wanted to spend some of her own money that she had earned. But, what she wanted would have taken up all the money she had.

“She got something cheaper so she could buy that man a bag of chips. I almost cried. I was so proud of her,” the reader exclaimed.

In addition to these responses, we had an employee from Grape Creek ISD message us to share the story of how several Grape Creek Community members who do not currently have children in the Grape Creek ISD district, but once did, approached the school to inquire about outstanding lunchroom balances for all students in the district.

"They just wanted a sum total," said the employee. "Once they had that, they came bearing money to pay up all of the charges--$573.39."

The employee said this was a blessing for many parents and students who struggle, especially around the holidays.

"These good people wish to remain anonymous, but asked that we share the story in hopes that someone out there will pick up the idea, and perhaps do the same for their school district," she said.

Even our own Editor-in-chief shared an act of kindness her family experienced this holiday season. Last Friday, Brandy Ramirez's twin granddaughters asked for donuts; it was their 5th birthday after all. So when her daughter took them to their favorite donut shop, another patron asked to pay for their goodies because of being in the holiday spirit. That small act of kindness made two little girls very happy for their birthday.

Despite the many claims of all the bad in 2016, many San Angeloans proved that's not always the case. A small act of kindness, and not just around the holidays, goes a long way.