Feeding the Hunger for Kindness

We have all seen those less fortunate on street corners looking for assistance and while some struggle with addictions and others are opportunists, there are those that are just unlucky, alone, and hungry. I seek out the struggling, those who try but cannot make it in...

Infectious Kindness

During this very challenging time, it can be difficult to show compassion when people are afraid of other people but sometimes we all need to keep it all in context and just do one thing at a time.  When times are rough and people are alone and scared it helps to...

Grocery Kindness during Corona Virus

During this stressful time, I have been ensuring that while picking up my groceries, I offered to pay for grocery orders for those who appeared to be financially challenged or signs of stress on their face.  My goal was to surprise people anonymously and bring smiles...

Kindness Glasses

September 2019 – I was out roaming around enjoying a very nice sunny day when I noticed someone quite upset because they had lost their prescription glasses.  This person was just visiting and on vacation but did not count on having to spend another 200 dollars...

Kind of Pizza

September 2019 – While out for a pizza at a local restaurant I ordered a second one to give away. I had eaten well and now it was time to pass on the kindness who could not afford to order pizza. I gave ti still hot to a woman who was asking for change to buy...

Tip Jar filled With Kindness

August 2019 – While out at a small bistro staffed by part time student minimum wage workers I brought with me a large amount of coins to stuff the tip jar. I had seem the staff working there a couple of weeks before and planned to return for a little random...

Raining Kindness

July 2019 – I handed out about 15 umbrellas during a pouring rainstorm on a busy work day. Each time someone came by without an umbrella, I offered them one for free. Most had expressions of confusion of why anyone would give them away and then they turn to...

Mounting Kindness

May 2019 – While at the Omni Mount Washington hotel in New Hampshire, I asked the server if I could pick up the bill of one of the tables in the restaurant. It was thrilling to see the look on their face when they were told the bill was paid. It turns out this...

Cruising for Kindness

May 2019 – While on a cruise ship I was stopping at the various ports between Boston and Montreal. While visiting one of the ports I passed on some kindness by anonymously paying for the drinks of one group. I am sure it made them happy and hopefully showed that...

Some Bunny Cares

April 2019 – I did my traditional kindness for my co-workers and decorated the walls with thousands of chocolate eggs lining all the walls and added a chocolate bunny with tons of chocolate eggs all over the desks of my co-workers. I then added the 100 cardboard...

Warmth of Kindness

December 2018 – After collecting a good supply of warm sweaters, blankets, and gloves, I handed them out to every street person I passed. While trying to ensure the truly needy got them, I gave out about 40 clean shirts, 20 blankets, and over 50 pairs of gloves,...

Shirt Off My Back Kindness

October 2018 – I was getting rid of over 20 shirts and pants I no longer wear and I was going to simply donate them to the local thrift shop or good will place however this time I took them around directly to people on the street who seemed grateful to have a...

Patio Kindness

August 2018 – I was at an outdoor patio having a cold drink in the hot sun when I decided to randomly pay for 4 of the tables anonymously. The 4 groups of people were all smiles and curious about who had done it. Each of them had received a card that said please...

May Showers Brings Kindness

May 2018 – It had been a long week of rain showers and it seemed like the sun was never going to come out but I did my annual act of handing out umbrellas one gray dark and gloomy morning. Anyone coming by on the street corner I was on, that didn’t have an...

Return of the Easter Bunny

April 2018 – I went in to my office after work one evening just a couple days before Easter and decorated the walls with thousands of chocolate eggs lining all the walls and ensured there was a chocolate bunny tons of chocolate eggs all over the desks of my...

Gobble Up Kindness

December 2017 – I invited several street people to join me for a Christmas turkey dinner at a restaurant and they were overjoyed, forgetting the harshness of the world if not for just a few hours.

Clean Sweep of Kindness

November 2017 – I was made aware of some minimum wage workers that were struggling and I wanted to help if just a little. I put together an envelope containing gift cards for coffee and food and then added four twenty dollar bills.

Halloween Kindness

October 2017 – I purchased over 300 dollars of Halloween candy to give out to all the people in my office. I surprised everyone by putting out large boxes or chocolate bars, chips of all flavors, and bowls of pretzels.

Filling the Tip Jar

July 2017 – While out for a stroll around and to enjoy the sunshine, I stopped for an ice- cream at one of the specialty ice-cream stands. The workers at this business were students earning minimum wage and they were working a lot to keep up with the crowd of...

Easter Bunny Kindness

April 2017 – Three days before Easter I went in to my office at night and decorated with thousands of chocolate eggs lining all the walls and placed a chocolate bunny and handfuls of chocolate eggs all over the desks of my co-workers. To finish it off I laid out...

Valentine Kindness

February 2017 – The restaurants were very busy for Valentines day and I visited one and randomly selected three tables and anonymously paid for their meals. All seemed very surprised and perplexed at who had done this but I heard one couple say they would be...

Celebrating Kindness

January 2017 – While at a restaurant having dinner one night I noticed a older couple having a meal and it seemed they were celebrating something. I decided to add to their joy by anonymously paying their bill. I watch from a distance as when they asked for the...

Kindness by Gift Cards

November 2016 – I purchased 20 McDonalds and 20 Starbucks gift cards to give away. I randomly approached people who looked like they were hard working and needing a little appreciation and gave them a card. One man who is always cleaning the floors where I work...

Umbrellas for Free

September 2016 – Another rainy day and I was out handing out umbrellas to anyone that didn’t have one. At first the people look at you with suspicion as to question why anyone would do this but pretty soon they understand it’s a act of kindness and they...

$100 Tip

August 2016 – After having lunch at a local restaurant, I had heard the waitress was struggling to make ends meet so I decided to leave a larger tip. I left her a $100 tip on a 30 dollar lunch and left the restaurant. A couple of days later I was told she...
Mass Event At Second Cup

Mass Event At Second Cup

Lots of happy customers this morning as staff at a Second Cup coffee shop told them, “Your order is free”. One woman commented she was low on funds and this was a happy surprise !!  People were asked to pass on the kindness and there were big smiles all...

Christmas Post!!

Here it is! I had great service at the Sheraton (Cleveland Airport) last week…So I filled out a comment card for the young lady behind the desk…It was her first…She was really pleasant! Her boss was standing right next to her and it didn’t cost...

Act #75: Something About Sour Dough

As I was looking for sour dough bread in the usual section at my favorite grocery store, I came across an elderly woman who seemed out of her sorts. I asked her if there was anything she needed, and it turned out she was also looking for sour dough bread…...

Act #74: No One Rides For Free

I’m waiting for the bus and I see a guy looking paniced in the bus shelter. He’s going through his pockets, then his wallet, and then is looking on the ground.  I ask him what he’s doing and he tells me he’s lost his bus tickets and he...

Act #71: No Money Needed

Here it is! I had great service at the Sheraton last week…So I filled out a comment card for the young lady behind the desk…It was her first…She was really pleasant! Her boss was standing right next to her and it didn’t cost me a dime only my...

Act #70: Groceries in Texas

Today when I went to the grocery store I put too many little things in my cart and came up short. I asked the cashier if I could take some stuff out and the lady behind me said “Don’t worry I got it.” I offered to send her the money back – I...

Act #69: Free Hugs

It’s an idea based on spreading kindness and helping those in need. Saturday afternoon in downtown Ottawa, a group of people did just that, giving food to the homeless, and sharing hugs with total strangers. About a dozen people took part in the project,...

Act #67: A Chance Meeting of Kindness

A young man was having lunch at a outdoor restaurant called Darcy Magee’s when he struck up a conversation with a young lady one table over. They were enjoying their conversation and then eventually the man joined the lady at her table. I paid both their bills...

Act #66: THANK YOU

Lately I was feeling stuck…I had moved here with little belongings in hopes of a better more fulfilling life. It seemed that everything was working against me….my finances a shamble, my job i was unhappy, no friends……no relationship even know I...

Act #65: Hot Dogs and Guitars

A young woman and man were playing and singing and many happy people were donating to their open guitar case.  I thought they needed refreshment so I bought them both a hot dog from the local street vendor right near them. They were thrilled and smiled, they played on...

Act #64: Medical Madness

Life has been rough of late. Sudden illness led to taking unpaid time off work in order to get healthy. Money is tight but personal cutbacks made it possible to carry on. Starbucks quickly becomes optional when you don’t have a paycheck coming in biweekly....

Act #63: Luck of the Irish

My collegue and I both from Northern Ireland were the recipients a random act of kindness in Ottawa, when much to our surprise and delight found our bill paid for by an unknown person, the only clue being the man kindness card, simply inspirational,

Act #62: Backpack Kindness

A woman traveling through Canada from Europe was surprised when her beer at an outdoor patio was paid for by a unknown stranger. She was confused as to why it happened but seemed happy! I did it because she looked like she was on a limited budget and to spread the...

Act #60: Ottawa Mission

So heartwarming to have volunteered at The Ottawa Mission. We helped prepare bacon for cooking and poured salsa into 300 individual containers before serving lunch to people. The men and women were not what I expected. If you have pre-conceived ideas about who in our...

Act #59: 40 Years Ago…

When I was a junkie living in King’s Croos, Sydney, they were pulling down the houses across the road to start building the rail line. One day I went and investgated some of theses fabulous, derelict houses and came across a man sleeping/living in one of the...

Act #58: Kindness Karma

I was homeless at the time but lucky enough to hold a job down at Mickey D.s it was christmas eve and another homeless man came into our store. he looked for his billfold for abt 30 mins and didnt have it. i paid for his meal.. all of it. and extra for him to take...

Act #57: Cashier Kindness

I am a cashier and recently a lady came through with a baby in her arms and 2 more young ones standing patiently. One said ‘Mom could we have something to drink please’ and another one said ‘I’m hungry’….. with scrambling looking...

Act #56: Burger Buyer

A woman came in to Burger King with her three kids when I worked there. She had just been thrown out by her husband and living in a homeless shelter for about a month. when I told her the amount she started crying and said she couldn’t afford it. I grabbed my...

Act #55: Airplane Error

More than once I paid for someone to ride our shuttle to their home when they couldn’t afford it. One time a young lady was stranded at SeaTac Airport for a week because she was headed to vancouver, wa, not vancouver BC. I took her to my house, gave her a warm...

Act #53: Teenaged Kindness

I worked at subway and a homeless guy came in and asked if he could do anything around the store to earn a free meal. I had to tell him no because of store policy but I also told him I would buy him his food. I let him pick out what he wanted and happily paid for it....

Act #52: Act of Kindness In The UK

I was headed to sainsburys and this homeless guy was sat outside and he looked so skinny and asked for change so he could get some food, I only had like 20p in my wallet so I felt guilty, so I went in bought him a box of juice drinks, then went to mcdonalds bought him...

Act #50: Diapers For The Needy

I understand where you people that are posting recently are coming from, having been homeless and jobless before, I too now try and help those that need assistance. Like one man that is a former drug addict needed help purchasing diapers and shit for his kids so he...

Act #49: Paying It Back

I was homeless for years i ended up getting a apt now i feed ppl cause i kno when i didn’t have money and how hungry i was i can’t stand to see somebody that way I’ve even took them in even when i didn’t kno them at all it just bothers that...

Act #48: Share Your Last Piece Of Bread

3years ago when i was strugling for work… i didnt have money to buy ticket of bus than i decide to walk …after few hours… i saw place there was construction going then than i go there and ask for work .. manager said to me okay i will give you work...

Act #47: Spreading To Vancouver…

We just had a pretty wonderful & uplifting experience at a restaurant… Cal and I had a fabulous night, out for a nice dinner, with lots of talking & laughing & smiling. When the waitress brought over our dessert, she told us that it was courtesy of a...

Act #46: Water Was Just The Beginning

When I was homeless last year, its was the middle of summer and very hot, I was walking trying to find work. I stopped at a convenience store to get some water, and then I couldn’t find my food stamp card. I about started balling. I went up to the counter...
Act #44: Water giveaway at the races

Act #44: Water giveaway at the races

I was down at race weekend in Ottawa on Saturday and Sunday. I managed to giveaway 80 bottles of ice cold water to thirsty people who were there to run or watch the races. They did not have to buy the over prices water from vendors.  
Act #43: Marathon Superheros!

Act #43: Marathon Superheros!

Thank you to all of the wonderful people who volunteered at the Ottawa Marathon this weekend. You all made this event run smoothly and I thank you for that. There is nothing like seeing smiling faces giving you water at the pit stops as you struggle through the last...

Act #41: Return Kindness

It was a beautiful sunny day and most of the outdoor patios were filled with people enjoying the outdoors. I heard a couple telling their waitress that the last time they were out for lunch their meal was paid for by someone…. who was previously a recipient of...
Act #40: Grateful and Dry

Act #40: Grateful and Dry

This woman was one of the recipients of an umbrella from the Man-Kindness Society. The sky opened up and many people were dashing without an umbrella. Some were trying to share an umbrella too small for even one person!  Anyone and everyone who did not have an...

Act #39: Healing Kindness

While having some tests at the Hospital I had to wait for an hour. I went down to the coffee shop and bought a breakfast sandwich and a coffee. I picked up an extra coffee for the receptionist where I go for my test . Before I left,  I gave the coffee shop girl 50...

Act #38: Kind Words At Work

Had a resident who never talks to me last night make a point of coming up to me and say how glad he was that I was there and it’s nice to see good guys like me around. Nice surprise, made my night!
Act #37: Umbrellas of Kindness

Act #37: Umbrellas of Kindness

Gave out dozens of umbrellas in Downtown Ottawa between 10 am and 12 noon.  Lots of grateful people although they showed utter dis-belief that anyone would do this. The morale of this story is never leave kindness for a rainy day!

Act #34: Stop And Smell The Roses

I have to share this with you.  We were grocery shopping on Mother’s Day and my husband Ed, was in line behind this 87 year old lady.  He noticed that she was buying roses so he asked her if the roses were for Mother’s Day.  She replied that they were for...

Act #31: Double Act of Kindness

Two people were eating dinner at the Royal Oak in downtown Ottawa on the patio. I paid their bill to pay it forward and to my surprise they said this is the second time in a week this has happened. Looks like kindness is spreading! This is Déjà kindness!!

Act #30: Rain Rain, Gave Umbrella Away

I was on my way home from a night out when I noticed some tourists looking at a map. They seemed a little lost but were finding where they wanted to go. I gave them directions and just then the sky opened up. It rained hard and caught a lot of people by surprise.  I...

Act #29: Conference Kindness

There were nine ladies from a conference that stopped in for a quick lunch at the “3 Brewers” restaurant in Ottawa. To show the friendly and kind people of Ottawa exist, I paid the whole table bill. This was a random choice to make people smile !! The 250...

Act #28: Surprise Lunch in Ottawa!

I had just finished giving a presentation at a conference in Ottawa. It was a gorgeous (finally!) spring day and I was celebrating and feeling pretty darn good to start with. I treated myself to a pint and a burger and was shocked when someone paid for my bill…...

Act #27: Random Act of Politeness

 I watched a young well dressed couple enter a pub and I saw the young man wait to hold the door for other people approaching. I was impressed with his thoughtfulness and good manners so I picked up their bill and paid for their meal and drinks.

Act #26: 174 and the Altenator

Help me to thank the person who helped my son on Tuesday, May 7th, 2014! My son called me yesterday morning.  He is 21.  Right at the dead of rush hour in Ottawa, he is at the split on the 417 and his car simply shuts down. He has no power, so he cannot open the power...

Act #25: Do You Need a Ride?

(I apologize in advance: my english is not really good) I was in my car on the way to work when I saw this young men just missing his bus ride. I stopped close to him, open my window and offered to carry him where ever he was going to go. He was really surprised that...

Act #21: Homeless Act of Kindness

I was in San Francisco and an internship had opened my eyes to what my art career would *really* be like (in a cubicle, no windows, no creative freedom…depressing!). I was distraught. I thought about how I wasted thousands on an education. My family, friends and...

Act #20: Pay It Forward With A Book

I am happy to report that I have been gifted with a pay it forward gesture, which made my whole day.  This occurred when I was assisting a family member of a patient at our local hospital, where I volunteer.  The woman noticed that I had a book on my desk, which she...

Act #18: Single Dad Act of Kindness

I met a recently divorced man who is installing hot water tanks in a condo . He tells me his ex had taken everything and he has to sell the house he loves so much. He has 3 kids and is struggling. I offered this man a prepaid meal with his kids. If I could have paid...

Act #16: Susan W’s Story

During the recent cold snap my husband and I came upon a stalled car along a country road with three elderly women in it. The driver said a tow truck was on it’s way, however my husband thought the gas line was frozen so he went to the local country store that...

Act #9: Erin’s Story

I was in line at the grocery store and a lady and her 5 year old daughter were in front of me and when it came time to pay she realized she had left her wallet in the car…I told her to go and get it and I would watch her daughter so that she didn’t need to...

Act #8: Laura’s Story

Last year at Christmas time my sister and I were in the Starbucks drive thru. When we got to the window to pay we found out that the person in front of us had paid for us. So we figured why not carry it on and pay for the person behind us. It made us feel good to have...

Act #7: The True Meaning of Boxing Day

A user submitted story: I was spoiled this year. I was given everything on my Christmas list (well, except for the Neon yellow heels, but apparently those are hard to find in winter). On top of that, I received some wonderful and thoughtful gifts that showed me how...

Act #3: Patio Party

In the summer of 2013, I noticed a large group of women celebrating something at a pub on Kent at Slater. They were at the outdoor patio and laughing and having fun. I paid their bill of 180 dollars and they were so happy. One girl was teary eyed as she really...