The good guys thread

[Karen]

And They Call It Puppy Love

One night in Seattle my girlfriend, Sadie, and I saw a homeless man tie his puppy to a parking meter and head into a supermarket. Unhappy about being left outside, the puppy started barking. The man turned around, shouted "Shut up!" and kicked this poor little dog so hard it lifted off the ground. Sadie, who is allergic to dogs, marched into the store and offered the man $50 for the puppy. He accepted and she took the puppy home, made a few phone calls and within hours found him a home with a couple who live in a farmhouse.
-- Francis Holland, Brooklyn, New York

I would have offered him $5 if anything, but I might have been tempted to just "poof" the puppy and leave a note saying "taken by someone with a heart."

[kuhio98]

Room to Spare

Last year my 23-year-old daughter, Shannon, was diagnosed with a rare aggressive cancer. When I asked her what she wanted for Christmas, Shannon said she'd like to take a trip with our extended family of 15. I began researching vacation homes online to find something financially feasible. I came across a property in the Bahamas and e-mailed the owner, Ann, describing the nature of our visit. She responded by offering us her house at no charge. What's more, she contacted her friends who own vacation homes and explained our situation so that we'd have other options in case we needed to be close to U.S. medical facilities. Ann's friends offered us houses and condos all over America. Some volunteered frequent-flier miles and spending money for the trip! We wound up staying at Ann's house, but I can't even begin to express how it felt to receive so much love and generosity from total strangers during such a difficult time.
-- Joanne Yoder, Royersford, Pennsylvania

[kuhio98]

The Harvest

Once Celebration Assembly was cooking meals for the homeless. They had green beans, hamburger, cheese, and tomato sauce. The Deacon was wondering what we could cook with just those ingredients. The budget was in the red, so there was no money to buy more food. The pastor said we are going to pray. The Pastor and the Deacon went over to the truck stop to get some coffee and to pray. They noticed a trucker outside that seemed upset. So the Pastor went outside and said to the trucker "Is there any way we can help? We know a mechanic if that is what you need." He said "No, the problem is that my truck is 300 lbs overweight." "What are you transporting?" The pastor asked. "Potatoes!" was the reply. The pastor thanked God and gladly loaded up the trucker's extra potatoes and took them back to the church to cook. Needless to say they feed many!!

[kuhio98]

Sister to Sister

Years ago I was helping my older sister pack for a move. I was a typical self-centered teen, yet I surprised myself by slipping the jacket I was wearing, which she had admired many times, into one of the boxes so she'd get a surprise gift from me when she unpacked. Not long after that my sister was killed in a car accident. That simple gesture took on a lot of significance. I never got to say good-bye to her, so I'm grateful I had a chance to express my love in even that small way.
-- Shannon Holman, Brooklyn, New York

[kuhio98]

Stuck at Waffle House

On our way home, we decided to stop in for a late night snack at Waffle House near the airport. A couple came in shortly after us and sat in the next booth. We overheard that they were stuck at the airport & had a food voucher from American Airlines, but Waffle House didn't accept their voucher. So we anonymously paid their bill along with our own.

[kuhio98]

Lunch

About three weeks ago my best friend in the whole world died. I was in my car today and ordered fast food at taco bell. I didn't care what i ate because i was missing my friend, so i ordered the same thing as the car in front of me. When i pulled up to pay, the cashier told me the lady in front of me paid for my lunch!!! I was so touched! I bought lunch for the man in the car behind me. Even though his lunch was twice as much as mine, I thought what the heck, I could die today at least i made someone happy. Thanks Lady in the white SUV you made my day!!!

[kuhio98]

Because Hearing a Parent's Voice Is Priceless

Operation Record a Story lets kids hear their deployed military parent read them a bedtime story. Publications International is donating 5,000 books (which capture the soldier's voice reading the story out loud) to the USO and United Through Reading, two organizations that will help servicemen and servicewomen record and then send the books to their children.