RAK Attack success!
Random Acts of Kindness happen every day! We lined up judges, set criteria, and sent your stories to our judges. However, when it came time to choose, we decided that when it comes to kindness, everybody wins at the top. So all three storytellers are receiving our highest recognition! As members, you stood up, told your stories bravely, and shared something sweet that someone did. They were each wonderful stories, and our judges had a hard time choosing. So, each person is getting a Rotary Peace Pin and a full Paul Harris award is on its way.
Story #1 – Ben Lamere
This summer, I was doing a small locksmith job for a repeat customer in White City when a call came in, it was a youngish woman who was driving a 20 year old Corolla and stated she was locked out of it in south Ashland.
I advised her that as soon as I finished up with another customer that we will be out to get her back into her car, eta 45-60 minutes. She asked the price, and I told her it would be $85. She grumbled, “can’t you get here any sooner”, and “gosh that’s a lot of money for me right now but I don’t really have a choice”.
Once I arrived, I get her car open in less than a minute. As we were settling up she said, “what a crappy birthday I’m having”. I say whoa wait a minute. It’s your birthday? She already had handed her credit card to me, but I hadn’t run it yet. I tell you what, it’s on the house! And happy birthday.
A little tear quickly formed and she said thank you, thank you.
Story #2 – Stacy Shelton
The year my daughter turned 16 was a rough one for both of us. I was recently divorced, her relationship with her dad was difficult, and I wasn’t feeling well. A month after her birthday, I would be diagnosed with stage 3 cancer.
As her Sweet 16 approached, I wanted to make it special. Her favorite bakery was Delish in Medford, and her favorite TV show was Heartstopper, which featured adorable, colorful leaf graphics. I ordered a cake decorated with the leaves from the show.
When the woman behind the counter explained how much it would cost to use so many colors, I asked her to use only one. I simply couldn’t afford the additional cost.
When I picked up the cake, I was stunned. It was an amazingly colorful replica of the leaves! I panicked for a moment, thinking I was going to have to pay for it. Instead, she told me it was on the house. Her young employees knew the show and insisted there was no way they were making that cake without all the colors. They told me I was a great mom and they were happy to cover the cost.
Lily was thrilled—and Delish even posted the cake on Instagram. For one day, Lily felt famous.
Story #3 – Angalee O’Connor
Standing in line at Walmart with my two kids, I found myself behind a frazzled mom with a boisterous group of children. Her cart looked like mine: binders, markers, backpacks, shoes—all the things children need to start school.
Then I noticed her carefully calculating the cost, shifting items around as she decided what was essential and what might have to wait. I knew that move. I had done it myself. I could feel her stress because I had been there many times before.
Her excited children danced around her, wearing well-worn clothes, shoes and smiles, unaware of their mother’s worry.
I happened to have some extra cash, so I quietly told her I would be honored to pay for her purchases and give her a little extra. I explained that the money would normally go into my church’s tithe box, but I believed using it this way served the same purpose.
She bit her lip and fought back tears.
That moment stayed with me. Need has a language of its own. When you’ve stood there counting, choosing and hoping there will be enough, you recognize it in someone else. Sometimes kindness is simply seeing someone—and responding.