Stories of Kindness from Around the World

I had posted an earlier story about how my mother and I always look for people to offer a ride to on my way to work.  It makes us happy to do something nice for someone early in the morning and also we get to meet a whole bunch of people from our community too. 

A couple of weeks ago I was in the car with my mum, we had just pulled out of the driveway when she started to slow down and pull over. She gave me her “I think I’ve spotted a potential lift needer” smile before she rolled down her window and called out to the curly haired woman across the street.  While she was explaining that we were on our way to the station if she need a ride, the car that had been behind us, not realising what we were doing, also pulled up (on the opposite side of the road) right in front of this woman and also offered her a lift!  I remember thinking, “Wow! Not one, but two strangers had taken time out of their busy morning to offer this woman a lift – how great is that?”

The woman ended up coming with us as she needed to go to the station too.  Her name was Maeve.  I  commented on how remarkable it was that two people had stopped to offer her a lift.  She agreed and said she loved how friendly our street was.  She said that's why she was on the street’s committee. My mum and I hadn’t heard about our street’s committee so we asked her about it.  

Maeve explained that the whole idea had been conceived from a passing comment from an elderly lady who lived a few doors down from her.  The old lady was Palestinian and she lived directly opposite an Israeli family and two doors away from a Syrian family.  The old lady said it was so wonderful that not only was everyone living peacefully together, it was more then that, they had become good neighbours and friends.  She  said it was something that was really deserved celebrating.  Maeve added that when you look around there are so many different nationalities on our street, Chinese, South African, Indian, German to name a few and that it was definitely worth celebrating such a multi-cultural community.  So the street committee was born and they threw themselves into planning a summer party for everyone to come together. 

My family missed this party because we had been away that weekend but Maeve told us that the party had been an absolute success.  The theme was ‘international’ and everyone family brought along one dish.  There was a barbeque going all day and lots of games organised.  She said over half the street had turned up and everyone had really enjoyed getting to know each other.  Apparently, about and half way through, they formed an ad hoc street band! Listening to Maeve’s description of our neighbour’s 18 year old son playing his electric guitar whilst a retired solider was playing the trumpet and a few people played other instruments really made me smile!   She said some of the mom’s sang and everyone was clapping and dancing with gusto. 

Maeve said that the committee members and a few other people had each put £20 of their own money to get the project started.  The street party was such a success and people were so moved by the whole idea that at the end people just started coming up to her and making contributions towards the costs even though the committee hadn’t even asked anyone.  People contributed so generously that now they have lots extra for next year’s party!

It was so heart-warming to listen to this story and learn about the generosity of spirit in this special community that I live in.  I have volunteered to help the committee for next year’s street party!  Since they have some extra money, I’m going to suggest that we get a bouncy castle so that the children from the special needs school at the top of our road can use it and be a part of our community’s celebration too.