While checking out at Target, in Fort Myers, Florida, Rachel Syngo noticed a kind woman bending down and tying an older man’s shoe. Her younger son was watching his mom with great pride. Rachel commented, “This is just one of those great reminders that we’re all here together and that it’s still okay to help out a stranger.”
Last week, in Boone, North Carolina, 62 people from the Pennsylvania Amish community built 12 tiny houses in less than 48 hours. The $300,000 cost was raised and donated by the Amish community.
Sunshine Oelfke is a five-year-old from Ishpeming, Michigan. Recently she noticed that one of her friends did not have enough money to buy milk at school. That afternoon, she broke into her piggy bank, put her money in a baggie, and took it to school so her friend could buy milk. When Sunshine’s mother found out there were other children who couldn’t afford milk, she decided to give part of the commissions she made from her job to pay for the rest of the children to have milk with their meal. Sunshine’s mother helped her set up a GoFundMe account to pay for the milk for her class. They raised over $700, enough to provide milk for the entire semester.
John Joyce, 83-year-old from St. Petersburg, Florida, makes a living by mowing lawns. His 2o year old truck broke down so he was now walking his mower and supplies from house to house to mow lawns. Sometimes the houses were several miles away from each other. Nikki and Robert Norton found out about Mr. Joyce’s dilemma and decided they wanted to help. They had recently married and decided they wanted to give some of their gift money to John. Nikki also spread the story online. In less than a month, over 300 people gave money and raised $13,000. A used car dealership sold them a 2004 Nissan V8 truck at cost. That Monday they surprised John with the truck, money to pay for insurance, and a new lawnmower.
In a small village in Germany, bags of food and supplies are hung anonymously on an iron fence for anyone in need. There are no cameras or people standing around to record who takes a bag. The ones who provide the filled bags say, “It’s simply an unspoken gesture of goodwill and service, done with humility and compassion. This quiet kindness, absent of any need for recognition, serves as a powerful reminder that true generosity often goes unseen, yet its impact is deeply felt.”
Whether individually or as part of a group, may 2025 be the year we are quick to notice and respond to those in need.
And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
Hebrews 13:16