Hey Pandas, What's The Most Useful You've Ever Felt To A Stranger? (Closed)

When I walked to the station one night after overtime. My office building was above a mall, and it was after closing time. There was this eatery with outdoor seatings, and a blind man was yelling for help as he was entangled between those chairs unsure where he was going. His walking stick was stuck between the chair's legs as well.

Once I was walking across a crosswalk, and someone dropped all their things (into the crosswalk) I walked over to them, and handed them a placid bag, and help pick up their things. We shook hands and parted ways. I felt like I was useful!

I once pulled a man back when he attempted to cross the road when a high speed bus was coming. He would of died if I hadn't done so. I was scared as hell after the incident.

I was in an Italian restaurant for my birthday get together. I looked over and saw a woman doing the Heimlich Manuever on a lady that was obviously just about unconscious. Everyone at the table were just sitting there watching. No screaming for help!! No serving staff even noticed. My friend (a nurse also) and I ran over and yes, she was almost unconscious. I pointed at a waiter, and as we're taught in CPR class "You! Call 911!!" Which he ran and did. We got her on the floor and I did the Manuever for someone unconscious. It took a lot of thrusts because she was choking on linguini! She came around. She refused to go to the hospital. Ok. We went back to our table. The lady and family never thanked me for saving her life. Well, ok. You would think, but I myself was just so happy to have saved her. Management didn't come over and acknowledge that I had saved them from one helluva lawsuit if she had died. Well, ok. I was just happy that she's alive. However, some anonymous customer sent over 2 huge peices of chocolate cake. Thank you so much for my birthday cake! But all in all, it was about the best birthday I ever had. I got to save a life.

There was a homeless man that was outside of a store when i was nine. My uncle had just passed away and the man reminded me of my uncle. So, I asked my mom if we could give him some money. After asking over and over again my mom finally gave in. I gave him the money and gave me a hug. As he was hugging me he whispered in my ear "Never change, God bless." I felt so good of myself. I will never forget the moment i helped the homeless man.

When I went to NYC (from Ohio) for the first time, I wasn’t surprised by the homeless, But I was surprised by all the street food vendors that opened early in the morning. I would wake up early in the morning before my family and go for walks until they woke up. I was so excited to get a gyro & smoothie at like 7-8am (I’m not a fan of breakfast food lol). I only ate/drank about half of each, I saw a homeless lady watching me. So when I was done, I wrapped it back up really well & placed both on top of a trash can. If she wanted it, I didn’t want her to have to take it out of the trash. I barely got out of view before she snatched it up and ate it like she hasn’t ate for days. It made me feel good to know that I was helpful & she had a nice start to her day. I was bummed It was our last day there, otherwise I would have done it every morning. I think about her often and hope she is doing well.

Giving the good grocery cart I used to the next person. I smack it, tell I filled it up with gas and say "you can fit so many groceries in here!"

I was on public transit, and this woman asked me how she needed to get to a certain train station. This station was just a few stops down the line. I told her that she needed but take the southbound train and get off. As it turned out, she was apparently a couple ramps shy of a cloverleaf, and I had to explain this to her several times. I did so calmly and without being condescending - as if I was explaining something really complex.

A few years ago, about 6:30AM, I was traveling, in the pouring down rain, to a meeting about 3 hours from where I live when I came across a car that had hydroplaned into a rushing creek. The driver, was in the car scared to death. I called 911 (emergency in the US) and shouted to him from the roadside instructions to stay were he was. I could see the car wedged against some trees so it wasn't going to move down the creek. I was able to flagged down another car with 2 others and the 3 of us stayed with the man until the rescue vehicles arrived. I let him use my phone to call his employer and parents while the EMS checked him out. He was okay and I arrived at my destination looking like what had happened - I'd stood on the side of the roadway in the pouring down rain for about 45 minutes. Still, I gave my presentation with ease.

having to hold in my arms a woman fainting in the middle of a crowded train.

I started helping out a homeless man and his friend by bringing by clothes, food and blankets. Occasionally I would give them cash. He's a great guy in that he takes care of other homeless people. Whenever he gets something, he shares it with the group.

I gave him a cooler that keeps ice for 36 house and a short but larger area Barbeque. He told me one day that he appreciated the BBQ a lot because it would sometimes get cold at night and they'd all huddle around it to stay warm.

Then the weather started getting colder and I was really getting worried about them. I went to a sports store and got two sleeping bags rated to -10 degrees. The next time I saw him, I parked my car and he walked over expecting some food or money. When I pulled out the two sleeping bags, I heard him gasp. He started crying. I said "I wanted to make sure you were warm tonight." He said "You have no idea how you helped me out!"

A few days ago, I noticed a new homeless man and asked him about it. He said "Yeah..he'd been staying in a shelter for a while. Good guy. Seems some new guys came in his area and started a fight. Since the people that ran the place didn't know who started, they kicked all of him out. I told him to prepare for it, but he came by yesterday looking for a spot in our tent and I had to tell him there was no more room. We gave him a bunch of blankets last night, but he was still a little cold and shivering."

Back to the sports store and I got his new buddy a sleeping bag and 3 person tent. When I approached him I said "I'm Miss Carol!" "Oh! Your the one Ryan always talks about!!" I gave him the bag and tent (and an elbow bump.) Ryan sent me a picture later of the tent all put up and the new guy crashing on his sleeping bag.

I had a co-worker ask why I keep doing this. I said because, if I were in that situation, I'd want someone to help me. I can't help it...it's just who I am.

I had been DJ ing a wedding at a country house a couple of mile out of the town centre. When the party had finished and during my numerous trips loading the van up , I noticed a guy sitting on the wall with his head in his hands.
Asking if he was okay he told me the story that he’d had a big argument with his girlfriend, found out she’d cheated on him and he just walked away in a daze and ended up here totally lost.
Turned out he lived only a mile away from where i live so I gave him a lift home which was about an hours drive away.
By the time I had dropped him off at home he was a much happier person.
I see him now and again in the town centre shops and we always exchange pleasantries on passing

I was at an AKC dog show, at the standard poodle ring, and noticed an elderly couple standing ringside watching the competition. I began talking to them and they said they were trying to decide whether to buy a silver standard poodle or a kerry blue terrier. I proceeded to explain the difference in temperament of a standard poodle and a large terrier to them, and I'm pretty sure they went for the poodle. I've always felt that I probably saved their lives, or at least saved them from great bodily harm.

I babysat 2 kids for a stranger at Epcot.

My husband & I met a woman who had brought her small children all the way from Australia just to experience the wonders of Disney. Unfortunately, the first ride she’d taken them on was Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. The kids were so traumatized that they’d refused to get on another ride of any kind. They’d spent the whole week wandering around the parks riding nothing. They were leaving in the morning & she was trying to convince them to PLEASE give another ride a chance. It was the communications ride at the dome, so about as tame as you can get. We tried to help by telling the kids that. They weren’t having it. So, offered to sit with them if she wanted to go on the ride by herself. Guess we didn’t look like serial killers (or she was too frustrated to care) ‘cause, much to our surprise, she left ‘em with us. She was very grateful (and much calmer) on her (thank God) return.

25 years ago, my four kids and I were driving in my minivan. Terrible thunderstorm. See a nicely dressed guy walking on the side of the road in ankle deep water with no umbrella. We did not live in a walkable town. Pulled over, offered him an umbrella or a ride to where ever he was headed. He was headed to his new job at a fancy men's clothing store. It wasn't far from where we were headed so I asked him to hop in. Dropped him off and never thought about it again until... a week ago was talking to one of my (grown) babies and they remembered that we picked up that guy. Said that they always remember me helping people out and that it taught them to do the same. I realized that kids pay way more attention to the things you do than the things you say. I spent a lot of those years wanting the kids would grow up a bit so I could catch a bit of a break (single mom). Now that most of them are adults... all I do is wish I had more time with them growing up. We had so much fun.

I was new at work at a dental surgeon's office. Dentist had a consult with a small child who needed surgery. As they were leaving, the worried mom suddenly vomited and slid onto the floor at the door, nearly passing out. I ran over, asked her if she was ok, pregnant or diabetic or needed an ambulance, then cleaned her up and got her a glass of water. She was so embarrassed she ran out of there. I cleaned everything up and the day continued.

Another workplace years later, I was medical assistant for a wonderful midwife. A newly pregnant woman came in, very distraught, unsure about her partner and relationship and undecided about the pregnancy. We spoke at length about her situation, I explained my personal experience with abortion and provided her information. We even did breathing exercises so she could feel calmer. We really bonded and after much thought and time on her part, she decided to keep the baby. He was born after I left the practice and turned 19 in August. Mom named him after me. I was so touched, the memory of it now as I write it is making me cry.

I was playing online battleship with a stranger from I think Sweden and she was struggling through a toxic friendship with this guy (much older) who um wanted to do something without her consent and I gave her advice and idk she seemed grateful. Never heard an update though...

I was at a restaurant with my dad and this employee had a ton of stuff to stock in the coolers, all alone. I helped him with it and he thanked me. We got 10 bucks of the meal :)

A small boy, maybe 4yo was standing at the curb of the street, crying and holding himself. He saw me walking up and yelled, “please help me to cross, I’m not allowed to cross alone and i have to pee!!”. We crossed holding hands and on the other side he took off runnning home and yelled, “thank you”. So sweet.

Coming home on a snowy night, I got stopped behind a neighbor in a low-to-the-ground hatchback who was stuck, spinning their tires in the slippery, packed snow on our apartment complex's steep driveway. Driving a big SUV, I knew I could unstick my truck easy, so I threw it in park, tapped the hazards, jumped out into the snow, and helped push them to the top. I made sure they were in a "spot" (for all the good lines do in snow!) before heading back to my truck. (I did get it unstuck :) )