I know we’re living in very divisive times, but I personally believe that there are WAY more good people than bad people out there.

And I also think that most folks want to do the right thing and help their fellow Americans out, regardless of political affiliation, race, religion, or anything else that you can imagine.

And that’s why these stories of strangers helping each other out are so refreshing and positive!

Let’s check out some stories from AskReddit users about when felt the kindness of strangers.

1. Good Samaritans.

“I was 11 or 12 years old, and me and my family were going camping, but we wrecked on the interstate. The car flipped twice and landed on its side, and the camper was strewn all over the interstate.

A bunch of cars pulled over and people began lining up to help us get out of the car. They knew they couldn’t wait for the professionals to get us out of our car because they were afraid it would roll down the hill with us inside.

We climbed through the side window one by one (there were ten of us, me and my parents and my seven siblings) and they lifted us down to the ground. We were all in shock, but these complete strangers were just holding us and hugging us and telling us it would be ok.

They stayed until the ambulances arrived. It was probably one of the most comforting things I’ve ever experienced.”

2. A difficult time.

“I was going through a very difficult time because of life events. All of my friends turned away from me when I needed help the most. Someone referred me to a Church that might be able to help with food.

I broke down crying while telling the Pastor my situation. He excused himself and said he would be right back. He returned a few minutes later with several bags of food. All these years later, I still remember his kindness.”

3. A tragedy.

“We had a house fire. We all got out safely, but lost basically everything we owned.

My employer was a dress shop, and when they heard, they provided me with a whole new wardrobe from the shop. The Red Cross also helped my family to get clothing and other things that we needed.”

4. Snowed in.

“In college, living in a house by myself, got nearly 2 feet of snow. Had 2 days of classes cancelled, but needed to go in by the 3rd day.

Had no choice but to shovel the long driveway by hand. Started by the road (state highway so busy and edge piled high with salt-crusted snow/frozen slush). Someone driving a pickup with a snow plow was about to drive by but stopped and said “that looks like hard work, let me.”

He plowed the whole driveway, for free! Was done in less than 3 minutes, would have taken me all day!”

5. Making new friends.

“I was at a party and was sitting off by myself. I didn’t really know anyone and I have a really hard time talking to new people. This other girl comes up and starts a conversation with me and introduces me to her group of friends.

We are all still friends. I have trust issues and don’t make friends with people my age easily, so what this girl did helped boost my confidence and self-esteem ENORMOUSLY. I didn’t really have any friends before this except for one or two.”

6. All the small things.

“When I was probably around 10 or 11, I went into a coffee shop by myself (mom was outside with the dog) to get orange juice. They had freshly made orange juice at that particular place, so it was in bottles which the person working the counter would pour into a to go cup for whoever ordered it.

When the girl working there was pouring my juice, what was left in the bottle just perfectly filled he cup, leaving the bottle empty. I don’t know if this was a real policy or not, but she said “Oh, looks like the bottle ran out, so I’d better just give this to you for free! Have a nice day!”

I was super flustered because I was already anxious for having to order for myself so I just said thanks and ran out to my mom (she made me go back in to tip her haha). I don’t know why, but it still sticks in *my* mind after all these years, and she probably forgot about it by the next week.

I guess that’s the thing with doing small things for people; there’s no reason not to because it could affect them positively for a long time, and you won’t even think much of it.”

7. The long way home.

“In 2014 I walked from my home in the Netherlands to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, almost 3000 kilometers (between 1500 and 2000 miles, for the US readers). Time and again I have been struck with the kindness of people.

From people who, when I asked them to fill my water bottle, added some ice cubes “because it’s so warm”, to people who invited me in for a beer or a glass of wine in the shadow before continuing. Or even people who approached me in the street to ask if I had a place to sleep for the night, and invited me into their homes if I didn’t.

Or mayors of small villages who opened up the sporting facilities so I could shower and sleep there. Or people who let me set up my tent in their garden. I can go on for hours.

If the news media are trying to make you believe that the world is a bad or dangerous place, there is really nothing better to regain your confidence in humanity than to take your backpack and go on a long walk for a few months (I took 5 months; best adventure in my life so far).

Most individuals are okay; it’s when they organize themselves into groups that you have to be careful.”

8. These are for you.

“Once when I was crying on the side walk and a complete stranger gave me a bouquet of lilacs I calmed down immediately.”

9. Helping hands.

“When I was a teenager, I was on my way to my dad’s house and had to drive through the country to get there.

I was low on gas and I figured I could make it there in time to hit my dad up for some gas cash. I guessed wrong and my car died. So there I was, a teenaged girl, stuck on the side of the road, in the middle of nowhere, and it was getting dark. BTW this was in the 1980s, so no cell phones yet. I was really stranded.

A family pulled up and asked me what the problem was, and I explained. They lived on a nearby farm, and they had a fuel pump for their farm equipment. They brought enough gas in a gas can to get my car started, and then they insisted that I come over to their place to top off the tank.

They seemed genuinely embarrassed when I thanked them profusely, saying, “Ain’t nothing, that’s just the way folks are around here.””

10. You’ll always remember.

“I was about 8 and had my first phone (no cell service or anything just games and pics) and I went to Walmart. I had to go to the restroom so I put my phone in the cart and told my dad it was there.

He forgot and went to the restroom as well, and when i got back my phone was gone. We went to the management and they said that they haven’t seen it. By this time i was crying and we needed to leave. As I was leaving an older lady came in and was holding my phone.

She said that she had found it in the parking lot and she had guessed that someone dropped it so she would take it to lost and found. Well we said what happened and we realized that someone had tried to get into it and I guess they couldn’t so they just left it in the parking lot.

We tried to repay the lady but she said that she would have done the same thing for her grandchildren if she had any. I never saw the lady again but I will always remember her kindness.”

11. It’s on her.

“My cousin and I were at a trampoline park and he wanted to get some candy but none of us had any money.

The lady behind us paid for it. It’s random acts of kindness like this that make me smile.”

12. A very kind lady.

“There was a big storm while we were on a road trip and we stopped at a gas station to get food, and wait out the storm a while. We had made ourselves some cup o noodles but we couldn’t find forks.

Luckily this kind lady called Keisha, helped us and asked some Starbucks employee to get “us two babies” some forks. She was really nice, and I wont forget Miss. Keisha.

We could’ve just gotten over our social anxiety and just asked for forks our selves but I’m real grateful we didn’t have to.”

13. Pass it on.

“Last week I was coming home from a funeral for my 21 year old nephew. I was just numb. I decided to stop at the store and get something to eat later. I parked, ran inside and spent about 45 minutes looking and trying to shake the day away.

I went to pay for my item and found my wallet was not in my pocket! I left the item I was going to buy and ran out to my car, utterly freaking out wondering where/what my wallet, with everything in it, had gone. As I got to my car I saw the door was open and things were laying all over the ground. My heart sank. I’d been broken into. Did I leave the door unlocked?

As I got a few steps closer I saw a tall, skinny man standing there. Then I got scared. I was far away from the store and no one was around. The man called to me and asked if this was my car and I said yes? He explained that he’d been in his car, opposite me, when I had left and when I closed my car door the seat belt had gotten in the way of the door closing, and it didn’t close.

He’d gotten out to close it for me and then saw my wallet had fallen on the ground, and he saw a credit card laying there. He had stood there this whole time guarding it, making sure no one took anything and he was careful not to touch anything. He had just waited for me to come back. To say I was stunned and incredulous is an understatement.

45 minutes this man had just stood there, for me, a stranger. Everything I had was there for the taking and if he wasn’t such an angel he could have had and trashed my whole life as my driver’s license, some money, credit cards, my ATM card were all there.

I thanked him 100 times and he kept smiling, like it was nothing. I told him he was my angel and he said, “just pass it on”.”

How about you?

Have you ever had a stranger help you out in a big way?

If so, tell us your stories in the comments. We look forward to hearing from you.