What's a random act of kindness you've had with a complete stranger(s)?

I had a similar experience to yours on a bus. And I have received some very helpful and informative answers here on Fluther.

Gotta love being a girl at punk concerts.
If you fall down in the mosh pit, some big burly stranger will be right there to pick you up. And if someone’s giving you a hard time, some other big burly guy will be right there, ready to defend you even though he doesn’t know you.

In one particular instance I got thrown into a huge speaker by someone, and this guy helped me up and stood by my side the whole time because he “wanted to make sure I was ok.”

I was..flattered. Hah.

It was before cell phones, 1977, the winter the Ohio River froze solid. It was about 22 below, and I was on my way home from a volunteer function at 10 pm at night, driving on the expressway, when my car died (belt broke from the cold; it was an old car). I was about 3 miles from home, in a dress, not dressed for walking. There were no cars on the expressway, and it was very dark. A couple came along in a beat-up pick-up truck, and gave me a ride all the way home.

about 5 years ago I ran out of gas in my car because I was stupid and 18 driving around on E and some random person pulled over went to their house grabbed a gas tank and not only gave me enough gas to get home but enough to get me to school the next day as well. I didn’t ask them for anything, they just asked what was wrong and I said I ran out of gas and I was trying to call someone to help on my cell phone. They lived close by and insisted on helping. I was shocked, I offered them the few dollars I had at the time but they wouldn’t take it.

I like to buy the drink of the person next in line occassionally at the coffeehouse.

@netgrrl you’re a sweetheart!

On multiple occasions, I’ve dropped my cell phone in a parking lot. I’m always surprised when it’s turned in to Rogers or a meeting is arranged. One person even found a charger for my phone so that they could call “Home”. So many people wouldn’t care enough to do this.

I’m sure I could think of a few specific really nice things I have done, but there are things I do on a regular basis.
Every single day, I hold the door open for whoever I can. Men love it the most. You’d be surprised at how many people don’t say thank you.

There are lots who don’t say thank you… on a regular basis depending where I am, I’ll help out who ever needs help. People don’t get why I do it thought. I mean if you had a teenager come up to you out of no where and ask if they can help carry your laundry to your car or offer to help get something off a shelf cause you can’t reach or something, would you look at them strange?

The day I locked myself out of my car, I’d been food shopping & on returning to my car I took off my jacket ( keys still in pocket) & threw it on to the passenger seat as it was a hot day, closed the door to walk around to the drivers side, clunk, clunk the auto locks locked me out just as I got to the drivers door! Quite a few people gathered around as I tried to gain entry, several of them from the supermarket I had just visited offered assistance, after about thirty minutes one guy had quietly gone home & returned with a gizmo he had which managed to open the door just enough we could hook my jacket with a piece of bent wire through the gap to retrieve the keys from it’s pocket, I was over the moon with joy, by now there was a bit of a gathering & there were shouts & cheers as I opened my car Lol… what a day that was……. Not one person would accept a gratuity, lot’s of hand shakes & pats on the back, the experience renewed my faith in human nature rather a lot that day I’ll say! ;-)

I can’t count the times people have helped with car breakdowns!Lol!
One of the more memorable times was when a little boy gave me a flower.A gentleman in training.he was working on his Masters :)
There are alot of fine people out there :)

I got stranded at Indianapolis Airport after our plane was forced to make an emergency landing the morning of 9/11. We were stuck there for hours waiting for our luggage to arrive. As we sat there on the floor of the luggage return, person after person came up to us offering to come to their home to spend the night. Other bought us coffee and my kids a soda. We must have had 20 offers for a place to stay. I will never ever forget all those caring, kind and generous people. Really restored my faith in humanity.

About two years ago I ran out of gas. A complete stranger stopped and gave me what he had in a gas can, then he followed me to the gas station to make sure I didn’t run out again. He also wouldn’t take any money.
In a pay it forward this past winter, a girl passed me about a block from the light. I could see her hunched oueer and trying to see out her windows, but she had left the house like I sometimes do, with snow and frost still on the windows. I stopped behind her and knowing how long the light cycle is, I jumped out of my car and ran up and scraped her windows really quick with my Starbucks card.
Then I jumped back in my car in time to make the light.

Oh, oh!

On March 3rd of this year, I lost my March bus pass along with my student ID. That’s right. Two days into my pass, I lost it. As I was going through some tough financial times, it was with a considerable amount of reluctance that I bought a new one.

When I went to replace my student ID, I learned that I’d have to pay a $16 fee. Not much, but when you’re broke…. The guy that processed my application waived the fee, pretending that the card was stolen. He absolutely made my day.

Later that day, a guy gave me some free cookies at a sandwich shop. It was like icing on a cake!

Once I was extremely emotionally upset in one of the airports in London. I wandered into a secure area. All of sudden I was surrounded by security people. Once they realized I did not intend to bomb the airport, two female guards who were at the end of their shift stayed with me through a five hour layover. I will never forget their kindness.

@thriftymaid and one never expects it at an airport where nerves are frayed to the breaking point. On anridiculously delayed flight in from europe after having been up for about 26 hours, 1. A random woman in the lounge hugged me really tight and walked me to a chair then stood in front of me while I pulled it together. (I was bawling and sniffling like a baby) 2. The guy walking around collecting the bag caddies saw me carrying luggage and a baby in a carrier came over to me and gave me a caddy to use. 3. Standing in line for a hotel voucher after about 14 hours of delays and what not, with a toddler and older child, a man came out and grabbed me and a couple other parents and put is on the shuttle with instructions to the driver and something in his hand. (vouchers, I guess) hops escorted each of us right to our rooms from the door where the can let us out without stopping at the desk.

@Trillian I’ve experienced more recent true acts of kindness too, but decided to just share one. Sounds like we both must have obviously needed friendly help. :)

@thriftymaid When we needed it, I guess. But kindness at the airport always floors me. One least expects it there.