From Snowstorms To Store Lines, Kindness Is Showing Up Across America

When Patch and T-Mobile launched Good Deeds, Great Communities — a nationwide initiative highlighting acts of kindness across the country — the goal was simple: to celebrate the everyday ways people show up for one another.

Since then, readers nationwide have shared stories ranging from life-saving moments to small, thoughtful gestures that brighten someone’s day. Some acts are urgent and hands-on — like a trained lifeguard stepping in to help an injured stranger or volunteers delivering essential supplies to neighbors in need. Others are quieter but just as meaningful: holding a door, clearing a driveway, bringing in a trash bin or offering a simple kindness at just the right moment.

Below is a snapshot of reader-submitted good deeds from communities around the country. If you’ve done — or experienced — an act of kindness recently, we invite you to share it! If you’re submitting a story about someone else, please confirm you have their permission to share it.

Submissions are open through March 31, 2026. Once the submission window closes, Patch will select one community, at Patch’s discretion, and make a $500 charitable donation to a local nonprofit — continuing the effort to recognize and encourage kindness in all its forms.

Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

Burlington, MA — Wendy

"In our neighborhood, we have a kindness rock garden. Many people participate. We’ve been told it lifts spirits and makes people smile. That’s what we are trying to accomplish — spreading a smile or a little happiness."

Bel Air, MD — John

"During the recent snowstorm, there were at least two pickup trucks patrolling the Bel Air area helping people whose cars were stuck in the snow. I was returning from the hospital and got stuck myself. Within minutes, two pickup trucks stopped and dug me out. I offered money, but they refused. These people were real saints."

Spring Lake, NJ — Jason Matin

"My daughter and her friends were ice skating on Spring Lake one evening when a dad playing on the ice with his daughter slipped, fell backward and hit his head hard. He was disoriented and his daughter was very upset. My daughter, Anna, a Spring Lake beach patrol lifeguard, immediately sprang into action. Seeing he was bleeding heavily, she took off her winter hat and used it to apply pressure while directing others to call 911. She kept both of them calm until first responders arrived. She came home with blood on her hands and clothing, but her only concern was that the dad and his daughter were OK."

Marin County, CA — Loren Siebert

"The nice lady who gave me flowers while I was sitting at the Depot Cafe made my day."

Mokena, IL — Al Schroader

"Since mid-2013, my wife and I have been collecting, repairing and giving away used bicycles — free of charge — to children and adults in need. What may seem like just an old bike to some can truly be a life-changing gift to others. For adults, a bicycle often means access to job interviews, work, medical care, school or simply greater independence. For children, it brings freedom, fun and joyful memories that last a lifetime. By God’s grace, we’ve now reached a milestone of 8,278 bikes distributed — something we never imagined when we first began! These bicycles have found new homes through word of mouth and through partnerships with local churches, charities, food pantries and foster care networks."

Ashburn, VA — Donna Martin

"Rain or snow, bitter cold or sunny, my husband Philip takes our sweet pup Tashi for her first walk of the day and last in the evening. She loves this special time with him and I love it, too!"

Hillsborough, NJ — Carolyn Ortu

“I went into the QuickChek in Hillsborough and ordered a sandwich and two fountain sodas. When I tried to use Apple Pay, it didn’t work, and my replacement card required a PIN I didn’t know. I was embarrassed and started to return the items. A kind woman named Maria who works in the deli told me she would cover it. I said she didn’t have to, but she insisted and paid for my order. I went back later to repay her, but she refused. You don’t meet a lot of people like Maria — she’s always friendly and kind and great at her job. She didn’t have to help me, but she did, and I won’t forget how much better she made me feel. We need more people like her. Thank you."

Braintree, MA — Robyn Houston-Bean

"Our nonprofit, The Sun Will Rise Foundation, put out our annual call for items and supplies for unhoused people in our community and surrounding ones. Braintree residents stepped up to the plate. Random people dropped off many items, many of them anonymously. Their small acts of kindness will ripple through, lightening someone’s hard day or night."

Falmouth, MA — Sue Seri

"I hold the door open for others at post office, and on trash pickup day, I try to bring my neighbor’s empty trash can to their garage."

New York, NY — Tom Holmes

“From our window facing the street, we saw an older lady standing by her hopelessly snowed-in car, holding a shovel she obviously did not know how to use. So my son Tommy and I went down and dug her car out of the deep snowbanks."

Morristown, NJ — Philip St. Jacques

"We launched the Shine Music Studio at Goryeb Children's Hospital. It's a bi-weekly music therapy program for their young patients."

Mill Valley, CA — Cynthia Ann Stephens Rovero

“There is a kind Samaritan named Kevin who works at the Safeway store on Miller Ave. I have gone into the store since it opened. Every time I have gone into Safeway, I end up carrying heavy bags out of the store. One day, I was greeted by Kevin and he asked if I needed help with the bags. I said sure, then he graciously brought the bags to my car in the handicapped parking spot. I would like very much to thank him."

Monmouth County, NJ — Lynn Harold

"Last year, I donated about 30 handmade knit hats to a teacher at a school in Perth Amboy who hung them on a Christmas tree for her students to pick. This year I made and donated about 15 knit hats to a teacher in Long Branch who was concerned about her students keeping warm, so she gives them out when a student shows up underprepared for the cold."

San Rafael, CA — Lois Anderson

"My husband built a dog mailbox in the shape of a bone. He keeps it full 24/7, so all the dogs in the neighborhood love to come to his mailbox and get their treats over the holiday. We even had a Christmas parade where the dogs all got dressed up. It’s so fun watching the dogs just race over to the mailbox to get their treats."

Ashburn, VA — Nancy Latourrette

"A young man, with his hands full, paused to hold the door open for me!"

Middletown, NJ — Shanna Williams

"The 4H Kindness Club, which meets monthly in the Lincroft section of Middletown, is made up of children from kindergarten through high school who are committed to spreading kindness throughout their community. They have participated in food, clothing and book drives, Clean Ocean Action beach sweeps, and volunteer efforts to help feed those in need, and so much more. These kids are truly remarkable!"

Shelby County, Tennessee — Sharon & Robert

"Bags of Hope is a nonprofit weekly backpack program for children facing food insecurity. It’s also part of the district curriculum, helping students build life skills while providing meals. Volunteers work full-time jobs and still keep the program running every day — they never stopped, even during COVID, when participation grew to more than 500 kids per week. Today, they serve about 275 students weekly. The team is truly amazing."

Long Branch, NJ — Karen Rivera

"Well, I’m not usually one to talk about my own good deeds, but for charity I’ll share. A few months ago around Thanksgiving, I was at Walmart picking up last-minute items when I noticed a woman behind me struggling to find enough change to pay for her groceries. I’ve been in that position myself, and it really affected me. After I checked out, I gave the cashier money and asked her to apply it to the woman’s bill and give her the change. She didn’t realize what had happened until she came out to the parking lot in tears, saying no one had ever done anything like that for her. She asked if she could hug me, and we embraced. She said they were tears of joy. It made my day to be able to help someone during a stressful time of year, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat."

Have A Story Of Kindness To Share?

Clearly, kindness shows up in many different ways — and we’d love to hear about what you’ve seen or experienced in your community. You can share a brief moment or a more detailed story. If you’re writing about someone else’s good deed, please be sure you have their permission before submitting.

You’ll be asked to include your state and ZIP code when you submit. This helps us understand where stories are coming from as they’re collected across the country. You’re welcome to submit more than one example — many communities have more kindness than can fit in a single story.

Feel free to pass this along to neighbors, friends and local groups and encourage them to share their own experiences as well. At Patch’s discretion, select submissions may be featured in future Good Deeds, Great Communities coverage.

Click here to submit an act of kindness for Good Deeds, Great Communities.

Leaderboard results are for engagement purposes only. Any donation associated with the project will be made by Patch, and the recipient will be determined by Patch.