LAST month, I was on my way back to Winnipeg from Winkler. I was driving along Highway 23 when the ride got very bumpy.

I realized to my dismay I had a flat tire. Since I have no idea how to change a tire, I drove on very slowly, hoping to reach a service station in Morris, which was not too far away. However, it wasn’t long before a truck driver made a U-turn on the highway and flagged me down. He had the tire changed in a short time, and I made it safely back to Winnipeg. He would not accept any payment. His name was Joe Anderson, and he lived on a farm nearby.

Thank you very much, Joe Anderson, for your kindness. I shall try to pay it forward.

ON Sept. 17, AC/DC performed at Investor’s Group Field. My husband, my son and I decided we would go listen to the concert outside of the stadium.

We were listening along with a whole bunch of other people outside the gate when a lady and her small child approached the three of us. She offered us her tickets but warned they may not work because they had already been scanned once, so my son and I walked up to the gate and told security about the situation.

The tickets did not work, so we walked back to my husband, who was standing there waiting for us. The lady must have seen us return, because again she approached us and proceeded to give us two other tickets she had and said these ones would work because they had not been scanned yet. This second set of tickets worked, and we went in to watch the concert.

Whoever this lady was, she gave us such a gift and an incredible experience. It’s amazing the people you meet in your life sometimes.

I was a volunteer parking lot attendant at the Banjo Bowl earlier this month.

After games, our job is to help clear the parking lots as quickly, efficiently and safely as possible. Some motorists are a little impatient, but for the most part they’re pretty good.

While on duty at my post before the game, one kind lady who was having a Bombers tailgate party nearby brought me a plate with a smokie, pepperoni stick and potato chips on it, as well as a cold bottle of water. Half an hour later, she brought me some dessert.

This was one kind act that shows Bomber fans are the best. They are true blue, with a heart of gold.

Recently, my faith in humanity was bolstered. I left my purse on the bus into work on Sept. 12 while travelling down Ness Avenue, a fact I only realized upon trying to unlock my office door.

I immediately called 311 but, as is often the case with lines like 311, I was put on hold. I went back to the bus stop and paced, becoming more frantic with every minute I remained on hold.

After 15 minutes, I was full-out panicking. I finally waved to a driver who was making the turn and explained what had happened.

The woman, without question, told me to get in and she would retrace the bus route until we found the bus.

I would like to say a big thank-you to the nice lady I had the pleasure to sit next to at Central Nails at St. Vital Centre on July 30.

I’m a senior, and I decided to have my first pedicure. I was lucky to sit next to a young lady. We made small talk (no names were exchanged) and just chatted away.

I had a manicure and pedicure. When I went to pay, I was told the lady seated next to me had paid the bill for me. I could not believe it.

I’ve never had this happen before. So again, a big thank-you to the nice lady. It was much appreciated.

My aunt Claire, Mom’s sister, was a beautiful, vivacious woman with a sense of fun and adventure. That is, until an accident several years ago changed her life forever.

She passed away last January, and as per her wish, her ashes were to be buried next to her parents in Ashern. The day of the service and burial, Aug. 28, started out with a thunderstorm that gave way to a beautiful, sunny late summer day.

My parents had driven to Winnipeg from Edmonton a couple of days earlier, and when it was time to make the drive to Ashern, Dad handed my husband the keys to the Cadillac, and off we went.

And then it happened — the Caddy died. Right there on Route 90.

I was driving in the south end when I came to a busy intersection.

Traffic had slowed down a great deal because of a pretty bad accident between a car and a minivan. There were at least five adults on the scene, as well as a young boy, none of whom seemed to be hurt.

While waiting at the light, I saw a Shaw van signal, pull into the lane in front of me and turn towards the scene. The driver then went towards the crash site, pulled off to the side, put a pylon behind his truck and went towards the assembled people with a plastic bag in hand.

He walked up to the boy and his mother and then crouched down to talk to the boy. After a short exchange, he pulled a stuffed teddy bear out of the bag and gave it to the boy, who gratefully snatched it up. This was obviously a situation where the child could use some extra comfort, and a total stranger went well out of his way and far beyond his call of duty to provide just that.

My husband and I were having lunch at Smitty’s on Pembina Highway when a nice young man in the next booth surprised us by paying for our lunch. (He and I had a non-verbal exchange, which may have prompted the lovely treat.) We will try to pay it forward.

— Pat Johnston

Share your random acts of kindness by emailing kindness@freepress.mb.ca.

I want to give a great big thank-you to Sam Henderson and her family for hosting a surprise fundraiser in benefit of my family.

I had only met Sam once through a mutual friend, and she was moved by how my family was dealing with a very difficult situation. She knew our family and friends had contributed a lot to help, so she organized a fundraising event and invited her family, friends and associates.

Wow. We were completely taken aback by this. She organized a party at her house in the country, and more than 130 people came out on a hot summer night. The entire evening happened thanks to donations and strangers showing kindness to our family.

The result was more than $8,000 raised and gifted to my family. I cannot even begin to thank Sam, all the people who attended and those who donated prizes for the auctions, food and the tent, tables and chairs. A special thanks to Kim, who donated her eatery’s services, and the band Rylan, which kept the crowd dancing all night.

I would like to commend Grace Hospital’s emergency department for the attention extended to me during a recent visit.They have an excellent staff who did a great job taking care of me. Too often we are quick to criticize, but not often enough quick to praise.Thank you for a job well done.

— Walter Lotocki

Share your random acts of kindness by emailing kindness@freepress.mb.ca.

WHAT a sinking feeling when I went to my car in downtown Winnipeg and found it was gone.

Feeling desperate, I returned to the last business outlet I had visited. The owner of Warehouse Artworks, Rod, said to his daughter, “Give her a ride to the car storage.”

He knew right away my car had been towed. Marielle walked me to her car and kindly drove me to the car storage site on Higgins Street, and sure enough, my vehicle was there. Marielle told me they have done this many times before.

Thank you so much to Rod and Marielle for their empathy in helping visitors to Winnipeg who get caught unaware parking on Notre Dame Avenue is different from parking on the side streets connected to it. Their quick response provided the calming assurance needed in a tense situation.

ON July 8, my 91-year-old mother was not feeling well and arranged to travel from her apartment to the walk-in clinic at Grant Avenue and Kenaston Boulevard.She was surprised and unnerved to receive a diagnosis of shingles, and was given a prescription. My mother uses a walker, and the closest pharmacy was in the Real Canadian Superstore, across a busy street and too far to walk.I would like to thank Lynn Krepart — who happened to be in the waiting room and understood how difficult it would be for my mother to get the prescription — for volunteering to pick it up for her. You took time out of your day to help a stranger in need. Though it may have seemed to be a small act, your kindness and thoughtfulness is very much appreciated.

— Cheryl Rajfur

Share your random acts of kindness by emailing kindness@freepress.mb.ca.

THE early afternoon of July 7, my wife and I were travelling north on Highway 206 just outside of Oakbank in our classic car.

The gas gauge read a quarter full, and I mentioned to my wife we would need to fill up at the next opportunity. About 10 seconds later, the car sputtered.

It was 30 C out that afternoon, but we never had time to worry. After only a few seconds, a couple pulled up in their truck and asked what was wrong. Minutes later, they headed to Oakbank to fetch us some gasoline. A short time later, they returned with 19 litres of gas and would not take anything for helping us out. The man simply replied, “I hope someone would do it for me.”

Thank you very much to all the people in this day and age of ‘rush rush rush’ who will still take the time to save someone on the side of the road.

I would like to thank the Strathclair mixed softball team for once again letting my son Robert, who has special needs, hang out with them during a game at the Strathclair Agricultural Society’s annual fair (on July 14).

Robert looks forward to this every year and gets his baseball glove out at least one week before we drive to the fair.

This year, during the last inning they let him play second base, then let him go to bat just before the game ended. Robert managed to get around the bases.

It truly is the highlight of the day for him, even surpassing the pie-eating contest.

MY sister Wendy and I flew into Winnipeg on July 12 and stayed downtown at the Holiday Inn, kitty-corner to the Bay. We were born and raised in Winnipeg and now live in B.C.

This trip was because our younger sister, Christine, had written a play that was being produced at the Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival, and we wanted to be there on opening night.

We had such a great time, I felt I should let you all know Winnipeg is still the friendliest city in Canada (and maybe the world).

We went out to find a convenience store one night, at around 11 p.m., and asked the lone person we saw on the street if we were headed in the right direction. Not only did he point out the way, he walked back with us until the building came into view. So much for being afraid to venture out at night!