ECPs Recall the Most Recent Random Acts of Kindness They Witnessed

Question:

What is the last random act of kindness you performed, witnessed or received?

• We were on a road trip and we were starving. We were all getting hangry so we decided to stop for food at a local place in a VERY bad neighborhood. We had two homeless people approach us for food. We told the restaurant (that had bullet proof windows and a drawer that opened to drop your “cash only” payment) that we wanted to buy them lunch and dinner for three days and would prepay. One of the homeless ladies thanked us and offered to perform a special dance for us. She was actually a pretty good dancer. — Diana Canto-Sims, Buena Vista Optical, Chicago, IL
• I was riding my bike over the 4th of July. There’s one exchange on the road where the bike lane rapidly merges with traffic, and it can get a bit messy. As I was approaching the exchange, an older man in a big truck beckoned me over. He said, “I’m going to give you a lot of space right next to you until we are through this light so no one boxes you in and you get home safely.” My longtime competitor and good friend was recently killed in a cycling accident. The whole way home, I thought, “What if some stranger like that had been kind enough to look out for her? She would still be here.” It was such a simple act of care for a stranger but it’s the kind of thing that can have such tremendous impact. — Rebecca Furuta, Avenue Vision, Golden, CO
• I gave a window air conditioner to someone who had a new baby and no air conditioning. — Kathryn Collins, OD, Kissel Eye Care, Lititz, PA
• We gave our postal carrier a supply of masks to protect from COVID because he had ripped his mask earlier in the day. — Texas Smith, OD, Dr. Texas Smith &Associates, Citrus Heights, CA
• Paid the shortage of a woman in front of me. — Richard Frankel, OD, Atlantic Cape Eyecare, Wildwood, NJ
• Bought a coworker her favorite smoothie before work. — Cassandra Brackmann, Danville Family Eye Care, Danville, IN
• A couple days ago, I bought the lady’s lunch in the car behind me in the Chick-Fil-A drive thru. — Amie Robinson, Spring Hill Eyecare, Spring Hill, TN
• Bought an elderly couple’s dinner at a restaurant anonymously — I love to do that! And recently, I received one as well; the car in front of my bought my Dunkin Donuts coffee. — Stephanie Crowley, Sie Eyecare, Charlotte, NC
• Not optical related, but an unknown neighbor gifted me a trolling motor for free! — Don Stahl, Bixby Eye Center, Peoria, IL
• My 10-year-old needed a water bottle. We were out, so I gave him my credit card and told him to go to the gas station but he could not figure out how to make the credit card work. The man behind him in line paid for the water bottle. I was floored by his kindness. — Dierdre Fogle, Eyetopia Eyecare, Littleton, CO
• Older woman makes a loaf of bread each week for me. — Chris Gregg, IGH Family Eye Clinic, Inver Grove Heights, MN
• We are very big on this in our store. My mom, the co-owner of Eye Designs, goes out of her way almost every day to put a smile on our customers’ faces. She will often make up a pair of eyeglasses at no cost for someone that can’t afford to shop in our higher end store, most often little kids. It’s hard to count the number and it puts a smile on the face of every person in the store and every staff member. — Harris Decker, Eye Designs of Westchester, Scarsdale, NY
• Generously discounted a patients eyewear. — Edna Cooley, Shelby Macomb Vision Associates, Shelby Township, MI
• A friend continues to give me encouragement during a difficult time. — Mitchell Kaufman, Marine Park Family Vision, Brooklyn, NY
• Someone paid for my coffee. So I continued it and paid for the person behind me. — Tia Douglass, Harkins Eye Clinic, Grand Island, NE
• Dr. Logan surprised my daughter with a pair of Etnia frames from Vision Expo as a graduation present and surprised me with a pair of Tom Davies I had been eyeing; the frame from Cruella. I like to send Starbucks through my phone to people that popped up on my mind. — Sherry Morgan, Logan Eye Care, Lake Mary, FL
• I returned a customer’s shopping cart at the supermarket along with mine to the front of the store. — Heather Aites, Family Vision Center, Westminster, CO
• Paid for the order behind me in the drive through. — Travis Cottam, The Spectacle, Salt Lake City, UT
• I am kind every single day. It shouldn’t be an act it should be a way of living. — Caitlin Wicka, San Juan Eye Center, Montrose, CO
• One of my dear friends from high school posted on social media that his safety glasses were stolen. Knowing what they were, I ordered him a new pair at no charge. Now he sends me tons of patients. Kindness pays off. — Alissa Irons, BLINK, Albuquerque, NM
• A difficult customer called to apologize. — Steve Whitaker, Whitaker Eye Works, Wayne, PA
• Paying for someone’s meal in a restaurant just because. — Lindsey Pulford, Insights Eyecare, Manhattan, KS
• I took a pair of glasses to an Assisted Living facility for a sweet, sweet elderly lady who has a hard time getting to the office. It made her day to have a visitor and get her new glasses. The smile on her face was priceless. — Gayle Bergthold, Bee Cave Vision Center, Bee Cave, TX
• I love handing out compliments on a daily basis. I complimented a customer’s outfit and she just lit up. There’s nothing quite like seeing a huge smile on someone’s face. Frances Ann Layton, Eye Associates of South Georgia, Valdosta, GA
• Our department often treats each other to beverages, donuts, candy and things from each other’s gardens. Always nice to get a surprise! Kim Hilgers, Akre & Clark Eyecare, New Ulm, MN
• A couple days ago, a patient who was terrified of the eye doctor came back to give us flowers and a card to thank us for making her experience a nice one. — Nytarsha Thomas, OD, Visionelle Eyecare, Zionsville, IN
• A patient was using used old crutches when she came in for her appointment and mentioned needing new ones. I bought her a new set and decorated them for her because she loves leopard print and I surprised her with them. She was so excited! — Cynthia Sayers, OD, EyeShop Optical Center, Lewis Center, OH
• My wife bought a pair of shoes online for a waitress at the local diner while she was waiting on her. — Marc Ullman, OD, Academy Vision, Pine Beach, NJ
• I passed out goodies I got in Vision Expo East amongst my coworkers. — Pablo E. Mercado, Optima Eye Care, Alpharetta, GA
• This is more situational than random … Walking to farmers’ market this weekend, a friend and I found a busted irrigation hose that was losing gallons of water per minute straight into the gutter. Lots of pedestrians just walking on by. We called dispatch since the building was closed on Saturdays. I hope they were able to get the water shut off in time to save the business owner from a giant bill! — Jen Heller, Pend Oreille Vision Care, Sandpoint, ID
• My new landlords going above and beyond. Although I think the new central air is for the cats … they love my two cats. — Angel Miller, Cynthiana Vision Center, Cynthiana, KY
• When I first opened my office in May 2021, my previous employer sent a patient to my office to “scope out” … whatever you want to call it … my operation and associate doctor. At the time this patient was short on funds and wanted the exam only. My doctor came to me and said “this man needs glasses ASAP” due to very poor vision. Without hesitation, I offered the patient a complimentary frame and lenses until he had the money to invest. It didn’t phase me to make the offer. We have all been down on our luck at some point and it felt like the right thing to do. He refused and almost a month later I found out about the scheme by my previous employer. Someone else’s unprofessional ploy gave me the chance to be who I am naturally. — William Chancellor, Eye Can See Eyewear, Forsyth, GA
• Paid for someone’s order in line at a drive thru. — Tiffany Firer, Lifetime Eyecare, Jenison, MI
• Helped a gentleman who was struggling to get his walker out of a car. — Carol Marx, The Eye Care Center, Canandaigua, NY
• Without asking, for no reason, my wife brought me coffee and breakfast today. It was touching and appreciated. — Chris Dudley, Precision Optical, Wildwood, FL
• When my brother died from COVID, a husband and wife who are patients, made a large donation in my brother’s name and dedicated a Catholic mass in his name. — Robert M Easton Jr. OD, FAAO, Oakland Park, FL
• Someone in my hometown found a lost dog and drove around until they found the family that had lost him. — Paula Hornbeck, Eye Candy & Eye Candy Kids, Delafield, WI
• Started a quarterly donation drive where patients choose the charity. — Jason Klepfisz, OD, Urban Eye Care, Phoenix, AZ
• Forgave eyeglass balances. — Rick Pascucci, OD, Towpath Vision Care, Clinton, NY
• I had a patient pass away and the nursing home had lost the sparkly Kate Spade glasses that she adored. I had that frame so I loaned it to them to use for her funeral. They were so grateful. — Jennifer Leuzzi, Mill Creek Optical, Dansville, NY
• Well this past month I did help several people that don’t have much money or any money at all with their eyewear needs. I figure the regular customers can make up for the people that can’t afford glasses, I would never let anyone leave my store without a pair of glasses if they couldn’t afford them. — Julie Uram, Optical Oasis, Jupiter, FL
• Hugs, cash to homeless, flowers, and notes/texts of support. — Pam Peters, Midwest Eye, Downers Grove, IL
• I received a small bouquet of flowers from a client. I wasn’t even aware that I had gone above and beyond. — Sue Hayward, The Optic Shop, Tampa, FL
• I bought the groceries for the lady in front of me who didn’t have the money for everything she had in her cart. — Dave Goodrich, Goodrich Optical, Lansing, MI
• Gave two days of my vacation to a co-worker who really needed a vacation. — Miguel Rodriguez, Fava & Maria Eye Associates, Lebanon, PA
• I try to live by the Golden Rule of treat others how you would want to be treated. So I try to take advantage of any random acts of kindness that I can. — Travis LeFevre, Krystal Vision, Logan, UT
• We have partnered with 141 who donates frames to those in need. We have been able to take advantage of those donations to people with broken glasses and no funds to replace them. Our doctor donates an exam and we provide the lenses. It’s helped us ALL feel better this last year. — Nikki Griffin, EyeStyles Optical and Boutique, Oakdale, MN
• I paid for the food of the person behind me in line, because in the rearview mirror he looked miserable. — Star Taylor, Richens Eye Center, St George, UT
• A pay it forward at a restaurant. — Zachary Dirks, OD, St. Peter and Belle Plaine Eyecare Centers, Saint Peter, MN
• One of frame reps wanted to pay for a patient’s balance that had been struggling. She ended up paying over $200 on a patient’s old balance that she didn’t even know! — Anna Brown, Family Eyecare, Campbellsville, KY
• I gave a Rx pair of glasses to someone in need. — Dorothy Reynolds, Eyes on Fairfield, Fairfield, CT
• Donated to a worthy cause so they could raise money for a project to help families in need. — Scott Felten, Fox Valley Family Eye Care, Little Chute, WI
• At least once a week my daughter and her children cook meals for the homeless… they serve around 30 to 40 people lunches. Sometimes a homemade meal makes all the difference in a bad week. — Chris Clark, Advanced Eye Care Optical Shoppe, Panama City, FL
• One of my staff saved up points that we accrue from a vendor and purchased something for EVERYONE in the office! — Laura Miller, OD, Northwest Hills Eye Care, Austin, TX
• I try and do random acts of kindness every day. Patients appreciate this as well people outside of work. The wife and I always leave bigger tips in restaurants inside a thank you card. Always do something special to make somebody’s day. Get “MAD” as in “Make A Difference!” — Jeff Grosekemper, Casa De Oro Eyecare, Spring Valley, CA
• I bought the person behind me at the drive-thru their breakfast. I didn’t know them, just wanted to do something nice for someone to start the day. — Melanie Jenkins, Spring Hill Eyecare, Spring Hill, TN
• We had a patient call in and ask how quickly we could get them a pair of glasses. They informed us that their house burnt down the night before, and they completely lost everything. They were even wearing friends clothes at that moment because they didn’t have time to gather anything. We were able to have glasses made and delivered to him where he was staying. He was so thankful and appreciative and I was happy I could help with their recovery process. — Sarah Montes, Hockemeyer Family Eye Care, New Haven, IN