By Karen Topakian
Blanche Dubois was partially right. We do sometimes rely on the kindness of strangers. To open doors for us when we are laden down with bags. To hold our place in the supermarket check out line when we’ve forgotten the milk. To watch our seat in the movies when we run to the restroom. Rarely does that kindness come in the form of a large gift.
This month, Agape experienced that unusual level of kindness. From out of the blue, a man in Sausalito donated his vintage car to us. We didn’t know him. He didn’t know us. But when he read about us on our website, he gave our car donation vendor the green light. His generosity came to us from nowhere. And the proceeds will now go everywhere.
His one act of kindness will benefit us all.
The sale of his 1959 Mercedes Benz will fund peace and justice organizations throughout the state of California. Organizations that inform young people about the truth about military recruitment. Organizations that protect one of our most precious natural resources, water. Organizations that stop the deportation of immigrants that separates loved ones across national borders.
Of course, we thanked him. On the phone and in a note. And we’d love to meet him, look him in the eye and let him know what his kindness means to us.
He isn’t the first stranger to show his kindness this way to Agape. And hopefully he won’t be the last. But he probably gave the largest single gift.
Now that he has given once, he will no longer be a stranger to us. He will be a supporter of our work for peace and justice.
Thinking about his gift spurred me to think about others who have done the same. I’ve decided to keep a running total of all of the gifts we receive this year from strangers. Our goal is $100,000. With seven months left in the year, we just might make it.
To you, our readers, I challenge you, if you are a stranger to us, perform an act of kindness and hit the donate button now.
Tags: car donations, kindness