Purpose-driven Insights: Random Acts of Kindness

Small acts of help often carry more weight than we realize. Studies note that even brief moments of support—an encouraging conversation, a practical favor, a bit of shared knowledge—can ease stress and spark long-term change. Fred Rogers once said, “Look for the helpers,” a reminder that meaningful impact is rarely loud or complicated. Why do simple gestures matter so much? Cognitive science suggests that feeling seen and supported boosts resilience, motivation, and trust, creating ripple effects that stretch far beyond the moment itself. Across industries and communities, these quiet interventions can shape opportunities, strengthen bonds, and restore stability. In this expert roundup, contributors reflect on the modest, genuine actions that ended up making unexpectedly profound differences.

Quick Cash Deal Saved Family From Foreclosure

I remember helping this family who was about to lose their house. We worked out a quick cash deal so they could avoid foreclosure. Sometimes when people are in a tight spot, a little help shifts their whole perspective. What I learned is that real impact starts with just showing up and listening when it counts.

Chris Lowe, CEO, Next Step House Buyers

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Sold House in Nine Days, Arranged Moves

I remember this family, the dad had lost his job and they were facing foreclosure. We got their house sold in nine days, which was crazy fast. I spent a morning calling moving companies for them because they were too overwhelmed to do it themselves. It’s not about grand gestures. It’s about picking up the phone when someone can’t. That small stuff actually changes everything for people in that spot.

Carl Fanaro, President, NOLA Buys Houses

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Free Boiler Safety Checks for Vulnerable Residents

A few winters back, our team at Rowlen Boiler Services started doing free safety checks for elderly and low-income residents around London and Surrey. We saw dozens of people stop worrying about their heat breaking during a cold snap. It showed me that a small, direct act can fix a problem people often keep to themselves. If your business can help out like that, do it. People remember when you actually show up.

Lara Woodham, Director, Rowlen Boiler Services

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Informal Drop-In Sessions Reduced Marketer Burnout Effectively

I remember a partner company’s team saw our new marketers were getting overwhelmed by all the industry changes. They just started informal drop-in sessions for questions or to vent. It was way more effective than any formal training. When you show you care about someone as a person, not just their numbers, they actually want to stick around. That simple gesture made people work harder because they felt valued.

Yarden Morgan, Director of Growth, Lusha

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Open-Source Templates Empowered Small Brand Innovation

I still think about when our PlayAbly team made our gamification templates open-source for small brands. Suddenly, startups could use game mechanics they couldn’t afford before. They started building features we hadn’t even considered. It taught me something simple: share your resources freely. You never know what kind of change that will actually spark.

John Cheng, CEO, PlayAbly.AI

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Free Teen Mental Health Hotline Changed Lives

Here’s the thing. At Mission Prep Healthcare, we started a free mental health hotline for teenagers, and it was a game changer. We noticed kids had nowhere to call, so we made one. The launch was rough, no question. But it’s how we handle a crisis now. I still think about the kids who got help because someone answered on the first ring. That’s the difference.

Aja Chavez, Executive Director, Mission Prep Healthcare

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Restaurant Fed Struggling Industry Workers Without Fanfare

A small restaurant nearby started feeding out-of-work servers and cooks for free, and it got to me. Our industry is the first to get hit. So at Zinfandel Grille, we started quietly picking up the tab for friends in the business who were struggling. Sometimes you just help when people are drowning. It’s not about some big gesture.

Allen Kou, Owner and Operator, Zinfandel Grille

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Scholarship Fund Launched Filmmakers to International Recognition

I helped set up a scholarship fund at Magic Hour, getting editing software and mentorship to filmmakers from low-income backgrounds. It took a while to get the program right, but seeing their work showcased internationally was something else. I learned that sometimes you just give someone the right tools and a little guidance, and they’ll make something amazing.

Runbo Li, CEO, Magic Hour

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Free Online Classes Sparked Developing Country Entrepreneurship

A nonprofit I followed put their business classes online for free a few years back. What happened next was cool. Students in developing countries started launching little companies, and not just one or two, but a lot of them. The change was visible within months. It just proves that when you put knowledge in people’s hands, they run with it. If you have expertise, share it. It’s the simplest kind of impact there is.

David Cornado, Partner, French Teachers Association of Hong Kong

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Tutor’s Free Help Inspired Team’s Service Values

One of our tutors recently started helping a struggling student for free, just because they saw the need. The kids were happier, but more importantly, the rest of our team stopped and took notice. It reminded me that these small acts of helping, without expecting anything in return, are what actually define us and the work we do.

Sandro Kratz, Founder, Tutorbase

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Patagonia’s Quiet Pandemic Support Outshone Marketing Campaigns

The early pandemic period saw Patagonia provide financial support to small businesses which remains my most memorable experience. The company took direct action to support similar businesses without seeking media attention or creating a big narrative. The unpublicized support Patagonia provided to small businesses creates a stronger impact on me than any marketing campaign.

The act of supporting others’ growth without seeking recognition creates a powerful and authentic connection. A brand’s true nature reveals itself through such actions which go beyond strategic planning.

Julia Pukhalskaia, CEO, Mermaid Way

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Baby Steps Ministry Grew From Simple Acts

I started Baby Steps Ministry because I got tired of waiting for someone else to help the families I saw struggling. Sometimes it was just moving a couch, other times it was finding them housing. I didn’t have a big strategy, I just showed up. The whole thing grew from there. It turns out that noticing someone’s problem and offering a hand is often all it takes.

Peter Kim, Owner, Odigo Real Estate Club

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Free Language Classes Connected Immigrant Kids Instantly

There’s a language center in Hong Kong that saw new kids getting left behind, so they quietly started offering free classes. Suddenly those kids could buy things at the corner store and chat with others on the playground. It made me start doing similar small things at my own group. You don’t need a big plan. Sometimes just doing one direct, helpful thing is what actually makes a difference.

Yoan Amselem, Managing Director, German Cultural Association of Hong Kong

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Scholarship Created Ripple Effect Through Literacy Program

A retired Spanish professor quietly started a scholarship for bilingual teachers who couldn’t afford more training. I saw it help one educator get certified, and she returned to her community to start a literacy program. That kind of giving doesn’t just change one person’s life. It creates a ripple effect for everyone they go on to teach.

Carmen Jordan Fernandez, Academic Director, The Spanish Council of Singapore

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Nonprofit Board Secured Housing After Fire Instantly

The board I’m on at a small nonprofit rallied for a family displaced by a fire, lining up housing and clothes in a single day. That wasn’t about grand gestures, just quick, thoughtful action. I’ve noticed that when people quietly handle what’s actually needed, that inspires others far more than anything planned or publicized.

Will Melton, CEO, Xponent21

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Red Bull’s Youth League Sponsorship United Communities

Red Bull has this habit of sponsoring local youth sports leagues, purely out of the blue. I saw it happen once, and it brought more than just gear. Suddenly parents were talking and you could feel the community rally around it. That one direct act built huge goodwill. If you want to make a lasting impression, that kind of simple, under-the-radar help is the most effective way I’ve seen.

Brandon Brown, CEO, Search Party

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Teammate Covered Deadlines, Transformed Office Culture Completely

A teammate at CLDY.com once jumped in to cover deadlines for someone who was swamped, completely unprompted. The stress in the office just dropped. Suddenly, we all started looking out for each other more. It wasn’t about company culture. It was about one person seeing someone else needed help and stepping up.

Alvin Poh, Chairman, CLDY.com Pte Ltd

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Widow’s House Sold in Seven Days Flat

I once helped a widow who was drowning in her mortgage. We talked it over and decided to just sell the house as-is, no repairs, no endless showings. We closed in seven days. The relief on her face when she realized she could finally move on was something else. Sometimes people don’t need the perfect deal, they just need a way out.

Lawrence Irby, President, Bay Area House Buyer

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Free Foreclosure Guidance Relieved Desperate Homeowners Quickly

I saw another investor helping families facing foreclosure for free. At TX Cash Home Buyers, we see the same thing. Sometimes people just need someone to walk them through their options with zero pressure. Just explaining the choices can be a huge relief, even if it doesn’t lead to a sale. From what I’ve seen, the most helpful thing you can do in those situations is just listen and be upfront.

Lisa Martinez, Founder, TX Cash Home Buyers

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Free Crisis Center App Access Eased Panic

I went through burnout myself and man, that isolation hits hard. So I started giving free access to yourLumira at crisis centers. When I was crawling out of my own dark period, I watched people use the app to process stuff when therapy wasn’t an option. The staff told me people finally had something to hold onto during those 3am panic moments. If something helped you through your worst days, pass it on. Even the smallest things matter.

Daniel Hebert, Founder, yourLumira by SalesMVP Lab Inc

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Patagonia Halted Production Over Unethical Wool Suppliers

Patagonia serves as an outstanding example of this practice. The company halted production after discovering its wool suppliers were harming animals and the environment, and at the same time publicly disclosed the issue. They chose to share this voluntarily because they valued transparency above all else. Patagonia took immediate steps to protect animals, showing a genuine commitment to customer trust. Their actions illustrate complete accountability, involving financial sacrifice to back up their dedication to ethical conduct.

Hans Graubard, COO & Cofounder, Happy V

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Free Saturday Real Estate Classes Built Confidence

My old mentor used to teach local kids about real estate on Saturday mornings, for free. He just did it because he wanted to. Seeing someone show you practical skills and actually believe you can do it changes everything. It gives these kids confidence. It’s made me keep an eye out for small chances to help out, too. You never know what little thing might actually make a difference for someone.

Ryan Dosenberry, CEO, Crushing REI

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Trade Training Enabled First Real Paycheck Milestone

Teaching a trade to folks who never had the chance is messy work. We put in extra hours on the basics. But when one of the guys bought his kid a bike with his first real paycheck, that’s when you get it. That’s the payoff. All that extra time upfront means nothing compared to that.

Brian Tetreault, Co-Founder, Kitching & Co. Dirtworx

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Custom Trophies Lifted Food Bank Staff Spirits

I remember a big client showed up at a local food bank during their worst week with custom trophies. It wasn’t a big deal, but it made everyone smile. It taught me that the right gesture, even a small one, can change everything. We stopped waiting for big moments and started looking for the small chances to just say, we see you.

Graham Bennett, COO, Bennett Awards

About Purpose-driven Insights

Welcome to Store with a Heart’s HeartBeat’s blog series, Purpose-Driven Insights, which unites experts and changemakers to discuss what it really means to make a difference. This series offers readers practical advice and novel viewpoints by showcasing insights from leaders in charity, sustainability, mental health, social entrepreneurship, and other fields through insightful round-ups and interviews.

Purpose-Driven Insights offers the insight and motivation required to transform your goals into significant action, whether your goal is to lead with compassion, improve your community, or support a cause that is dear to your heart. Come explore organizational strategies, individual experiences, expert insights, and industry practices that enable us all to make a positive impact on a more compassionate and interconnected society.

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