Ellen E

My sister Ellen is my hero. We came from a somewhat poor family with three boys and my sister. My father died when we were pretty young. After my father died, my sister took care of my mother and us. She had just gotten married and she would have my mother stay at her house most weekends because she knew she was lonely. When my mother died years later, she took care of her brothers. She always had family gatherings and helped me and my brothers in numerous ways. She taught us how to love and care, never through preaching but always by example. She personally saved my life when I was going through hard times with drugs and living an irresponsible lifestyle. No matter how many times my brothers and I went to her, she was there for us, and believe me, we went a lot.

She has taught third grade for 30 years now and she always treated and spoke of her students as if they were her own children. Many of the children she taught come back to see her regularly because she made such a difference in their lives. The number of people and the lives she has touched can't be measured. She has never looked for rewards and accolades. She understands that life is about caring and loving and she is truly a ray of sunshine in this world.

Submitted by Anonymous


Caring
Pass It On®
Pass It On®

  email

Your Comments
Rubirosa Roxas from navotas, Philippines MAY 19, 2012
Very nice story!

Michele S. from Jackson, MS MAY 2, 2009
A kind, gallant man but honestly I do have to say that I see this type of act on an almost daily basis. You see, I live in Mississippi where we still say grace, there's a laid back pace and we LOVE to help our fellow man out whether he's from Mississippi or Minnesota. Come on down y'all :)

Margret G. from Salt Lake City, Utah USA FEBRUARY 6, 2008
I just want to thank you ever so much for writing this amazing story, it has brightened my day so much, and it is truly inspirational! It really makes you appreciate all the small acts of kindness in your every day life. I feel so cheerful. I recommended your story to all my colleges at work who were also very appreciative. Thank you so much!

D. Winslow from Virginia, USA AUGUST 31, 2007
I would love to see the day when this type of behavior is common and not at all unusual. That would mean that my children truly do live in a better place and hope has been restored. Thank you for the reminder that we can make a difference - one instance at a time.

Sakina H. from Pakistan AUGUST 31, 2007
A nice example of helping others.

Gujal U. from India AUGUST 30, 2007
I am touched!

Cyrus N. O. from Barcelona, Spain AUGUST 4, 2007
I stongly agree with the comment of 12 july, Pay It Forward!

Alex from Phoenix JULY 12, 2007
Pay it forward. A small kindness may change a moment or a life, and it may be yours!

Rafael A JUNE 14, 2007
This is a good story because the man did not insist on her getting in the car with him. He took her feelings into consideration and handed her an umbrella. It was very courteous.

Gillian from Kenya JUNE 5, 2007
this story has reminded me that these small things in life make a big difference

Juanita B. from Australia MAY 27, 2007
How beautiful! I love the hearts in some people, it goes beyond words to describe the joy and love I feel when I read such simple acts of humanity! And it reminds me too to reach out and offer all I can do too..

kati b from mesa az APRIL 30, 2007
I really like this story. It is a very good example of class and grace. It's nice to know that there are some people out there who are still that thoughtful and who still go out of their way to do something nice for someone.

Solange Z from Rwanda APRIL 26, 2007
The same thing happened to me one day a long time ago. It was also raining and my 2 years old daughter and I were on the street car coming from her school. It was mardi gras in NO and traffic was blocked for parades. They told us to get off because the train was going to return in the other direction. I had only 10$ and we were too far to walk home with that rain pouring. I stopped a taxi anyway thinking that if it's not enough, I will pay once I get home. It was a Somalian or Ethiopian male driver and he was very very nice. He drove us home and when I was about to ask him to wait there, he smiled at us and said that is not necessary!!! I am from Rwanda, I had been there nearly a year and that was the first time I saw humanity, genuine kindness around me!! I went in my apartment and cried. My heart was filled with gratitude, not just for that man but for everybody around me in that foreign place. He made me realize that kindness, humanity and hospitality is also possible even in that hectic world I was living.

JS from Iowa APRIL 15, 2007
It makes me feel good to read about the good, it seems we are always hearing the bad. It made me smile, thanks.

Anonymous MARCH 20, 2007
This story makes me think that doing even the smallest thing can have a big impact on someones life. I also like the fact that the umbrella guy just drove off instead of waiting for his thank-you's.

Anonymous FEBRUARY 15, 2007
What a wonderful story, and a wonderful gesture. This story, of someone doing something nice, for no recognition is a really great example to all of us. He saw that you needed help, and itstead of just driving by and thinking to himself, 'oh, that poor person is getting soaked,' he went out of his way, stopped, gave you his own umbrella, and left. This story will remind me to hold the door open for someone, help someone with an armful of groceries, help someone shovel their sidewalk, and many other little things we can so easily do to help someone. It's just a matter of doing it and we can all lend a hand more often than we do. Thanks for this story.


Here are some other inspiring stories you might like.
HELPING OTHERS
SAWYER A. After learning about children and families in the poverty-stricken villages of Zambia; a country in south-central Africa, Sawyer Anderson wanted to help bring clean, safe water to the villagers. At age 9, Sawyer wrote and illustrated the book, Water Works, which is published in America, Vietnam (in Vietnamese)...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS
Read Story
COMPASSION
CHARLIE SCHULZ My son, Charlie, was an inspiration to many during his 19 years on this earth. When Charlie was in 5th grade, despite what we learned later was severe social anxiety, their strong sense of what was right led them to circulate petitions among their 5th grade schoolmates and write and present a statement (through...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS
Read Story
PEACE
DANA W Grieving (Fly High Dana Wilson Jr.) On March 7, 2022 my only little brother passed away at home in his bed. This has been one of the hardest things to deal with. I dont think a day goes by that i dont find myself breaking down crying. I think my eyes are puffy did alot of crying yesterday..omg this is really...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS
Read Story
COURAGE
WINSTON CHURCHILL Winston Churchill was a transformational leader who exemplifies courage and an absolute refusal to give up in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. Churchill had the ability to understand the needs of others, listen to those around him, and admit his mistakes while never wavering from his ultimate goal. ...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS
Read Story
BRAVERY
HARRIET TUBMAN Harriet Tubman freed 300 slaves she was so brave that is why she is my hero
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS
Read Story
CHARACTER
MARJORIE W Marjorie W. grew up in a logging town in the mountains where she was expected to marry and spend the rest of her life taking care of her parents. After World War II, she was able to go to college and change her life's path. Despite leaving her little town, she never lost her core values. She was an honest,...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS
Read Story
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
LORI R. In 2012 Lori, along with her then high school age daughter Shira, began to keep their vehicle filled with pet supplies to hand out to the pets living on the streets of Riverside, CA with their homeless companions. They would give out pet food, leashes, collars and water so the pets would be fed well and kept...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS
Read Story
FAMILY
PAT C Next to his faith in God, the most important thing in my Dad’s life was his family; my Mom who was the love of his life, his kids, grandkids, great grandkids, brothers, and sisters. One of the ways he made life better for all of us and left his fingerprint on our lives was through the use of what I like to call...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS
Read Story
WISDOM
JAHSEH O There are many heros I look up to, but Jahseh Onfroy helped me through the darkest times in my life. His music did not only help me but it helped countless people. When he spoke to us, it was always about growing and becoming better than what we are. I have learned many valuable lessons from him, and I constantly...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS
Read Story
CARING
TISH R My former wife is an amazing individual. She works as a behavior analyst, and has been helping injured others achieve a much greater quality of life. In one of my proudest specific memories, she facilitated a transition for a man who was in an ALF, brain-injured, from wearing diapers in a wheelchair to...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS
Read Story
A BETTER LIFE
MARC W My father immigrated to the US in the 1950s with his parents when he was a small boy. Holland was still recovering from the Second World War, and opportunities seemed limited. Adding to the economic challenges, my father was the product of a relationship that was scandalous for the time: my grandfather came from...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS
Read Story
VISION
FRANCES P Frances Perkins (born Fannie Coralie Perkins; April 10, 1880 – May 14, 1965) was an American workers-rights advocate who served as the fourth United States Secretary of Labor from 1933 to 1945, the longest serving in that position. A member of the Democratic Party, Perkins was the first woman ever to serve in a...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS
Read Story
MENTORING
MISTY WELLS 5 Years ago Misty saw a need in children in Foster Care and she took action. For the past 5 years going strong Misty started a non profit called " A Reel Future" where she takes children in Group Foster Care fishing. She has single handed taken over 3,000 foster children fishing. She is showing them...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS
Read Story
KINDNESS
WENDY T Wendy was my wife of 4 years. We dated in high school, over 30 years ago. Eight years ago, we reconnected, and fell in love all over again. I quickly became attuned to why she was so special: Her kindness. I had never met anyone before, who showed as much kindness to everybody, as Wendy had. It wasn't one...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS
Read Story
COMMUNITY
MATTHEW M Matt was a shining example of what it meant to be a good person. He devoted countless hours to volunteering in the arts and helping his community and even more to the people he loved. He was brilliant, kind, funny, comforting, generous, ambitious, loving, witty, and so many other wonderful words that I could not...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS
Read Story
BEING THERE
BK SAINI SAINI My husband helped me since he knew me since 1975. He is there for me every single day. He is so kind all the time. He took care of me during any need except not when he is at the job. He comes at home if any emergency arrives. For God’s grace he was never called till today. I still remember when our second baby...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS
Read Story
Where did your values come from?

We've all had people in our lives who have made a positive impact on us. A parent or grandparent, a sibling who was there for us, or maybe even just a guy who shines shoes for a living? Whoever they are, tell us their story so they can inspire us even more.

Tell Us Your Story All Everyday Hero Stories

We use cookies or similar technologies to process data when you visit our site. This data may relate to your use of our site, your preferences, your device, or other information about you. We and third parties may use this information for a variety of purposes, such as enabling the sites to function, to personalize your experience when using our sites, and for analytical purposes. Read our privacy policy and terms of use for details. close

Reject All Accept All