Meet MICHAEL

I met Michael near a gas station off Interstate 64 in Virginia, and I handed him a few Kindness Cards for meals as we sat in the shade near his bike.

Then I asked, “What else do you need?”

I expected him to say more food. Maybe socks. Maybe toiletries.

Instead, he looked at me and asked, “Do you have a card where I could get a cheap bike helmet?”

I told him I didn’t have anything like that, but I thought there was a DICK'S Sporting Goods nearby.

“Would that help?”

“Oh no,” he said. “That would be too expensive.”

I smiled and explained that the Kindness Card Movement isn’t just about meals anymore. Because of generous donors, we can sometimes meet other needs too.

“Let’s just go take a look.”

He climbed onto his bike, and a few minutes later we met in the parking lot. As he locked it up, he smiled sheepishly.

“No offense,” he said, “but I wasn’t sure you’d actually show up.”

Inside, a wonderful employee helped him look at helmets. But each one he picked up was met with the same response.

“Too much.”

“Put that back.”

“No, no, no. You’re not spending that much on me.”

I explained that I wasn’t the one helping him.

People all across the country, most of whom I’ll never meet, had already decided his safety mattered. They had simply trusted me to show up.

Even then, he resisted. I finally convinced him that protecting his head wasn’t the place to settle for the cheapest option.

As we headed toward the register, I noticed him looking at a rack of sunglasses.

“What about a pair of sunglasses?” I asked.

He laughed.

“Oh no. Those cost too much.”

I told him that seeing clearly on a bicycle was part of staying safe, too.

He finally agreed, and chose the first pair he tried on.

Michael rode away, and I’m not embarrassed to say the gratitude I felt brought tears to my eyes.

I hope his helmet protects him for years to come.

But more than that, I hope he never forgets what happened that afternoon.

That complete strangers decided his life was worth protecting.

Because as I watched him disappear down the road, I couldn’t stop hearing the words he’d spoken in the parking lot.

“No offense, but I wasn’t sure you’d actually show up.”

Thanks to all of you, we did.