Laura Kwerel

When Stacia was 21, she was struggling with severe depression. A stranger's simple question gave her safety during a time she needed it the most. Now, it's an example she's tried to follow ever since.

When she was in the sixth grade, Tanya Eby's world was unraveling. One day, overcome with grief, she cried in class — and her teacher, Mrs. Welch, wrapped Eby in a hug.

When Juli Cobb's car ran out of gas in the middle of the road, three men from a nearby homeless encampment rushed over to push her car to safety.

Life was turbulent for Patrick Furlong after his parents divorced when he was in 8th grade. His father left, so he needed to navigate daily routines without a paternal influence in his life.

In 1974, Surinder Gupta needed help and dialed a stranger in the phone book with a familiar Indian name. The man who answered went on to play a surprising role in his life.

In 2017, Eileen Freiberg-Dale's husband, Barney, had a serious bicycle accident that caused a brain injury. Those first few months were among the hardest of her life. A friend offered support.

Alek Hermon didn't think much of his father's overnight nurse until his father died.

As a college freshman, Karen de Boer was sometimes inconsiderate to her hallmate, Pam. So when Karen missed the bus to her choir performance, she was surprised — and moved — when Pam came to her rescue.

The last place Brad Larsen saw his mom before she died was at a diner in New York. A few years later, he went back. The bartender asked if he remembered their table, and invited him to sit there.

In 2016, Tulika Prasad was at the grocery store checkout line with her seven-year-old son, who is non-verbal and autistic. A woman understood what was going on when Prasad's son had an outburst.