Letters: Empathy alive and well in Midlands

My car died last month while I was stopped at a busy intersection in Irmo. There I was: an old man, alone, without a cell phone and completely reliant on the compassion of strangers.

Almost immediately, the good people of the Midlands came to my aid. Fellow motorists pushed my car into the safety of a nearby parking lot. Then, three individuals volunteered to make repairs. Two diagnosed the problem, and the other drove home (more than 10 miles) to get the right tools. The repair process took nearly two hours, and when I attempted to pay my good Samaritans, they politely refused.

These kind people didn’t care about my race, religion or politics. They saw an old man in need and anonymously offered their time and assistance. I am writing to thank my helpers in the only way I know how — and to remind people that we have tremendous neighbors here in the Midlands.

This story was originally published April 9, 2017 at 6:04 PM with the headline "Letters: Empathy alive and well in Midlands."