This afternoon, something quietly beautiful happened—and it reminded me that there are still people out there doing good just because it’s the right thing to do.
It was hot—too hot to walk—so I hopped on the 64 bus home from Kendall Square. The driver, an older woman named Debbie, greeted me with a warm smile. She’s only been with the T for a couple of years, but there was something calm and kind about her that made the ride feel easier.
As I sat down, I noticed three gift bags tucked neatly behind her seat. Curious, I asked if they were for her. She laughed gently and said no—they weren’t for her at all.
They were for a homeless mom and her three little kids.
Debbie told me that the family has been staying at a hotel in Allston, and she sees them on her route sometimes. Over time, she learned about their situation. No big story, no dramatic encounter—just slow, quiet noticing. One day she decided she wanted to do something—so she started putting together little bags of gifts and treats for the kids.
Out of her own pocket. On her own time. Just… because.
The bags had been riding with her for a few days, waiting for the next time the family boarded the bus. She hadn’t seen them lately, but she kept bringing the gifts—just in case.
No one asked her to do this. She doesn’t want recognition or thanks. In fact, she made it clear she wasn’t doing it for attention. “I just want the kids to know someone’s thinking of them,” she said simply.
And that’s what stuck with me.
She didn’t make a big show. She didn’t expect anything in return. She just chose to be kind, consistently and quietly. Because sometimes that’s all it takes—a small act of love that reaches someone in their hardest moment.
So here’s to Debbie.
To the bus driver with the biggest heart.
To the woman who made space for someone else’s struggle in the middle of her ordinary day.
To the reminder that you never know how much good you’re doing, simply by caring.
The world could use a few more Debbies.
And if you’ve been needing a sign to do something kind—this is it.
