This past erev Shabbos, my son was driving my husband and me home from some errands, and as we passed near our house, we noticed a young frum guy walking in the direction of a local train station. He had about a ten minute walk if he was going where we thought he was going, and we stopped the car and asked if he needed a lift. He was SO grateful, as the train was just a couple of minutes away and he did not expect to make it in time. We did get him there in time to catch it, and meanwhile noticed someone we knew coming FROM the train , so we asked him if he needed a ride home (he didn’t, but I always believe that machshava k’maaseh). Then as we turned around to finally go home, we saw a third guy (also a stranger) and asked if he needed a lift. He wanted to walk because it was such a beautiful day.
We are of the “don’t miss an opportunity to do a mitzvah” school of thought (not boasting, just saying…), so we felt it was very special that Hashem gave us these opportunities.
There was a time when I did not yet drive, and many people were very kind and helpful to me when I needed a ride, or one of my children did. I made a neder with my husband’s haskama, that if and when I did learn to drive, I would always make it my business to try give a ride to a Yid obviously in need, if it were in my power to do so, even if it took us out of the way. (Don’t start making reservations for me to chauffeur you around, however; this only applies to frum people my husband, children, or I see in the street or while shopping, or to our friends and family).