A Circle of Kindness: How One Act of Compassion Led to a Gift to Lifeline

Just last week, I received a phone call from a 95-year-old Holocaust survivor who told me that she wanted to make a donation in honour of a woman who had helped her when she had lost her car.

The woman’s name was Madame Girard, and the story is that this very special lady was also a survivor. We’ll call her Sarah* for now.

Sarah called me and said she wanted to make a donation in honour of Madame Girard. She told me this story:

Sara had been out with her son, having dinner at a restaurant. When they came out, they couldn’t find their car. Her son went looking for it while Sarah waited outside.

While she was waiting, Madame Girard approached her and asked if she was a survivor. When Sarah said yes, Madame Girard replied, “Let me help you. I’ll do whatever you need.”

She took Sarah around in her car, and they waited together for the police to arrive.

At the end of the evening, Sarah was so grateful to Madame Girard that she said, “I want to give you something.”

Madame Girard said, “Absolutely not. Give it to your favourite charity.”

Sarah replied, “No, I want to give it to your favourite charity.”

Madame Girard said, “Okay. Then give it to Chabad Lifeline.”

Wow. What a phone call. What an incredible example of how the work we’re doing here at Lifeline is touching so many people in such special ways throughout the greater Montreal community.

*Name changed to protect privacy.