The Donut Man

My husband John and I traveled to the delightful little town of Peotone, Ill., last Saturday. We met my brother-in-law Ron and his wife Shelly to close out my father-in-law’s bank account and finalize all his affairs.

Bopah, as many of us called him, passed away last year in April. Some readers may recall that I wrote a couple of columns about him.

As we stood in the bank and shared memories about Bopah, a couple of the other tellers’ eyes lit up.

“Oh yeah, The Donut Man!” they exclaimed.

You see, for years, Bopah picked up donuts from his beloved local bakery and shared them whenever he ran errands. Sometimes when we visited him, we would join him on these adventures. It was always fun to see everyone’s smiles and how much this gesture meant to Bopah’s community.

We laughed afterwards, thinking that we should have picked up some donuts ourselves and brought them to the bank one last time Saturday in honor of him.

Bringing donuts to someone may seem like a small thing. But think about how much that may have lifted the spirits of a gas station employee who has to work on Christmas … a cashier at Walmart who’s been on their feet for eight hours … or a bank teller who’s had a series of cranky customers. I’m sure this gesture often made someone’s day.

This got me thinking. What if we all started to be like The Donut Man? In what ways can we do small things to brighten someone’s day?

Maybe bringing donuts isn’t your style – I know it’s not mine. I realized that I’ve been doing two things over the last few years. One, I’m always on the lookout for people who need a door opened for them. I know how much this helped my mother and me when we were out and about when she was in a wheelchair or using a walker.

Two, I’ve been leaving little cards for servers in restaurants or those in other customer service roles. I bought them at an Indianapolis bookstore, and they have sayings like, “It’s incredible how you’re not afraid to be yourself” and “You’re more helpful than you realize.”

Sadly, I can’t find the company that makes these anymore, and I’m getting low. However, I’m a writer! Once I’m out of them, I’ll start to make my own cards.

Another gesture I’m working on is leaving samples of my own blends of loose-leaf tea. It’s a new hobby of mine.

Bopah left a legacy of kindness through his donuts and so many other gestures, like helping strangers change a tire (something my husband now does.) The Donut Man has truly inspired me to do more good in the world, no matter how small.

I want to challenge you today, in this world that can sometimes seem so difficult, to find your own way to be The Donut Man. You’ll find that you often get even more than you give by doing the little things.

Amy Shankland is a writer and fundraising professional living in Noblesville with her husband John, two sons, two dogs, and a cat. You can reach her via email at amys@greenavenue.info.