Thank you to Sala Family Dentistry for the donation of an “Extreme Teeth Whitening package” to A Note-Ables Evening of Romance: The Rat Pack, February 4th, 2012 at the Atlantis! You are amazing!

- Sheena
The Note-Ables

The other day at a gas station a man approached me and asked for some change for the bus. I asked how much he needed and he said a couple quarters. He then said he hadn’t eaten all day. So I gave him some money for the bus and then bought him dinner. It felt good to help him out and he was very grateful.

- Mary

One year ago a lady I didn’t know helped my family in a time of need and that motivated me and my family to start our foundation and for the last year we have been collecting donations and helping families in need with clothing, furniture, and household items. We even teamed up with our Church this Christmas and did an Angel tree to help families in our community. Thanks and God Bless.

- Marlene

There was this couple that lived in the Sherman Lane area of Carson City. They lost their daughter on Christmas. It was very hard for them to celebrate christmas without her after that. They dicided, instead of not doing anything, they would put christmas lights on there house so she could see them from the heavens. Each year they would add another string of lights. After the years went by there house turned into the place to go during the holidays, he would dress up as santa and hand out candy canes to the kids. I used to take my family there every year. My daughter loved it!

One day I was reading the news paper and read that this man developed a bad illness and wasn’t going to be able to do it anymore. Every year I took pictures, when I went to pick them up at the developers, they accidently gave me a panaramic photo of there house with all the lights on it and him as santa giving candy canes to the kids. I took that photo to get it framed and wrote on it Thank You So much for all the happy memories you gave all of us. Love everyone in Carson City.

I went to there house. I knocked on the door, the wife answered it. I asked for her husband. I told them, You don’t know me but thank you for everything, and handed him the gift. He opened it, then they both cried (I cried too). They told me they never got a picture of there house after all those years.

He passed away a few years later.

-Kelly

A few years ago while living with some friends who had a husky dog named Ali. Every Sunday I would take the dog to the Marina for a walk. On our way I would always stop at the local Starbucks. At the end of the driveway there was always a man who would sell the RGJ. Several times he would wave me down to say hi to the dog. With the rear glass op on my SUV the dog would often get a bunch of attention. I often thought that the man had a tough job standing out in the cold so early in the morning. This day we were there I told the girl at the window to please give the paper guy whatever kinda coffee he wanted when he comes in. I gave her six bucks and said throw the change in the tip jar. I then pulled forward to where the guy was and told him to go get a coffee. He handed me a paper I gave him five bucks and told him to keep the paper and save the trees. He thanked me very much and went to the back of the truck to say hi to Ali again. I just felt like it was the right thing to do, he had always been very nice to the the dog.

- Kristopher

There’s a gentleman unlike many others in my community of south Reno. His crooked, leaning-forward walk, his gray, unshaven stubble, and wrinkled polyester pants lead me to believe that he may be both on a fixed income and retired. Here is where the man I’ve never formally met but whom I consider a blessing differs from your average Joe. You see, this gentleman dons a scarlet musketeer hat which is at least a foot tall in its entire splendor to include a bright, white feather. Never have I encountered him whereupon his hat is far from his equally splendid blue velvet, gold-buckled and roped musketeer ¾ length coat, even in the middle of summer.

One day I was at a local salon taking my son to have his hair cut when this gentleman walked in with a friend. While sitting in the lobby I overheard their conversation which just tugged at my heart strings. The man had picked up his similarly, if not more so, aged friend and brought him in for an obviously overdue haircut. The friend, upon learning of his companions’ generosity to pay for the cut, was visibly moved. They bantered back and forth until finally the friend accepted the gift. It was approximately this time when my son’s haircut concluded. I secretly paid for all three to include tips.

Now, it would seem this is where the story should end but it is not. I encounter this gentleman at least monthly and in fact ran into him again just yesterday in the bread aisle of the local grocery store. He engaged me, as I suspect he would any passerby, with circa 1950’s Red Skelton jokes, one- or two-line zingers that cause one to giggle. I may have paid for the haircuts of two strangers last summer but without knowing he pays me back whenever I see him, even from afar. On every occasion I see this gentleman he makes my heart smile because inherently he is doing what I believe so many of us wish to do: without consideration of others he makes himself happy; he wears his hat and coat, everywhere.

It seems fitting that his smile should shine brightly; therefore, if I were the recipient of the $250 dental care, I would again pass it on to this gentleman as I’m sure finding him would not be very difficult and I am equally certain that mine is not the only heart that smiles by his mere presence. Thank you for your consideration of my pay it forward challenge story.

-Melissa

Saw a homeless veteran at the intersection of N.McCarran in front of Winco. Only had a bottle of water on me, so I gave that to him. My 9 year old son and I went home and my husband and son decided we should put together a care package and take that back to to the man. We live 20 minutes north and were afraid he might not be there when we got back. Fortunately he was there, and we were able to give him a grocery bag full of food and water to keep him fed and hydrated for a few days.

Now we keep a stock of water and granola bars in our car to give to anyone we may see in need. It has come in handy twice in the last two weeks. We encourage everyone to carry some small items (food, drink, toiletries or anything else that may help a person in need) in their vehicle so they can hand them out as they are needed. This is your opportunity to really help someone who may not otherwise be helped at all.

- Krista

The day after my visit to Dentistry with a Heart, I went to the occupy Reno incampment and gave them some sleeping bags. They are paying it forward for all of us everyday!

- Ron

Donated over $1200 worth of dental supplies to Sala Family Dentistry for their Dentistry from the Heart event. I am extremely proud and honored to be part of such a wonderful event.

- Tony

Our next door neighbor, who happens to be a mother of four children, recently suffered a very unexpected stroke. Throughout the past few weeks, while she has been in a rehabilitation facility, my husband and I have been preparing/purchasing dinners for her husband and kids. When we take the dinners next door, we bring our three children with us to illustrate just how important it is to give to one another. It is so cute to watch three toddlers ring the door bell and anxiously await its opening so that they are able to hand over food! We have thoroughly enjoyed helping out our next door neighbors and are excited for their mother’s homecoming!

- Lynsey