Do you ever pick up random people at the grocery store and drive them home?

[pittsburgh24]

So, I'm leaving the grocery store @ 11:45 pm tonight and was stopped by a woman in one of those motorized carts with a huge amount of grocery bags and she asks me if I could give her and her husband a ride home (he was out front in another motorized cart with more groceries looking for the cab they had called).

Now, I'm thinking how am I going to get them, their groceries and my cheese into my chevy cavalier (which didn't have a lick of trunk space since I still haven't emptied the trunk) and drive them to their home which was 20 minutes past my house.

I see the husband talking to an off duty cop who was behind me in line and I hear the cop tell the husband that his car wasn't big enough (he had a smaller PT cruiser type car) to drive them home. I tell the cop I'll take them home (I figured if they asked a cop in uniform for a ride, they weren't going to rob me or something worse). I realized after he left that the cop thought the motorized carts were wheelchairs or their own carts and that they would have to go in the car too - no wonder he looked at me like I was crazy when he asked me what kind of car I had .

We squeezed (and I mean squeezed) them into the car with all the groceries (mindful the whole time of their eggs and bread lol) and I drove them home. They lived up this huge hill down a couple windy roads and I commented that I was surprised that their neighbors didn't help them out by taking them to the grocery store). They said that their neighbors weren't the friendly type and they didn't have family in the area. He had just had heart surgery and she can't walk long distances because of a bad knee. I helped put their groceries in the house.

I felt so bad for them because there's really no way for them to get anywhere without calling a cab so, I gave them my phone number. They generally go grocery shopping once a month and I will be their new driver.

I picked up a little old lady in a sun bonnet a couple years ago and I still help her and her husband out (fortunately, they live on the same road as me). My 16 yr old son also helps them now too (takes their trash cans out and puts them back after their emptied, programs their phones, cuts their grass, etc).

Does anyone else ever pick anyone up at the grocery store? I tend to make it a habit, without really trying. I've even been known to pull up to bus stops if someone is standing there with a lot of grocery bags.

The only time I ever got even slightly nervous was when a guy with scoliosis (didn't know he had it, just noticed him limping and trying to carry groceries thru the parking lot) that I picked up one snowy, cold night told me he carried a knife for protection (he even showed it to me).

[derketchup]

I don't pick up anyone. And I mean anyone. I often want to, but I'm too skeered for that.

[OneHotMomma]

Absolutely not. Under no circumstances. I mean I may call someone official to come help someone but no way am I letting a stranger in my car. You never know who you're picking up. They could be a serial murderer or something. Think about it. Serial murders are people you'd never assume to be, or they wouldn't be able to go so long without being caught.

[peppiegal14116]

I think what you did is really wonderful, just make sure you are careful, ok? Like maybe get their address and stuff before you give them a ride, then call someone and tell them where you are going, like a friend or family member. I myself have never given someone a ride, but I try to help other people whenever I can.

[kval07]

I've never done it, but I've often considered it. I feel terrible when it is pouring rain or in the single digits and snowy and I see people walking with little kids or babies. I'm compelled to do it because I am a big weenie and hate the cold in even small amounts, so I can't imagine having to walk everywhere.

[couponmommyof3]

Before kids, in my late teens and early 20's I very often picked people up, but only women and children. I once drove a young lady home, when my daughter was about 6 months old. This girl was outside my apt building just crying about how she spent the night with the guys just playing around (they were 'girl-friends' if you catch my drift) and for whatever reason they ditched her there. So, I drove her home, all the way across town! But I realized not to judge a book by it's cover and I could have endangered my child. So, after that I haven't let anyone in my car. Even though I have really wanted to, I have to think about my kids first. Once my kids get older I will def get back to that. I think we all need to help each other out now and then. My husband doesn't get it. He always says, (he can be vulgar) the "three f's", did they feed you, finance you or fu** you? He drives me crazy! He's one of those I only care about me and my family, and I'm one of those I can feed the world! LOL Anyway, I applaud you in helping others!!

[werblam]

I think what you did is really wonderful, just make sure you are careful, ok? Like maybe get their address and stuff before you give them a ride, then call someone and tell them where you are going, like a friend or family member. I myself have never given someone a ride, but I try to help other people whenever I can.

I agree. You are a true angel. However, you really need to be careful. Why don't you look into services for them - in my state we have something called "the Ride" in which in takes handicapped or seniors to whereever they need to go for a small fee ($4 each way). In these times, you just never know. Perhaps a church can help them. There are services out there, maybe they just need some help finding them. I am sure they are nice people, but your safety comes first!!

[pittsburgh24]

I get what you're saying about the risks, I just feel so bad that people are lugging their groceries home without a car.

I'm in my early 50's and have done this for years. I even did it when I lived near Philadelphia. Most of the time I volunteer and am not asked. I remember one incident when I was in the Philly area at a dollar store. A woman was there with her 3 kids under 10 and they wanted her to buy canned soda/drinks that were a really, really good deal. I overheard her telling the kids that the drinks would be too heavy to carry to their house and that they'd have to wait until she could find someone to drive them there. I offered to drive them home so she could take advantage of the sale - she loaded up on the drinks and some other things and I drove them all home.

I understand that it could be dangerous but, I just can't help myself I guess. I've been without a car at different times in my life and know how hard it is to grocery shop and then walk carrying a lot of bags or on the bus.

I've always offered to take neighbors to the grocery store if they were elderly, disabled or I knew they didn't have a car. I don't have any actual neighbors where i live now (except for the police station next door lol) so I can't really do that anymore.

My son's friends also know that they can show up at my door to get a ride home - even if they haven't been hanging around with my son for a while. I've even had kids call me to see if I could drive them to and from a dance because they're parents weren't going to be home and they wouldn't be allowed to go (I do talk to the parents to make sure it's ok with them)

[CW&M Mom]

I get what you're saying about the risks, I just feel so bad that people are lugging their groceries home without a car.

I'm in my early 50's and have done this for years. I even did it when I lived near Philadelphia. Most of the time I volunteer and am not asked. I remember one incident when I was in the Philly area at a dollar store. A woman was there with her 3 kids under 10 and they wanted her to buy canned soda/drinks that were a really, really good deal. I overheard her telling the kids that the drinks would be too heavy to carry to their house and that they'd have to wait until she could find someone to drive them there. I offered to drive them home so she could take advantage of the sale - she loaded up on the drinks and some other things and I drove them all home.

I understand that it could be dangerous but, I just can't help myself I guess. I've been without a car at different times in my life and know how hard it is to grocery shop and then walk carrying a lot of bags or on the bus.

I've always offered to take neighbors to the grocery store if they were elderly, disabled or I knew they didn't have a car. I don't have any actual neighbors where i live now (except for the police station next door lol) so I can't really do that anymore.

My son's friends also know that they can show up at my door to get a ride home - even if they haven't been hanging around with my son for a while. I've even had kids call me to see if I could drive them to and from a dance because they're parents weren't going to be home and they wouldn't be allowed to go (I do talk to the parents to make sure it's ok with them)

I did somewhat similar when I was an apartment manager...but I knew where they all lived cause it was int my complex... probably not going to rob your landlord.....

but yup...I even went to a food pantry type place for multiple people (they had a check list from the place and checked off what they needed) and picked it up for them.

I haven't really been able to do anything like that since my son got sick...but I guess...things just got complicated for us.

[motherofmolly]

be very careful and i would stear away from guys alone and stick to the very old. if you are going to do it you need to be safe. even a quick text to someone you know telling them where you are going (an address) just so if no one sees you they can come looking. and put your purse either in the drivers side door...or stuff it under your feet. i cant tell you how many police reports our city has had with people giving someone a ride and then their wallet coming up missing or phone.

and make sure you take them home. now to a friends house, or you mind if we run around the corner to do this and that. ask for an address up front and tell them you will take them there. no where else but there. hate for you being nice and them decide to have you run them by the drug house real quick to score some crack and then you get stopped by the cops or end up in a horrible neighborhood. seen these types of reports too.

now that said, i met a very nice old lady thru work and became her helper. i shopped for her (sometimes out of my pocket as her landlord had taken alot of her money by scamming her-put a stop to that quickly) for groceries. got her a bird for companionship and cleaned her wood floors for her. then ultimately put her in a nursing home and made sure she got a proper burial where she wanted to go with the money she had saved for it. some older people do not have anyone else...sometimes i think it is because of the way they were and others just because they have no family or kids. it is very nice that you are doing this...but just make sure you are careful and listen to the little voice in your head if it tells you not to do it.