KarunaNews Story

In a heartwarming act of kindness, Metro Transit bus driver Jayne Arendt-Verhelst from St. Paul, Minnesota, U.S., gave away her own shoes to an unhoused woman during her route one Friday last summer. Known as the "happy driver" by her frequent passengers, Jayne often brightens her riders' mornings with her cheerful greetings and nicknames. But it was her unexpected gesture on West 7th Street that catapulted her to viral fame. "She actually looked like she walked off a disaster movie," Jayne described, just before slipping off her Sketchers for the woman in need. Fellow passenger Sarah Seldon, who recently experienced homelessness herself, captured the moment on Reddit, stating, "I hope that... just her being seen in that moment... gave her a little bit of hope." Jayne, now adored for bending the rules "for all the right reasons," completed her shift in socks, embodying the spirit of true generosity.