Yahoo! UK & Ireland Answers blog

“If you were given $1,000 to change the life of a perfect stranger, what would you do?”

The US television show host Oprah Winfrey is asking Answerers to share how they would help out a perfect stranger if given the opportunity. This question comes from a recent show of hers where members of the audience were given $1,000, a video camera, and one week to complete this task. The act had to be selfless, which for many people is the first of many hurdles in this process.

While Oprah’s scenario is intriguing, I feel that we are presented with ways to help benefit people we don’t know without personal gain every day – it’s just up to us to seize the opportunity. From helping people across the road, giving up a seat on public transport to those in need of it, or even push-starting a strangers car when they have engine troubles there are many simple ways to help people out without sacrificing our own time or money.

With Christmas coming, charity and goodwill are the themes of the season, but many people have distrust towards helping complete strangers. Indeed, if helping someone else out on the street it is imperative to ensure your own safety first. But where possible remember the theme of the season and take a moment out from your busy life to help someone out – it doesn’t always require money to help someone.

Have you ever helped anyone else in need, without any benefit or reward? Share your experiences with us. We will put together some of your better answers and review your responses over the next few weeks.

–Yahoo! UK & Ireland Answers team