The boy’s eyes blinked open and slowly focused on the rat. When recognition finally registered, the startled boy sat up, pushed away the bags of garbage and stood up, trembling on shaky legs.  Tripping through the garbage, head and heart pounding out painful reminders of life, the boy put as much distance between him and the rat as he could manage.

People don’t understand the impact that a simple act of kindness can have on someone’s life. We have become a nation afraid to see another in need and respond. In addition, young people...