The INSIDER Summary:
- At least 22 people were killed and 59 injured in a bombing at Manchester Arena on May 22 following an Ariana Grande concert.
- Civilians offered food and shelter to those affected by the attack.
- Taxi drivers drove people to safety and to hospitals, and others lined up to donate blood.
Fred Rogers, host of the children's television program "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," once recalled his mother's advice about grappling with tragic events in the news.
"She would say, 'Always look for the helpers,'" he said. "'There will always be helpers.'"
When a bomb exploded at Manchester Arena following an Ariana Grande concert, killing at least 22 people and injuring dozens more, people rushed to the aid of those affected by the attack.
Here are some of those helpers who performed acts of kindness in the face of tragedy.
Taxi drivers offered rides to safety — and to local hospitals — free of charge.
The acts of humanity. Taxi drivers taking the injured to hospital & visitors to safety in the city after terrorist attack #ManchesterArenapic.twitter.com/5M5IMqILuB
— Elaine Willcox (@ElaineWITV) May 23, 2017People lined up to donate blood.
Mancunians answer call to donate blood after Arena bomb attack. One in the queue tells me they're all "throwing their arms around the city"pic.twitter.com/l6ff84ubz8
— Rob Smith (@robsmithitv) May 23, 2017So many people showed up that by 11am, Give Blood NHS said that donations were no longer needed.
The hashtag #RoomForManchester began trending as locals opened up their homes to concert goers who were stranded in the city.
If anyone is stranded in Manchester and needs somewhere to stay, please DM me. #roomformanchester
— Connor O'Boyle (@ConnorOboyle97) May 22, 2017
If you need a bed, a cup of tea, a charged phone etc. - I'm 15 mins from Manchester Arena. DM me, they're open! #RoomForManchester
— Rachel Ellis (@rachelkellis) May 22, 2017
I live 5 mins from the Manchester Arena. I have sofa bed, food/drink and phone chargers if anyone needs any help #roomformanchester
— Nick Q (@QHNick) May 23, 2017Paula Robinson is being hailed as the "angel of Manchester" after she led 50 kids to safety at a nearby Holiday Inn in the chaotic aftermath of the attack.
@ArianaGrande If your child went missing in Manchester blast, contact Paula Robinson: https://t.co/DNNMJgzBXp#ArianaGrande#Manchester#ManchesterArenapic.twitter.com/UqE5XvarWA
— Abdul Wasey Naik (@WaseyNaik) May 22, 2017Robinson said that she “ran out” of the area seconds after the blast and “got the teens to run with me,” according to The Independent.
Hotels continued to offer shelter to those affected.
Huge thanks to Ainscow hotel in Manchester for looking after my sister / 10 year old niece and her best friend. 🙌🏻 #Manchesterpic.twitter.com/8Ul9XQQNLF
— Andy Leeman⚽️ (@AndyLeeman91) May 23, 2017As did Sikh temples.
Sikh Temples in Manchester, UK offering food & accommodation. They are open for ALL people. #PrayForManchester#ManchesterArena#Englandpic.twitter.com/l52J9B5JjN
— Harjinder S Kukreja (@SinghLions) May 23, 2017The Soupreme Sandwich Co, located around the corner from an ambulance station, offered free meals to emergency workers.
Rabbi Shneur Cohen, a Chabad Lubavitch rabbi and emissary in Manchester, brought coffee and pastries to police officers on the scene.
"We are Manchester," he told a camera crew in a video posted to YouTube. "We will stand together strong, shoulder to shoulder, with positive acts of kindness."
Billa Ahmed, a graphic designer and owner of Islamic Posters, gathered donations of sandwiches and drinks and delivered them to the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital.
"This is a time that we all need to come together as a community," he said in a Facebook Live video. "This should make us stronger."
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