From the 5-year-old girl who calls 911 when mom falls unconscious, to the firefighter who rescues a woman from billowing smoke in a burning house, we hear a lot about heroes these days.

But what about those people who do good deeds and never get noticed? To the folks they help, these average guys are heroes, too. Let me dub them “Just Joes.”

You’ve heard or read about them. You may have been the recipient of one of those lifesaving deeds by a Just Joe.

Just Jody lives next door or down the street. You know her. She grabs your rambunctious toddler’s hand the one time you look away, preventing the child from wandering to the edge of a dangerous sidewalk. That’s a female Just Joe.

Just Joe doesn’t give his name when he comes to the aid of a stranded motorist on the interstate. The person has no cell phone to call AAA and is unable to walk 2 miles to the next exit to report a disabled car. Just Joe makes sure the driver safely pulls off when the tire is fixed, then waves good-bye. You can see him in the rear-view mirror. Joe’s a hero.

Just Jody sees a man choking in a restaurant and rushes over to apply the Heimlech Maneuver. The piece of food pops out and the man stands to shake her hand once he is settled again. Jody’s a lifesaver.

Just Joe has a chain saw that comes in handy after a dangerously hanging tree limb almost shatters a neighbor’s roof during a thunderstorm. The neighboring house is at risk of major damage. The guy next door is 88 years old. Joe’s just who the old-timer needs. He offers to cut the tree limb to help maintain safety. Joe’s a hero.

A puppy writhes in pain after being struck by a car. Just Jody collects the animal and drives him to a vet’s office. The pup’s owner, a next-door neighbor, is at work. The vet says the patient arrived just in time to save his life and set a broken bone. Jody waits at the animal hospital, offering comfort to the pooch until the owner arrives. The dog and the owner are thankful that someone cared enough to take action.

So when the average guy or girl helps in a crisis or a stranger saves the day, they may not receive any recognition. But lots of us are grateful to know them and benefit from their kind acts. Do you know some Just Joes? Post your comments and share your hero with the world.