It's Happened!

Oh.  My.  Goodness.

 

It’s happened.

 

Such a mix of feelings – elated, scared, relieved, excited… 

 

The IRS responded – KINDNESS ACTIVIST IS AN OFFICIAL 501C3!!

 

I have been doing Kindness Activist work since December 2015, close to a decade.  It started small – writing stories of kindness that I witnessed, did, or received.  As I often explain when I speak to groups about kindness – I was in a sad place in my life.  I looked for kindness as an experiment really.  I wondered if there was actually kindness out there, and if there was, did it make a difference in the world?

 

That social experiment has made a huge difference in my life.  It has given me a new lens through which to view the world.  It has made my life more fulfilled, happier, more full of joy.  It has introduced me to people I would never have met had I not gone on this mission.

 

And now it is “official”.

 

I’ve been wanting to make Kindness Activist a 501C3 for years but have put it off.  It seemed so daunting and scary.  But many people have nudged me and pushed, and I knew it was the right thing to do.  It just required taking a big leap to go for it.

 

There are so many people to thank.  The people who kept at me – reminding me it was not only necessary but it was possible.  The amazing lawyers who assisted me pro-bono to get the corporation established (required before filing for non-profit).  The people who accepted offers to join the board.  The people who cheered and hugged along the way.  The people who show up to volunteer to unload trucks and wrap gifts and decorate trees and tie ribbons to our fence...

 

And the most amazing, supportive partner on the planet, David Gaines. 

 

When I started writing stories of kindness, I had no idea how much our lives would change.  I didn’t know our basement would turn into a de facto grocery store to supply the Little Yellow Free Pantry.  I didn’t know that traveling in November and December would become almost impossible due to the Santa Project.  I didn’t fathom that our basement apartment would be filled with coats and sweaters to hand out all winter in Project Warmth.  I could never have imagined that strangers would knock on our front door or honk and wave as they drove by.  I never pictured a neon green Just Be Kind sign on the Big Yellow House.

 

But David, you have stood by my side through all of it (and more).  You have held me when I cried, rubbed my back when I was exhausted, and laughed with me in the rain.  You put in soooo many hours on that dang IRS form 1023.  My dream of kindness has changed both of our lives, and I thank you for riding the wave with me and being the very best “husband for scale” this human could ever have asked for.

 

The official letter came today.  We only filed 13 days ago, and the instructions say it can take up to 180 days to get a response.  I was hoping to hear quickly but never imaged it would be in under 2 weeks.

 

Have not had time to process it all yet, so I am unsure of how/what changes now.  I promise to keep you updated and to keep the kindness rolling.  I promise to keep sharing the stories of kindness. 

 

But for now I need to take a breath.  Pause a moment.  Take it all in.  Drink a bit of bubbly. 

 

And shed a few more tears of happiness. 

 

Cuz it happened, it really happened!

Jumping Blooper

To Be Known

Met someone new tonight.

We were sitting outside on the porch steps sorting items for our big sale.  A person pushing a baby stroller, sans baby, rounded the corner.  We smiled and said hello and instead of walking by, they came up to us.

 

“Just got out of the hospital,” they told us.  It wasn’t until half an hour later that they showed us the still clean hospital band.  But when they said “just got out”, I think they meant JUST got out.

 

We had a nice chat.  Well, mostly we listened.  The stories were a bit confused but if we paid attention we could follow.  The most pressing issue seemed to be diabetes.  In the beginning of the story, we thought they had recently been diagnosed with diabetes, so expressed our sadness at that.  But then the tale turned, and they DIDN’T have diabetes after all.  We expressed our relief.  Only, then they announced that they were going to sue the hospital for giving them an illegal shot of insulin that “gave them” diabetes.  Ahhh, back to expressing regret.

 

I asked if they were hungry and they said yes.  “What would you like?” I asked.  “Oh, anything you’ve got!!” they told me.  We had already talked about them not having housing, so I figured something warm would be a treat.

 

I was ready to leave David to chat while I went down to make the guest dinner.  I told them it would take about 5 minutes and they said, “No worries!  I will look at my “Little House on the Prairie” book.  They held up a special edition magazine featuring the actors from the TV show “Little House on the Prairie”.  Flashbacks to watching Laura and Nellie and Ma and Pa.  But a total surprise as reading material for this guest.

 

I popped inside to make dinner.  Hormel Completes are excellent in these situations – all you have to do is microwave them for 60 seconds and they are ready to go.  I chose a meatloaf and mashed potatoes meal and put it in to heat.  I also started to brew a cup of coffee, the requested drink.

 

And I set about looking on the pantry shelves to find food suitable for this guest.  A guest who had everything they owned in a baby stroller, and who may (or may not…) have diabetes.

 

I filled a bag with: crackers, meat stick, jerky, toothpaste, toothbrush, canned mangoes, can of ham, Spam, can of sardines, nail clippers, jar of instant coffee, Sun Chips, and a can opener.

 

I balanced all the items and went out to present the meal.  They were very happy with the choice and I joked about what a “good cook” I am.  I explained that I had collected some things they might want, and they could say yes or no for each item.

 

Well, every single thing I took out of that bag was met with a smile and a big YES.  And I realized – ahhhh.  They have been in the hospital.  I bet they lost everything they had during that experience and now are having to collect it all again.  Hard.

 

They stayed and chatted for quite a long time.  They are a veteran – Marines.  Had been stationed in Germany.  Don’t like to be in large groups because loud noises disturb them.  From the south.  Lost a brother to drugs. 

 

I think really, they just wanted someone to listen.  To sit in the sunshine with cars passing by and listen, without judging.  Without advising. 

 

And isn’t that what we ALL want?  One of our favorite singers, Carsie Blanton, has a hauntingly beautiful song called, “Isn’t It All You’ve Ever Wanted”.  The lyrics are:

 

TO BE KNOWN

all the melancholy on the wind
low as a prayer spoken
you feel it blowing through you
everywhere your heart is broken
haunts you like a shadow when
you’re walking through the city on you own

all the ghosts who holler in the night
will try to make you lonely
and when in desperation
someone says that you’re the only one they want
you’ll go to sleep beside them
but you’ll wake up all alone

isn’t it all you ever wanted to be known?

remember when you thought
somebody else was waiting for you
and all the emptiness would end if only they’d adore you
how you had a child’s way of dreaming
don’t you miss it now you’ve grown

and isn’t it all you ever wanted to be known?

all the melancholy on the wind
you feel it shuffle through ya
how it breaks you open
til you’re singing hallelujah
never know the gravity of grace
until it hits you like a stone

isn’t it all you ever wanted to be known?

 

 

When it was time to make their exit, our new friend told us we were “family” now.  They packed up their new treats carefully and told us about a great spot they had found to score free stuff.  They had seen the sign for the upcoming sale and said they would see us there.  They invited us to attend an event this month about overdosing where they would be giving out $50 gift cards.  They told us they were going at 3:00 pm to get in line (several hours before the event) to make sure they were one of the first 100 people and get a gift card. 

 

We took the empty coffee cup and dinner plate back and said goodbye.

 

I think we will see them again. I hope they come back. 

 

I mean, we are family now, right?

 

To hear Carsie singing “To Be Known”, click here:  Carsie Blanton To Be Known

 

Special thank you to the donors who graciously give food so that we can have the honor of handing it out. 

Dreams of Mangoes

I am sorry I got frustrated by you before I even met you.

I apologize.

Thursday, September 5^th.  Having a busy day – filling up the pantry first thing in the morning and while on short breaks from work – but I can’t seem to keep up.  Like, every time I fill it, as soon as I come back inside, I see another pair of legs and feet in front of the open pantry (legs and feet are all we can see from inside the house).

So, when I filled the pantry and someone came to get food immediately after I came back inside, then when YOU came not 2 minutes after that, I was a bit frustrated.

I am sorry.

But instead of stewing, I took a deep breath and went outside into the sunshine. 

“Hello!” I said loudly as I crossed the yard to the pantry, so as to warn you that I was on the way and not startle you.

You were a stranger.  You looked gentle.  And the large bag on your back, coupled with the knit stocking cap on this warm autumn-ish day made me think, “Hmmm, I am guessing this person is unhoused.”

I asked if there was anything you didn’t see in the pantry that you needed.  You stared at me a bit blankly, so I gave some examples.  “You know, like canned meat, vegetables, fruit, drinks, meals you can just heat up…  Or toiletries,” I explained.

“Toiletries?  What do you mean by toiletries?” you asked genuinely.

“Oh, like toothpaste.  Or deodorant,” I told you.

You didn’t start giving me a list of what you would like.  Instead, you looked at me with gentle eyes and we stood a bit in silence (well, as silent as a busy corner can be with cars and buses whizzing by).

“I want to explain…” you started.  You didn’t sound embarrassed, but it felt like you needed to clarify.  “I don’t have FIRE yet.”

Fire. 

Ah, my suspicion of not having housing was correct.

“That’s ok!” I replied.  “Do you have access to a microwave?”

You shook your head no.  “I am not living on the street, but, you know, living…”.

“I understand, no problem at all,” I told you, hoping that you could sense that it really was not something I would judge you on.  “Would it be ok if I go inside and get a few things you might like?  I will bring them out and you can choose what you would like”.

You looked at me, very surprised and perhaps overwhelmed.  I smiled, told you to please wait 2 minutes and that I would return.

I rushed down to the pantry storage area and quickly looked for items that I thought would be good for you.  Canned meats.  Canned fruit.  Crackers.  Peanut butter.  Raisins.  Fruit cups.  Chapstick.  A can opener.  Drinks.  And I ran back outside, hoping you would still be there.

You were. 

“Here, I brought some things I thought you might like.  I will show them to you one by one.  Just say yes or no if you want them, I promise I won’t have my feelings hurt if you say no,” I explained before started the “show and tell”.

Can of chicken – yes.

Can of Spam – oh, you told me you hadn’t had Spam in a long time.  You debated it, but it went in the yes pile.

Can opener?

Ah, this is where you opened up.  This is where I got to know you.  Thank you.

You explained that you didn’t want the can opener.  You couldn’t quite put it into words, but I believe you were telling me that you don’t need excess.  You are a minimalist.  And later during our conversation you made such a brilliant point about how people get so attached to things that we miss the opportunities in front of us to interact with humans.  I so agree.

I think you wanted the interaction more than the food, really.  Sure, you took a few items, but honestly, not much.  When I showed you the small box of raisins, you asked if I knew anything that raisins were good for.  “Well, I think they might help you poop…” I said.  You grinned and put your hand out to accept the raisins.  (I hope I was right with that advice.  I am afraid to google it.  I might have had it backwards…  If they make you constipated, I apologize again…)

When I held up the Mint Girl Scout cookies you got that glimmer in your eye that so many of us do when we see the recognizable green box.  Only, you were not excited for you to have them, but rather, you knew a person who would really like those. 

“Take them to the person!” I encouraged.  “It can be a gift!!”.

You considered it, but declined.  You know, minimalist and all.  Plus, as you explained, “I don’t have any storage, no shelves”.  Yup – carrying your life in the big red pack.

You were concerned about me.  When you asked if other people came here for food, I said yes, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  You explained how some people who come here might have mental health issues – maybe PTSD.  You asked was I sure I wanted to have so many people around here?  I smiled.  “Yes, I am sure.  This pantry has been here for 3 ½ years.  I have met lots of people!  And yes, some people do have mental health issues.  That’s why I am careful to say ‘Hello!’ from waaaay over there,” I pointed, “So that I do not startle anyone.”

You want a job.  Are looking for work.  You told me about something you like to mention in job interviews:  I would like a job where they send me into outer space.

Ahhhh – outer space.  Peace.  Quiet.  Shining galaxies all around you.  Wrapped in infinity.

When I showed you the can of mangoes, you hesitated.  “Mangoes are delicious!” I encouraged. 

“Yes, I know.  I had mangoes recently.  But those would be a SPECIAL TREAT.”

 

Ahh, a “special treat”. 

I thought that meant that those were going in your red bag.  That you might sit down this evening, thinking of how you can build fire in this environment where you are having trouble finding wood to burn, and ponder life’s mysteries as you savored the fruit.

I was wrong.

The special treat would wait.  You didn’t take the mangoes. 

Maybe, like the human interaction vs. the food, the mangoes were not the real objective.

Maybe the IDEA of mangoes.  The DREAM of a special treat.

Maybe that is the goal.

May you have fire soon.  May the friend you seemed worried about reply to your email.  May you somehow fish your wish of going into orbit.

And may you dream of mangoes.

 

If you would like to support the Little Yellow Free Pantry, the Amazon wish list can be found here: Little Yellow Free Pantry Wish List .  Items most needed at the moment are canned fruit of any kind, peanut butter, and single serving packs of cereal.

If you live in the DC Metro and would like to drop things off, the wish list is a good indicator of what we can use.  Any brands are fine.  We cannot accept opened or expired items.  Please do not put anything directly in the pantry.  Instead, put it in the tan and green plastic bin on our front porch.  That system allows us to keep better track of what we have and to distribute it more evenly to guests.

Thank you.

Future Citizen

There are so many things that we take for granted.

Food for dinner every night.  A warm bed to sleep in.  A form safe of transportation – car, bus, scooter, bike…

And a country where we are able to get an education and live free from war.

Not all human beings are as fortunate.  I was introduced to one today (via video and text) by a friend.  She reached out to see if perhaps Kindness Activist could assist this woman.

Future CITIZEN!
(photo shared with permission)

She was a police officer in Liberia during the war.  She applied to come to the United States to work and was granted permission.

Only, coming to the United States and living in the United States are not the same thing…  Even after immigrants set foot in this country, there can be much hardship.  For this woman, “home” when she arrived in America was under a staircase.  She finally found work cleaning an institution.

She is a very hard worker and so caring of family.  She, of course, has bills to pay here in the USA, but she still sends money home to her family to help them survive.  She has also had to send funds to help cover sad things in Liberia, like family funerals.

Just scraping by – but so thankful and kind. 

She has her green card.  Has a social security card.  One thing left – becoming a citizen.  But the fees to do that, $800, are so high that actually becoming a citizen seems impossible.   

But not when kindness comes into play.

Kindness Activist is pitching in $100 towards her naturalization process.

I am giving her a Kindness Loan (not affiliated with Kindness Activist) of $500, interest free, which she has agreed to re-pay monthly for 12 months.  I will be sending her stamped envelopes with our address to make the repayments easier.

And in just one hours’ time, the friend who introduced me to her has crowd sourced the other $200 needed.

We share this story as proof that kindness exists in the world.  That people and their stories matter.  And that if we all consciously focus on being the change we wish to see, the world can indeed become a better place.

Good luck on the test, new friend.  Please let us know when you pass so we can join you in singing the national anthem of your adopted country, the United States of America.

 

 

 

 

Returning to "Normal"

We have been away from our home in South Arington for a bit over 2 months.  Time away is precious and honestly, hard to come by.  But I have come to realize the importance of it for rejuvenation and self-care.  And also - to give us space and time to get work done. 

 

Since we have been out of town, we have completed sooooo much Kindness Activist WORK!  Like, the behind-the-scenes things that take a ton of time and are hard to do at home.  Scheduling, calculating, writing – all of the things.  Because you see, when I am in South Arlington, I am SPREADING KINDNESS!  I just love to do, do, do – and I get so caught up in the doing that sometimes the organizing and details can fall behind.  So, this time away has been good for checking many, many Kindness Activist things off the to-do list.

 

But, like all escapes from reality for the last 3 ½ years, it was hard to sneak away.  You see, ever since the Little Yellow Free Pantry was established, we can’t just leave town on a moment’s notice.  No – we need to put a plan in place before we can go out of town.  Because food insecurity is REAL, and people know that the LYFP is a safe, non-judgmental place to come get what they need.  But if we skip town without a plan, then that resource disappears for the guests.

 

Enter….  THE PANTRY CREW!  They are the hard-working group of amazing adults and kids who pitch in and keep everything afloat while we are gone.  They bring donations inside our home into the storage area.  They unbox and organize them.  They sort everything.  They let me know what we are running low on. They fill the pantry.  And they assist guests when they see them.  It is a big ask – they volunteer their time and muscles – and we really appreciate it.  Thank you, Pantry Crew!!

 

Well, my partner David went home today.  I will be back in Arlington in a few days, but he went home today to start the semester teaching.  And he had not been home more than an hour or two when the doorbell rang.

 

Now, that is not surprising really.  Guests ring the bell to see if we have something they might need, donors ring the bell to drop things off, and sometimes people just come up to the door to say hello or, “WHAT IS THIS PLACE – A SHOP?  AN OFFICE?  A HOUSE???”.

 

So today, very shortly after David got home (before he was even settled in), the bell rang.  He answered it and got to meet some new people.  He texted me this:

 

“...aaaaaand we're back in the game...I was working on the Kindness Activist forms, and someone came to the door.  It was a guy who is driving a lady in a wheelchair around, trying to find the Little Free Pantry that she heard about when she was looking online for places to get food. She is a former secretary for the Navy, now retired.  She has breast cancer, and her retirement pay has ended.  So, she's having trouble making ends meet between Social Security checks.”

 

Let that sink in.

 

She is retired.

Has cancer.

And is Googling places to get food to help her get enough food to eat between Social Security checks.

 

Breaks my heart.

 

David sat out on the front steps and chatted with her.  She held a big umbrella to shade the sun, which can be especially harsh when you are on chemo.  David took the woman and the driver around to the side of the house and showed them the pantry.  He took her bag inside and returned it to her filled with food.  She was hoping for milk, but he explained that because he just got back there were no perishables yet.

 

She is going to come back another day.  I am looking forward to meeting her.  I will pass along some other resources that the community offers in case she is unaware of them and not signed up for them yet. 

 

But mostly - I hope to get time to sit down and talk with her.  Listen to her story, encourage her with her cancer treatment.  I don’t know for sure, but I am guessing that she does not have friends or family to help out.  I mean, if she did, I would hope they would be delivering meals or groceries now as she is in a fragile spot both medically and financially.

 

So yes, food insecurity is real.  And it can happen to anyone.  If this woman isn’t an example of that, I don’t know what is.

 

Because everyone deserves good food. 

 

P.S. – the faces in the photo are blurred (it’s not your eyes, it is the photo 😊 )

 

P.P.S. – if you would like to pitch in items for the Little Yellow Free Pantry, our wish list of needed items can be found here:  Kindness Activist Wish List

Back To School Time - Kindness Fund Update

It is almost the end of summer, and you know what that means…

BACK TO SCHOOL TIME!

In 2022, my partner David and I went to WalMart and used Kindness Activist funds to buy school supplies for LOTS of families.  It was so fun! 

Well, we were at WalMart the other day, and saw several families, lists of required supplies in hand, scouring the school supply aisle. 

But guess what?  We didn’t approach any of them and ask if Kindness Activist could treat them with an act of kindness…

That probably sounds strange.  But here’s the thing:  offering acts of kindness to strangers can be really tricky.  There are so many factors to consider:

-         You don’t want to scare them (after all, you are someone they have never met approaching them with an offer that sounds too good to be true…)

-         Sometimes you do not share a common language, so how will you explain this situation

-         How do you choose who you will treat when there are multiple families shopping for supplies?

-         And, to us, most importantly – how can you offer to buy their school supplies without making them feel like you think they need your charity, that they are poor, that they are “lesser than”?

So honestly, it is a hard thing to do.  You have to be feeling quite brave, open, vulnerable, and willing to be told no (multiple times) to successfully navigate this one.  And this time we failed.  We just couldn’t get the right combination of courage, heart, and determination. 

It is a bit like double dutch jump roping!  If you have ever tried that before you know it is really tricky and timing is everything.  You have to stand outside the ropes as your friends twirl them.  One, two, three…  One, two, three…  You might try jumping in and get the pattern wrong.  You might get your feet tangled in the ropes.  But it’s ok.  You just get yourself together and make another attempt. 

So, we have not treated anyone to impromptu school supplies yet this year, but we DO have other Kindness Activist activities/expenditures to share!

A neighbor posted online about a young woman that she mentors through the AHC (Affordable Homes and Communities) College and Careers Readiness Program. The woman was preparing to go off to college – the first person in her family to accomplish this amazing feat.  Her mentor had set up an Amazon wish list with items that the teen’s program, the Virginia Tech Marine Cadet Program, required new students to have for their dorm room. 

Well, because of the generosity of Kindness Activist supporters, we were able to give the soon-to-be Cadet MANY things from her wish list!  We donated these things she needed:

-         2 spray-on bottles of sun screen

-         2 travel size sun screens

-         2 sun screen lip balms

-         2 USB C adapters

-         Benadryl

-         USB flash drive

-         Moleskin

-         Markers

-         And an umbrella 

For information on the AHC College Readiness Program and to find out how YOU can be a mentor, see this link:  AHC College Readiness Program

Kindness Activist funds spent - $99.55

Wish for the college bound student – OOHORAH!  You go girl!

I saw a mamma post on Facebook looking for the book “How To Talk So Little Kids Will Listen”.  She has 3 little boys (one is an infant), so really has her hands full.  That was an easy wish to grant.  I just hope she can find enough quiet time to sit down and read it!

Kindness Activist funds spent - $12.14

 

A teacher was hunting for Magnatiles of animals.  She has an autistic student who loves them and knew that they would be a great reward. 

I had never heard of Magnatiles until a child asked for some a couple of years ago in his letter to Santa.  Santa bought them, I saw them, and was an immediate fan.  Those things are great!  Educational, artistic, and FUN!  They are everything a toy should be (in my humble opinion).  Kindness Activist was happy to shop for and donate these!

Kindness Activist funds spent - $42.39

 

And finally for this update – a teacher posted that they would like bean bag chairs for their classroom.  They were not fussy, said any color would do.  They were posting in a group (Buy Nothing) where people give away used things. 

But here’s the deal: teachers in America are over worked and under paid.  They often use their own money to buy supplies for their classrooms, which is unfair in my opinion.  Do doctors have to buy the examination tables for their offices?  Do bankers have to buy the filing cabinets for their documents?  Do car sales people have to buy the chairs that their customers sit on? 

No.  Yet teachers are expected to outfit their own classrooms.  Heck, I have seen teachers ask for coffee makers for the breakroom (and Kindness Activist has kitted out a couple of school breakrooms…).  It just isn’t fair.

So, this teacher was basically asking for used bean bag chairs for his students to sit on.  I did some snooping on his Facebook profile and found his Amazon wish list for his classroom from last year.  It had a bean bag listed, but also had some really cool stools…

I reached out to him and confessed I had peeked at his profile.  I explained a bit about Kindness Activist and asked if he still wanted the stools this year.  He DID still want them, but seemed a bit embarrassed or shy about asking for them.  They were more expensive than the bean bag chair, he explained.

Sir, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.  You deserve the stools, all the stools.  And the set of posters you had on last year’s list to help make your classroom look amazing.  And a Starbucks gift card (just in case your teacher’s lounge coffee maker is broken…).

I love the colors!

Kindness Activist funds spent:  $144.15

Amount of money I wish we could spend on helping teachers have a great start to the school year:  $5,000,000

You can see the story of how we treated back-to-school shoppers at WalMart in 2022 here:  Back To School Kindness

Kind Kids - Jay and His HAIR!

Shining the light on a KIND KID today!

Meet Jay.  Jay and his family live in our community, and recently his mom Brandi posted some photos of a MAJOR KIND ACT that he did.

Before...

Jay shaved off his hair and donated it so that a child with cancer could get a wig!!

Isn’t that awesome??  I thought it was so cool that I wanted to make sure his story got told – so here it is!

Jay is 10 years old.  Every time I have ever seen him, he has had long hair.  I mean, I think long hair was kind of his thing.  So WHY would he decide to cut it all off and donate it???  I asked him that question, and the answer made sense.

He was inspired by his dad, who donated his hair a while back.  But to me, an adult making this bold, kind move and a kid going for it are 2 completely different things.  Both are kind, of course, but a kid doing it is SUPER KIND, right??

I asked Jay how long he had been growing his hair out.  He got a big grin and said, “5 years.  Half my life!!!”. 

You read that right.  Jay had been growing his hair for half his life, and he was kind enough to cut it all off so that another kid could get a nice wig.  He told me his hair was 12” – 13”, and before it was cut off the stylist put it in a bunch of little pony tails.  And then – buzzzzz – the ponies were cut off with a razor, and Jay left with a fuzzy buzz cut.

Look at all of that hair!

Jay and I talked about some of the reasons kids might need wigs, and how special it is to get one made of real hair.  “Why did you want to donate it?” I asked.  “Well, I felt bad for people who don’t get to have hair.  I just wanted to be kind, cuz I thought somebody might use it.  I didn’t need all that hair!  And my hair grows back, some people’s might not,” he said.  “And how did it feel after it was shaved off??” I asked as a logical follow-up.  “It feels way lighter!  And I’m less hot!” he said with a grin.

After!!!

And lest you think this was a “one and done”, Jay has a plan.  He is going to donate his hair every 2 years!  You read that right, his idea is, “2 years short, 2 years grow, donate,” and repeat.  Isn’t that awesome?

We chatted about being kind in general, and how fun that is.  I know Jay to be a super kind human and have been lucky enough to witness other kind stuff he has done. He told me that sometimes he actively thinks about being kind, and sometimes it “just happens”. 

In closing, Jay had some great words of advice: “If you read this story, then just try and be kind.”

If you are thinking of donating your hair, check out the organization Jay gave his to – Wigs for Kids.  You can find more about them here:  Wigs for Kids

 

And if you know of a kind human and want us to share their story, please let us know!  Send us an email at:  KindnessActivist@gmail.com .  We love to hear kind stuff!  And if you want to learn more about Kindness Activist, just look at our website:  Kindness Activist

 

P.S. - Jay is going to be rocking a "Kind is Cool" Kindness Activist shirt soon, and guess what?  It was designed by ANOTHER KIND KID, Dexter!  

 

Kindness Activist Volunteer Series - TERESA

This is the first in a series of interviews with Kindness Activist volunteers.  Without volunteers, our work would not be possible.  We are so grateful for each and every person who gives of their time and talent so that kindness ripples can be spread!

First up – TERESA.

Teresa has helped with many, many Kindness Activist events.  She joins the annual “elf brigade” and wraps many, many beautiful gifts for the Santa Project.  She helps out at all of the fundraising sales (when she is in town, and she is always sad if a sale happens when she is off exploring the world).  She knits beautiful hats for Project Warmth.  And much more!  But today, we are going to talk with her about a very important volunteer role she holds at Kindness Activist – PANTRY CREW!  She and I took time out from sorting donations and sat down to have a conversation recently.

Teresa reminded me that in the beginning, she worked with another very kind woman, Julia, to sort and organize pantry donations.  “We did a purge of all of the expired foods.  Then we labeled the shelves and bins so that it was a little more orderly,” she explained.  “We marked on every single box on the shelves the expiration dates.”

Flashback for me to walking down to get food for the pantry after Teresa and Julia worked their magic.  It was so very organized – cans with small white, hand written labels of expiration dates (because it is often hard to read the labels stamped on the top/bottom).  This was back when we were just starting the Little Yellow Free Pantry, and we did not have many guests yet.  We had signs up saying things like, “Need food?  Free groceries!” with a location of where to come.  We had them translated into 4 or 5 languages and hung them around on our fence and at nearby bus stops.  It is funny to think about it now, but 3 ½ years ago when the pantry started, I was afraid it wouldn’t take off and we wouldn’t have enough guests.  The task of putting dates on cans is no longer needed since we go through donations so quickly.

When things got busier, the Pantry Crew was born and Teresa became a member.  I asked her what she liked about volunteering for Kindness Activist. “I like helping other people.  There are many people who are food insecure.  Having a place where they can come and select what they want is a wonderful thing for the community.  If I can help facilitate that, I will.”

Like many kind humans, Teresa volunteers at several places.  “I volunteer for Monday night distribution at two street corners near Arlington Mill.  The food comes from Food for Others.  Then I volunteer at the Clothesline for Arlington’s kids (a service that gives free good quality clothing to school age children).  I go into the shop and help clients select clothing. I also knit hats and scarves for Clothesline, and I have also brought some over for Kindness Activist’s Project Warmth and given some to Casa Mariflor (a local organization that assists mostly Latinx community members and immigrants).”

The truth is, not many Americans take the time to help out like Teresa does.  I asked her why she is willing to get involved so much with volunteering.  “I’ve done it for many, many years.  I was a Peace Corps volunteer in the ‘80s.  So, I’ve been volunteering when I can for years!  It’s a feel-good feeling for me.”

Ahhh, such a good point, and one people who have not volunteered may not have experienced.  Helping – volunteering - not only helps others, it also makes YOU feel good.  That a bonus that can’t be overlooked.

“Have you met any pantry guests?” I asked.  “There is the Lentil Man," she answered.  "And just last week a man came who was moving out.  He brought all of these packages of fancy beans and things from Whole Foods or Mom’s Organic Market.”

I posed a question that other Pantry Crew members and I have mulled over – what is your favorite thing to put in the pantry?

“Lately, the canned mango slices look really good,” was Teresa’s answer.  “I am a vegetarian, but I put in a wide variety, including proteins, so that people can choose.”

“I am thrilled that there are so many wonderful donors that keep the shelves full.  That allows the Crew to keep the Pantry full.  And I like the fact that there are birthday parties for the pantry.  I make a point of donating goods at that time.”

Handmade birthday card given to the Little Yellow Free Pantry from a neighbor

On a recent stop for Pantry Duty, Teresa found the bright yellow shelves completely bare.  “There was not a lick – not even one CAN,” she said.  “You think the vegetables won’t go, but they do eventually.  When I used to volunteer at AFAC (Arlington Food Assistance Center) I learned that canned corn is popular.”  So true – canned corn is the most popular veg at the Little Yellow Free Pantry, too.

“I love to volunteer with your activities because I love the concept of Kindness Activist.  You and David are such amazing people.  Helping in whatever way – you put out a call – if I am free, I’m coming because I want to spread kindness like you.  It’s a ripple!”

And with that, Teresa and I got into a “You’re amazing,” feud.  “You’re amazing!”  “No, YOU’RE amazing!!”

“Well, you allow me to be amazing.  Because of your activities.  I wouldn’t be as amazing if I didn’t have all of these different options available to me.”

Thank you, amazing Teresa.  Your support and gift of time help Kindness Activist thrive.  We appreciate you!

If you would like to volunteer with Kindness Activist, please get in touch.  Email us at:  KindnessActivist@Gmail.com .  We are often looking for volunteers for various projects (though the Pantry Crew is full at the moment 😊 ). 

And if you would like to help out by donating to the Little Yellow Free Pantry, the Amazon Wishlist can be found here:  Kindness Activist Pantry Wishlist .   If you are local to the DC Metro and would like to drop off pantry items (shelf stable, unopened, unexpired food and/or full sized unopened unexpired toiletries), please do not put them directly in the pantry.  Instead, leave them in the plastic donation bin on our front porch.  Email for the address if needed.