I had another reminder
recently of how KINDNESS RIPPLES are real, and they work! I checked my email and found an amazing note. And I was reminded that being open and freely
talking about kindness does indeed inspire more kindness to be spread.
Here is the email:
“I read your blog
periodically, which I love. I found it in an article, I’m not sure
where now, possibly the Good News website. Anyway, I’ve been a believer in
random acts of kindness for quite some time now. I happened to read your most
recent post on July 25 & found it very enlightening.
I’ve mostly done my acts
of kindness quietly without sharing with anyone. I didn’t want to
be ‘boastful’, so to speak. But after reading your blog about
kindness ripples, I now think differently. If, by sharing our acts of
kindness, we can inspire others to also go forth with acts of kindness,
then it’s well worth sharing to others.
We have a free community
food shelf not far from us. We also have a local food bank, but I realize,
especially now, that people might not qualify for the food bank for varying
reasons, or the food bank food doesn’t go far enough. I like to stock up
on canned & packaged sale items for the shelf when I do my
grocery shopping. My husband & I are retired but we are fortunate enough to
have more than enough to share.
It always gives me such
pleasure to put items on the shelf. I place them nicely, so people can see them
as they drive by. When I can fill up much of the shelves, it is a real
thrill. Lately, when I go, the shelf is completely empty :( So many people
are hurting financially & food has become so expensive. I tend to buy
things children like, since I’m a retired K/1 teacher. But I also
love putting tins of coffee, etc. as a ’treat’ as well. We live in a
rural area, so people will leave fresh produce from their gardens & even
eggs from their chickens.
It used to be just an
open, rickety shelf that was affected by the weather. Someone around the corner
from shelf built a beautiful, larger shelf, with a clear, latching door that
stays dry! What an improvement.
So, that is my kindness
story. I mostly wanted to thank you for the inspiration to share our acts of
kindness with others so that kindness can spread.
Thank you for all you do
in making the world a better place.
Mary, White
Salmon, WA”
IT
WORKED! THE KINDNESS RIPPLE SPREAD! I was giddy when I read the email. Inside, I know that sharing stories of
kindness creates more kindness in the world.
But when someone takes time out of their busy lives to sit down and tell
me about it, well, that gives me goosebumps!
Since
we are all here and reading, let’s share a couple of stories of where Kindness
Activist money has been used lately!
First
off, it is BACK TO SCHOOL time in America.
Sadly, for many teachers, that means spending money out of their own pockets
to buy supplies for their classrooms. Teachers
are already overworked and underpaid, and the thought of them having to stock
their classrooms, too, frustrates me.
So, when a couple of local teachers posted that they were looking for
classroom items, I knew Kindness Activist funds were perfect to help meet the
requests.
Amazon
really makes shopping for things like classrooms so easy! I just took a peek at the teachers’ Amazon
Wish Lists, chose some items, and shipped them directly to the educators. Easy peasy!
Classroom
items were sent to a few teachers and included items like: glue gun and glue sticks, bean bag chair,
markers, magnets, wall paper, highlighters, a bunch of great books, and
pop-its! One teacher sent a lovely thank
you and this photo of her adorable classroom (Kindness Activist funds were used
to purchase the teal beanbag, doesn’t it look like a cozy place to read???)
I
hope to treat one more teacher with some needed supplies for their
classroom. If you have a wish
list for your room, please comment with the grade you teach and the wish list
link!
Kindness
Activist funds used on 2022 classroom supplies (so far!): $315.32
My
partner David and I recently discovered a lovely coffee shop called Sweet
Marlays in Daytona Beach, Florida. The décor
is warm and inviting, the coffee and food is delicious. But even more important than those important factors
was the diversity and welcomeness of the shop. As soon as we walked in, I could feel that the
space was INCLUSIVE.
We
saw a man seated in a comfy chair talking.
I thought he was talking to someone, but it turned out he was chatting
to no one in particular. He talked about
what time the baseball game was going to be that evening and who was playing. He talked about the news. He laughed a lovely laugh, which he broke
into often. And he did all of this at a
rather loud level, and all to the general space.
As
we ordered at the counter, I asked the barista who the man chatting was and if
he came to the coffee shop often. She
smiled a very big smile, told us his name, and said, "Oh
yes! He is here every day. Sometimes he leaves to go on walks, but he
leaves his things here. Those two people
at that table are with him. They stay
all day. And since tonight is Thursday,
at 5:00 pm they will go next door for burger night!”.
Her
explanation of the customers was full of joy.
She was not judging them, they were her friends and a constant in
her life. And, as David and I drank our
coffee, it became clear that the 3 daily visitors were friends of everyone who
came in and out of the shop. Everyone was
happy to greet them, and some sat down next to them to chat.
I
asked the barista if the guests were housed or not, and she explained that all 3
of them live in the same house. I asked
if the coffee shop gave them free coffee and food, and she explained that they
have a “bottomless cup” policy, which is used by these three guests 😊,
and that sometimes other diners pick up their tabs.
As
David and I sat, drinking, eating, and playing UNO, I listened to the chatter
of the three. It was so sweet. Tom, with his distinctive laugh, seemingly
randomly coming up with topics to talk about to no one in particular. The woman, seated at another table, proclaiming
that she needed a can of TUNA as she had decided to make Tuna Helper when she
got home. She was concerned about her
lack of tuna though, after all (she explained to her housemate seated across
from her), she had only ONE CAN and the recipe on the box called for TWO. She fretted about the situation a while and
came up with a plan – call another friend and check if he was going to Dollar Tree. If he was, perhaps he could pick her up a
can! That idea worked, but instead of
putting her mind at ease, she continued chatting about the Tuna Helper
dilemma. A woman who came in for coffee
sat down next to her, heard the tale, and supportively explained, “You know,
you can make it with one can! It will
work! You don’t have to have two
cans! That’s just a suggestion!”.
Tuna
Helper situation solved, the woman moved onto explaining to her housemate last
night’s dinner – brown rice - and how to cook it. She gave the recipe over and over and over,
but instead of being annoying, the repetition felt comforting, perhaps like
rice itself comforts.
I
couldn’t help but think I would love to spend more time with these people and
be their friend. They seemed like very
kind, genuine people. I decided that using
Kindness Activist funds to support their coffee and food at the shop would be
money well spent, so I bought a gift certificate for them. Basically, I opened up a coffee tab 😊
. The baristas will write on the back of
the paper certificate how much is used and keep a running total.
I
hope we get to visit that coffee shop again.
I would love to sit down and have a chat.
Kindness
Activist funds used: $100
If
you have never been to our home, well, at times it is a bit of an overwhelming
mess…
Some
nice friends have said, “Susan, your house is not a MESS! Your house is full of KINDNESS just waiting
to happen!!”.
But
the donations from sweet neighbors can pile up sometimes, and our front porch
can take on the look of a thrift shop.
That’s why it is never very surprising when people see me outside on our
porch and assume a yard sale is taking place.
 |
This was the rush of donations before the
2021 sale! See, a LOT! |
But
no – the Kindness Yard Sale is once a year, so I always explain to confused
would-be-shoppers that the sale is not NOW, I am just getting things organized
for the upcoming sale. I wish I knew how
to explain that in multiple languages – that would come in handy!
One
afternoon I explained the situation to one woman who came up hoping to
shop. She was disappointed and turned to
go. But then she came back and explained
as best she could in English that she needed $2 for the bus.
I
couldn’t let her shop through the piles of donations, but I could get
her bus fare! As I handed it to her, she
told me thank you (both with words and with her big smile).
I
hope to see her back September 17th and 18th for the 2022
Kindness Yard Sale!
Kindness
Activist funds used: $2
Last
story for this report.
Imagine
making a fresh start. Like, completely
starting over. Think of all of the
things you would need – pillow, towels, silverware, shoes, soap… And, you may want a bra.
If
you don’t wear bras, you might not know that they are quite hard to fit,
especially for large-busted people. The
bra must be supportive, comfortable, pretty, not hot… It’s hard to find one bra that meets
all of the qualifications! And when you
find one, it is usually expensive… But,
if you are starting over from scratch, a good bra is a necessity.
That
is why, when I heard about the need for a bra for a woman getting a fresh start
at life, I jumped to purchase two (for those not in the know, one bra is not
enough – when it gets dirty and needs to be washed you have to have a back-up).
I
had the bras delivered directly to where they were needed. I hope that they fit. I hope that they made the recipient
smile. I hope that having new bras eliminated
one worry.
May
we all be granted fresh starts when we need them.
Kindness
Activist funds used: $58.24
More
stories about kindness soon.
For
now, go out there and keep those Kindness Ripples spreading!! And when you DO, please tell me about
it! Send stories of kindness you do,
see, or receive to: KindnessActivist@Gmail.com .
And
if you are a teacher in need of supplies, please share your Amazon wish
list. I would like to help one more
classroom, and perhaps other readers will pitch in, too!
If
you would like to help keep the Little Yellow Free Pantry filled, you can find
current needs the following link. The most needed items as of mid-August 2022 are: peanut butter, canned fruit, jelly, single servings of snacks like chips, and cans of soup. The items needed are included, but the brands are not specific, any brand works! at: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/378MMHXOYF3LP?ref_=wl_share
And
remember, the 2022 Kindness Yard Sale is coming up September 17 and 18! Hope to see you there! More information coming soon.
