Kindness Activist Funds - Stories of How Some Have Been Spent (July 2025)

It’s been a while since I have shared an update about how Kindness Activist funds have been used, so today’s the day!  Ready? 

Here are just a few of the ways that money has been spent to spread kindness lately:

GARDENS!

Here at Kindness Activist, we love gardens!  Flowers, veggies, fruit trees, you name it - gardens are great!  Given that love, it was an easy decision to support 2 Arlington based gardens with kindness funds.

First – the Walter Reed Annex Community Garden.  This amazing resource is managed by a lovely neighbor, Ljudmilla.  She is a very kind and wise woman who runs this huge community endeavor.   And when I say “community”, this work DEFINES community!  Volunteers come to the garden every Saturday between 8:30 am – 11:30 am to weed, plant, dig, harvest…  Those amazing volunteers do everything GARDEN (including sweat).  This incredible resource then donates what is grown to help feed the community!  And we are not talking small donations here either.  They donate thousands of pounds of healthy, fresh produce to the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC), to local elementary school food pantries, and even the Little Yellow Free Pantry is lucky enough to get veggies sometimes, too!   So, when we read that the garden was going to put up a SEED LIBRARY, well, it was a no-brainer that Kindness Activist should help out with some packets of seeds. 

Adorable new seed library!

If you or your organization would like to get involved and help garden, please email:  gardenwalterreed@gmail.com .  After all, what could be more fun (and meaningful) than getting some dirt under your fingernails and helping feed neighbors at the same time??

 

Ljudmilla in her happy place - the garden

Kindness Activist funds spent on seed packets for the garden's new library:  $117.68 

The next garden kindness funds were used to support this season is the Thomas Jefferson Community Garden, located at a middle school in South Arlington, VA.  This is another amazing local resource that not only donates produce to the community, but also teaches local children about organic food and gardening.

I learned they could use some support when I saw this message on a Facebook group that I belong to: “ISO 50’ garden hose and watering wand attachment.  I help manage the Thomas Jefferson Middle school garden and we are in need of a couple hoses that are in decent condition. If you have one you no longer need, please let me know. Thanks!”.

Thomas Jefferson Garden

Well, a garden as important and active as TJ needs good equipment.  I reached out to the person who posted asking for hoses and a wind and asked for recommendations of which ones they would prefer.  I am pleased to say that the volunteer gardeners at TJ now have 2 new hoses and 2 lovely watering wands to help cultivate their crops!

Kindness Activist funds spent:  $149.14

 

 The metro DC area has been VERY HOT this spring and summer.  This can be uncomfortable for everyone of course, but it can cause more than discomfort for people without housing.  Extreme heat can be very dangerous.  Several guests of the Little Yellow Free Pantry do not have housing, so are outside in the extreme temperatures.  Two guests were still sporting long pants in the 100 degree heat, but were hoping for some shorts to help cool off. 

 

We found some good shorts online that are comfortable, cool, and fast drying.  And as luck would have it, they came in a pack of 3.  So, not only did the 2 pantry guests get new clothes for summer, so did another person experiencing homelessness that was in desperate need of shorts.  This small expenditure will hopefully help 3 people have a better summer.

 

Kindness Activist funds spent:  $21.21

 

 

Ok, ok, ok, I did it – I clicked on a Facebook ad!  But in my defense, I couldn’t help it!  They showed it to me so many times, and, well, it looked so cool that I simply HAD to click!

 

And that “click” is how we ended up having “You Are Awesome” pop up on our sidewalk when it rained. 

 

Shhh - and now we wait for the rain...

You see, Rainworks is a product that you spray on a dry concrete surface (using a stencil), then when it rains, your “secret message” shows up!  Oh, it is fun!  I am hoping to find someone with a Cricut who can make us more plastic stencils that say things like “Kind Is Cool” and “Kind Kids Rock”.  That way, when the skies are gray and the raindrops fall, at least the sidewalks will be cheery!

You are AWESOME!

P.S. – have a Cricut and some time to create?  Email us at kindnessactivist@gmail.com!  We would appreciate some stencils for creating rainy day messages!

 

Kindness Activist funds spent:  $26.66

 

When a neighbor was looking for snacks for the teacher’s lounge of a local elementary school, Kindness Activist was quick to jump in.  I mean, if TEACHERS don’t deserve snacks, then who does??  Plus, it was teacher appreciation week!

 

The neighbor told me, “We have a project of revamping the teacher’s lounge. Sadly, the staff lounge is not at all a place for them to relax and take a break. They deserve the world”.

 

I agree - teachers deserve the world!  They work so, so hard to ensure that their students are safe, engaged in the classroom, and thriving.  Teachers deserve snacks!!

 

Teacher SNAAAACKS

This was an easy wish to grant.  As I told the neighbor, I wish we could grant MASSAGES for all of the school staff, but snacks will have to do.

 

And snacks in the Teacher's Lounge - ready for educators to come munch on

Kindness Activist funds spent:  $76.91

 

And last (but not least) for this accounting report – random food deliveries 😊 .  My partner David and I love to grocery shop (in fact, we went to a grocery store on our very first date, and we have been shopping together for over 37 now).  So, often when we go to the store, we spring a special grocery delivery on a neighbor (usually people we have never met).  It works like this:

 

We do 2 shops – one for us, and one for a random person.  We separate the items in our cart – “ours” and “theirs”.  Then we take all of “their” items out of the cart and take a photo of David holding everything.  It is quite funny (and tricky to find a way for him to hold it all without dropping it).

 

Then I post in a local Facebook group:  “It’s (insert day of week) night and you know what that means…  Kindness Activist would like to deliver (insert meal – breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks… here).”

 

Then we list everything included in the offer. 

 

The post continues: “Person chosen must be available via Facebook messenger to arrange delivery to take place before (insert time). Preference given to someone who has not received a meal delivery from Kindness Activist before. Person chosen must come out to our car (in front of where you live) to pick up when we pull up.   Not necessarily giving to the first person who responds.”

 

I post, we wait a bit for responses, then choose someone who we have never treated before!  We bring the groceries to their home and get to meet them, which is always fun!  We really like doing these deliveries and the recipients are always very grateful.

 

Here are a few we have done recently:

 

 

Red, White, and Blue edition for 4th of July

 

Breakfast edition

 

Snack edition

Breakfast again

Green edition for St. Patrick's Day

Average cost of each surprise grocery delivery: $35

 

Thanks for following along in the Kindness Activist journey.  We believe that spreading kindness makes the world a better place, and we appreciate the love, encouragement, and support we receive from the community. 

 

Together, we can make the world kinder.  One little act of kindness at a time.

Yellow Roses of Kindness

 I am a member of a Facebook group for people who have had a sibling die.  Way back in April, I posted this: 

 

“I live in South Arlington, VA, near Arlington National Cemetery. It is a beautiful place, and I sometimes go there to visit the gravesites of my in-laws.

 

Do you have a sibling buried there, but you do not live near enough to visit? If so, I would love to visit their gravesite for you and leave a flower. I would send you a photo. 

 

Just let me know. My sister is buried too far away for me to go visit, so I understand the feeling of wishing you could stop by but you can't.”

 

The way I look at it, living near the capital of the country is a privilege, and I try to use that privilege to help others when possible.  So, if I could use an hour or two of my time to visit the grave of a loved one and help someone feel even a tiny bit better, well then, I consider that time well spent.

 

A person who lives in California commented on my post.  She said: 

 

“I know it’s a bit further than Arlington National Cemetery but would you be willing to go to the police officers’ memorial for me and leave a flower?”.

 

Of course I said yes.

 

It has been 2 ½ months since that “yes”, and it has been weighing heavily on my mental to-do list.  So, this morning I decided that today was the day.  I was off of work, the sun was shining, and I had a plan - go to Trader Joe’s and buy a dozen roses.  I would use one of those roses to decorate the woman’s brother’s space on the memorial.

 

Great plan.  But what to do with the other 11 roses? 

 

Another plan – GIVE THOSE AWAY TO STRANGERS.

 

Now let me tell you this.  As much as I like to talk to strangers, offering them gifts out of the blue is a bit scary.  It just is not something that is normally done in our culture.  So, when you do it, you have to have thick skin and be ready for rejection, because not everyone is going to take you up on your offer, no matter what you are giving away.  Trust me on this one, I have learned that lesson. 

 

Anyway, step one:  TRADER JOE’S FOR ROSES.

 

But which roses??  There were so many!

 

Of course, there were classic red roses. 

 

Pink ones.

 

White.

 

Oh, the coral ones that I always love.

 

And yellow.  Bright yellow…

 

Today is Juneteenth, and there is some yellow/gold associated with that holiday.  So, even though I wouldn’t usually choose the yellow roses, today for some reason I did.

 

I checked out and then went to my “station”: I stood outside the door of the grocery store.

 

My plan was to offer roses to people as they left.  I thought giving them to people coming IN would be awkward – where do you keep a rose while you shop, and would it be confusing trying to explain to the cashier that it was already paid for by some random stranger?  So, target EXIT-ERS.

 

As I got the roses out of the cellophane and awkwardly stood alone in the sunshine, I felt uncomfortable…  Rejection was right around the corner.  Why do I put myself in those situations?  Flashbacks of the people thinking David and I were complete weird-os for offering them free pie on Pi Day…

 

Push through.  The sun is shining.  You have ROSES TO GIVE AWAY!

 

I smiled at a woman as she was coming out of the store and held out a rose.  “Here!  Would you like a flower?” I think I said, I can’t remember (see above – this can be a bit stressful…).

 

She smiled and took the flower.  Then she did something that really surprised me – she called me by name! 

 

“Susan?  I know you!!” she said. 

 

Turns out, she and I are in the same Buy Nothing group and she recognized me!  What are the chances that the very first person I offered a flower to actually knew me? 

 

Well then, rose number one given away and it went so well, I felt more comfortable.  I held out flowers and smiled, everyone except one person smiled back and accepted the gift.  One woman was especially happy and said that yellow is her favorite color.

 

I was focusing on women, but I decided to try a man.  I mean, the worst that could happen is he said no, right?  “Excuse me sir, would you like a rose?”.

 

He smiled awkwardly and shook his head no.

 

I countered, “Maybe you have someone that you would like to give it to???”.

 

The awkward smile was replaced by a genuine one as he accepted the gift.  “Why yes!  Yes. I do!” he said.

 

The woman from Buy Nothing returned and asked if she could take a photo of the stranger and I.  She later posted it in the group, saying, “Our very own Kindness Activist, Susan Thompson Gaines, once again spreading joy in the form of roses to unsuspecting shoppers. ”

 

How sweet!

 

I gave away 10 roses and decided to keep 2 to bring to the Police Officers’ Memorial.  I had never been and wasn’t sure what it would look like, so maybe 2 roses would be needed.

 

We waited out a huge summer storm, then went into DC.  The Memorial is beautiful – similar to the one for Vietnam.  Names of fallen officers are etched in stone and a beautiful fountain was flowing.  The woman whose brother is honored there had told me which section to look in, and it didn’t take long to find his name.

 

Doing kind acts like this one is truly an honor.  I looked up the man’s name in a directory at the site and learned that he died recently, 2023.  I thought about him and wondered about his life.  Who, besides his sister, did he leave behind…  I tried to make a rubbing of the name to send to the woman, but everything was still wet from the rain so it didn’t work.

 

As we were getting ready to go, I noticed 3 people across the way.  They seemed focused on one spot on the wall.  I guessed that they were likely there to honor a loved one who had died.

 

“Let’s take one of the roses and walk that way,” I said to David.  “If they don’t already have a flower, we can give them this one.”

 

Off we went, ready to hand the 11^th rose to a stranger.

 

As we approached, I saw that they had taped a photo of their loved one above his name.  He was young, as were the 2 children standing near us who had lost their father.  They looked like they were young teens. 

 

I commented on how nice the photo was.  I asked if they would like a rose to leave at the site and held it out.

 

The woman raised her hand to take it, but had a bit of a surprised look on her face.

 

“A YELLOW ROSE.  Yellow.  That is what he always gave me!  I don’t like red roses, he always gave me yellow…”.

 

The children smiled and repeated, “A YELLOW ROSE!”.

 

That’s when I knew why the yellow flowers called my name.  It was as if somehow the fallen officer was giving his love a rose again.

 

They thanked us.  We took some photos for them and said goodbye.

 

Roses for strangers.

 

Strangers outside the grocery store.

 

A stranger from the internet.

 

And a stranger who lost her husband.

 

Yes, roses for strangers.

 

That was the best $11.65 of Kindness Activist funds that I have spent in a very long time.

P.S. - I love to imagine all of the kindness ripples that took place today because of these flowers and this kindness...  The woman who did not get a flower because I didn't have one left to offer her, but still came up to me and said, "I saw what you were doing.  That was very, very kind...".  The man who was brave enough to take the flower from a stranger, who no doubt re-told the story of how he had it when he passed it on to his loved one.  The family at the memorial who are likely telling all their friends about the mysterious yellow rose...  And the woman whose brother was honored at the memorial.  Kindness ripples all around.  Gives me goosebumps.

 

 

 

Little Yellow Free Pantry - It Takes a VILLAGE!

Have you ever wondered about who donates to the Little Yellow Free Pantry and why?

Maybe it’s just me 😊 .  After all, I am pretty close to the project.  But I sometimes think, “Out of all of the places that people can donate and help out, how did we get so lucky that they chose the pantry??”.

So, this week, instead of just wondering, I asked! 

A very kind neighbor and frequent donor agreed to answer some questions so I could get to the heart of what drives them to be so kind.  Their answers definitely inspired me and I think they will you, too!  Please check them out.

Some members of the Pantry Crew hard at work :) 

Information about how YOU can get involved and help feed the community is at the end of this piece.

Why do you choose to donate to the Little Yellow Free Pantry?

Oh, so many reasons! The biggest is that I know that not everyone who has food insecurity qualifies for benefits like SNAPs, WIC, and official food banks, and that even if they do, those benefits are pretty meager.  I like that the LYFP includes both staples like beans, rice, soup, etc., and “fun things” like condiments and spices. Also, necessities like soap, shampoo and dishwashing liquid that aren’t covered by SNAPs.

Also, it is easy, because of the online shopping angle and because it’s very close to where I live, so it’s fairly easy to drop off a contribution on most days.

On a personal level, I haven’t had to rely on public assistance (knock on wood), but in my younger years I certainly was helped by friends and family, and I know what it’s like to live on a tight food budget. Not gonna lie, I still can’t open a can of tuna for myself, although I’m happy to donate it.

 

What do you like to donate?  What is your favorite thing to donate?

I like to mix it up! I do like knowing what staples the pantry is urgently short of, so when Susan sends out a list, that guides my choices that week. When it seems like the basics are covered, it’s fun to shop for condiments, spices, and other treats that help make meals more interesting. And sometimes I like to throw in something different -- like a can of beets, sauerkraut or collard greens – that someone might be craving as a change of pace. And I really get a kick out of finding something that isn’t on the list but that turns out to be a hit with the guests.

Note from Kindness Activist:  You are soooo good at mixing it up!  When I see a bag of donations from you, I get excited just wondering what might be in it! 

Sometimes you send things and sometimes you shop locally and bring them over.  Just curious why both methods (I love that it is both ways!).

Well, that gets into my main method for donating. I get points for using a credit card that is tied to my Amazon account, so when I build up a lot of points, I go to the online wish list to cash them in. When I take a vacation or have to shell out for car repair or new glasses, the LYFP benefits! I know, I could use the points for myself, but I don’t really need more stuff, and somehow knowing that I will be able to use the points to help other people makes the cost of that new dental implant less painful. (I know that shopping at Amazon is controversial for a lot of people, but remember that I am getting the pantry food from there free by spending money at other places, so ….)

 

As for the local shop, I enjoy scouting the grocery bargains, and there, too, there are often bonus points in play. This week, for example, buying three cans of black beans, which the pantry seems to always need, earned me some extra bonus points, which can be “spent” on things either for myself of to donate. I like to compare the prices of the local store with Amazon and Costco, for example, and when I can buy locally for less, I try to do that. The local supermarket specials also can inspire what I donate that week.

Note from Kindness Activist:  this act of generosity makes my heart so happy.  As you said, you totally COULD use those points for things for yourself.  The fact that you choose to use them to be kind…  You are amazing.  Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!

How does it make you feel to help out the pantry?

It’s fun! I really do use it as retail therapy at times, but deeper than that, it’s an expression of gratitude for the life I have enjoyed. And I do like thinking about the person who gets a reprieve from worrying about how to feed their kids that day or who gets to have a different flavor than usual.

Note from Kindness Activist:  we feel the same way!!  Knowing that the pantry helps spice up someone’s day and fill bellies makes us feel GOOD.

Ever met a pantry guest when you came over or see someone getting food at the LYFP?

A couple of times there has been someone getting food at the pantry. I don’t put things right into the pantry unless Susan asks me to (!), but once when she did, I did quietly offer some things to a man who was perusing the selection, but I tried not to make a big deal if it because if I were in his position, I wouldn’t want someone making a big deal of it.

 

Anything else you would like to say?

I have learned a lot by paying attention to what Susan says the pantry guests need. I hadn’t, for example, thought about the number of people who do have housing but don’t have much in the way of cooking facilities, so that they really do need foods that are microwaveable or otherwise simple to prepare. I do try to donate a variety of things for people in different situations: People who can cook in kitchens and need ingredients, people who don’t have full kitchen access but have some way to heat foods, and people who really don’t have a way to store or cook much of anything.

I know that there will always be someone who grabs the convenience food even if they don’t really “need-need” it – although most of us occasionally reach for convenience food – and there will probably always be someone who doesn’t need free food at all but takes it anyway. I worked in an office where there were always a few of those people. But that doesn’t outweigh, to me, the benefits of helping the people who do need what’s in the LYFP.

 

I also would like to remind people that they don’t have to donate foods that they don’t agree with or believe in, whether that’s meat or sugar or GMO or whatever. I’m not interested in donating toaster pastries or sugary drinks, so I don’t. I get that kids like them, but I’ll spend my money (and points) on other stuff, and that’s ok. Someone else might not want to donate pork products like Spam, and that’s ok. Donate what resonates with you, and someone will want it!

Note from Kindness Activist:  the Pantry has taught the Pantry Crew a LOT, too!  Like you said, we hadn’t thought about the people who have a roof over their head but no access to a kitchen.  In our community, many people rent rooms in homes, and some of those rentals do not come with a shared kitchen.  We also went into this project with the (wrong) assumption that most of the guests who come to use the pantry would not have housing.  While we DO have guests experiencing homelessness, we also have many who have housing but not enough money left over after paying rent to put food on the table.   We have lots of guests who come after working long shifts, too.  They are productive, contributing members of our community who just need a little assistance.  Thanks for helping give them that!!

And there you have it!!  An interview with an amazingly kind human who supports Kindness Activist and the Little Yellow Free Pantry!!

If you would like to get involved and help out, we would be so very grateful.  As of June 13, 2025, the most needed items are:

     ·      Canned meat of any kind

·      Canned vegetables of any kind

·      Single serving boxes or cups of cereal of any kind (we are out of these)

·      Salt and/or pepper

·      Shampoo and/or conditioner (full sized bottles please)

·      Single serving drinks of any kind – we go through a lot of these, and now that it is hot they will go even faster (we have enough milk and water, need any other kind)

·      Condiments of any kind (mustard, soy sauce, mayo, ketchup, hot sauce, etc. – full size please, not restaurant size packets)

 

If you live in the metro DC area and would like to shop and deliver items, please place them in the tan and green plastic bin on our front porch.  We will bring them inside and store them until they are placed in the pantry.  Please do not put them directly in the pantry.  This system allows us get food to more people and ensure variety for all.  If you need the address for drop-off message me or email:  kindnessactivist@gmail.com . 

If you would like to order online and have items shipped, any store is great!  If you need our shipping address please reach out.

If you would like to order from the Amazon wish list for the pantry, items will ship directly to us.  That list can be found here:  LYFP Wish List

Proud Kind Kids, Happy Mammas

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mammas out there!

Kindness Activist held a Mother’s Day gift making event and boy howdy, did we MAKE THE GIFTS!

Each child drew a self-portrait and had a photograph taken.  Then they decorated a frame that had two 5 x 7 openings.  We printed the photos and shrunk the drawings to size and voila – fancy Mother’s Day gifts!

Of course, it was not quite that simple…  There were glitter “incidents”.  There was quite a lot of PAINT glopped about (including the purple that must’ve been on the bottom of my shoe before I walked into and through the house…).  There were “gem emergencies” when shiny rhinestones fell off and had to be reglued.

But there was joy.  Oh, was there joy!  Those kids were so PROUD of their work.  Most were very detailed and thorough and did not rush one bit.  In fact, the hour-long slots we allotted were not long enough, so the craft assistants never got any breaks between sessions, because as soon as one group finished the next group appeared.

One sweet girl showed up today.  Her mamma has been overwhelmed with work (and life), and thought today was the crafting day.  NOT TO WORRY!  We busted out the materials and supplies again and let the artist (and another child who was over) create! 

Apparently, the magic worked, because mom’s have been sending sweet messages of gratitude. 

·       My heart is full today. Thank you so much for organizing the super thoughtful Mother’s Day crafting project. I’ve in love with my updated pics and pictures. Thanks to the fairy godmother of Penrose!

 

·       I love the frames and photos so much! Thank you again so much for making this amazing Mother’s Day gift possible. And thank you for being a mother to the whole Arlington community  

 

·       Thank you soooo much for this beautiful Mother’s Day gift! I think this is the best gift I have ever received!

 

·       Thank you so much for the sweet and lovely gifts you prepared with the kids!!! I love them!!

 

·       My child gave me her present and it is absolutely adorable. I LOVE it!!! And the wrapping paper was so pretty. You are so kind to offer these special crafts that mean so much to us moms.

Thanks for trusting your kids to us.  We had fun creating with them and seeing their confidence grow, one brush stroke and glitter blob at a time.

 

Volunteer hours put in for this project:  38.75

Number of kids who made gifts:  21 (plus one child who made 2, so a total of 22 gifts)

Kindness Activist funds spent:  $279.89 (most of the paint, glitter, brushes, etc. were in our craft supply already, KA funds were spent on frames, printing photos and self-portraits, and wrapping paper)

Cost per child: $13.99

 

P.S. – sorry about the glitter that will get on whatever table you place your frame on, moms.

P.P.S. – if you can post a photo of your child’s finished gift in the comments that would be great!

Here are some of the amazing self-portraits.