The Power of Kind Children

Mackenzie, aka June Bug, held her 2^nd (she decided today should be annual) Hot Cocoa Stand today.  June Bug is 6 now – lost her front teeth and the adult ones have peeked through.  She is a bundle of positivity, energy, kindness, and love.

The event was 2 hours.  Guests were greeted by several young volunteers and told to start at the MUG TABLE.  There, they could choose whichever of the donated mugs they would like.  Next up, the cocoa table, where young helpers would fill the cups with hot, tasty chocolate.  Then over to the topping table where the amazing Lori presented people with very fancy and unique toppings to complete their cocoa.  Most guests also made their way to the snack table, which featured all kinds of delights, including some homemade hot cocoa cookies and Rice Krispie treats from Lisa and her amazing daughter Marin.  And Mac (of the infamous Mac’s Donuts) brought loads of fresh donuts.

Choose your mug

Snacks, snacks, and more snacks

Did someone say - toppings?

The sun was shining.  The rain that had threatened only dropped about a dozen drops as we were setting up.  And the wind – well that was steady enough that the planned fire in the fire pit had to be scrapped (but not before some enterprising youngsters got their marshmallows toasted and made smores).

It was so busy!!  People started coming at exactly 2 pm and kept flowing through until after our planned closing.  So many were there to support not only Kindness Activist, but JUNE BUG.  Her neighbors.  Her friends.  Her TEACHER (which she was very excited about). 

Kids ran around.  They played on the teeter totter/see saw.  They held up signs that other children had made to coax passing cars to honk and/or pull over for cocoa.  There was laughter.  There were smiles.  And there was kindness.  So.  Much.  Kindness.

During gatherings like this I often feel guilty, because with all of the setting up and managing and chatting, the pantry gets ignored.  It is simply impossible to do it all.  But a pantry crew member who attended, Teresa, kindly came up to me and asked if she could fill the pantry after she finished her cocoa.  Even while celebrating the beautiful day, she remembered pantry guests.

Kind drivers saw kids holding signs, including one that said HONK FOR COCOA.  And they responded.  They smiled and waved.  They honked.  Some parked and joined in.  And a few even rolled down their windows and gave cash donations, no cocoa involved.

I didn’t witness this kind act, but two people who did told me the story as we were finishing up and I got goosebumps.  They said that a guest came and donated $50.  But it was not for her cocoa.  No, she paid for that separately.  This was a $50 bill she had found on the sidewalk.  She explained that she had picked it up and hollered to the person she assumed had dropped it, but they assured her it was not theirs.  So, she decided that she would use that found money to do something kind.  And she did – by donating it to Kindness Activist today.

And people HELPED.  Kids made great signs.  Neighbors donated 113 mugs for us to use. Lisa and Marin worked very hard to clean chairs and then in the basement kitchen to keep the cocoa flowing.  Kasey and June Bug helped set everything up.  Kids helped serve cocoa and take donations.  Kids stood proudly with signs to greet passersby (including little John, who held a sign he had made that was illegible.  He was SO PROUD to hold it up to cars and holler, “Cocoa for sale!!!”).  People stayed to help clean it all up.  So.  Much.  Help.

Look at John's sign!  He made it himself

One man came up and told me he pulled over and came to join in because he saw these two sweeties

Mid-event, I stood on a chair and announced that it was going to be one young helper, Oliver, birthday tomorrow.  And with no hesitation that whole crowd lifted their voices and sang Happy Birthday to him as he stood and smiled, taking it all in.  Then another little boy came up and told me quietly that it was his birthday in one month…  So, I got back up on the chair and asked if we should sing to Nate, too, and the answer was YES.  Cue another round of the song.

I recognized one young guest, but was not sure who he was.  You know the feeling – you know that you know the person, but how??  I found out soon enough when he came over and started talking about that time he gave me one of his gifts from Santa Claus – a Chuppa Chuppa Melody Pop.

Ahhhhh – it was Gianni!  I wrote a story about him when I met him that day back in December.  He came to pick up his gift from Santa and sat right down on our front steps to open it.  He was so happy!  Read his letter from Santa straight away.  Shared the whole experience with me, and I loved it.

He was so happy to be here today.  We talked about his Christmas gifts – I asked if he had made the bubblegum in the science kit Santa gave him.  Yes he did –the flavors were watermelon and orange, and it worked great!  He also used the invisible ink pen he got from the North Pole.  And he used it to WRITE A THANK YOU NOTE to Santa!  Isn’t that the sweetest?  Gianni and I held signs by the road and had a great time.  Once, as I was walking around chatting with people, he came up to me and said very quietly, “I am going to talk to YOU the rest of the time that I am here”.  Heart.  Melt. 

And the kindness didn’t stop when the event was over. 

We offered the leftover cocoa and donuts in our local Buy Nothing group.  As we sat outside and waited for people to come, a pantry guest who I suspect does not have housing that I had seen walk by earlier in the day came by again.  I offered them cocoa, just as I had earlier.  But this time they accepted, and explained that they had been in a rush to get to the library before it closed the first time they came by.  After we talked a bit, I went downstairs and brought up food for them from the pantry stock that I know they like.  And because of recent donations, we had great things to give them.

The woman who got the leftover donuts from Buy Nothing, Jessica, came to pick them up.  She was excited because she had always wanted to try Mac’s donuts but never had.  After she left, I found out that she passed the pantry on the way back to her car and saw a mom and daughter there getting food.  Jessica did the kindest thing – she stopped and shared those donuts with the girl. 

It just felt like kindness begat kindness begat kindness all day today.  It was amazing.  My feet are tired, but my heart is full.  Very full.

June Bug and I will meet to brainstorm ways to use the money she raised today.  One thing is certain – she wants to buy some fancy stuffed animals (I think they are called Pets Alive) for kids at Children’s National Hospital.  I am sure we will find other creative and fun ways to spread kindness.

I will share the total collected here, but today was about so much more than fundraising.  It was about community.  And diversity.  And togetherness.  And support.  And KINDNESS.

Today was about love.

Total raised:  $1063.79

Isn’t that amazing?

Thank you to everyone who helped out.  To everyone who drank cocoa.  To everyone who donated.

And thanks to JUNE BUG.  Who inspires us all to be more inquisitive and thoughtful people.