Kindness Yard Sale Update - Sleds, Food, and Hope

Here is an update on expenditures from the Kindness Yard Sale!  Check out some of the ways money raised at the sale has been used to spread kindness!

- You may have seen Little Free Libraries.  They are small “libraries” outside of homes.  The concept is that people can take a book or leave a book.  They are popular in my area and so, so fun.  Well, I saw a twist on the concept!  A woman in Omaha posted, “Sleds for Little Free Sled Library - ISO extra sleds. I know people have complained about a shortage of sleds this year, so I’m putting this on our sledding hill in Black Elk Park (above the north baseball field). If you’ve got extra sleds, I’d love to add them.”

A LITTLE FREE SLED LIBRARY!!  I contacted the woman, got her address, and used Kindness money to send her 3 shiny new sleds.  She was thrilled!  When she got them she said, “Thanking post.  Susan, you are amazing! These sleds are nicer than anything I would have bought, even for my own kids. I’ll put them out after tomorrow’s snowstorm.”

These are the sleds purchased with Kindness Yard Sale money!

Omaha has gotten a LOT of snow this year so I bet those sleds will be well used by the time Spring rolls around.

Money spent: $123.02

- The night before Thanksgiving we found ourselves in the grocery store.  As we went to pay, I noticed a couple checking out with one item:  half a pumpkin pie.  After they checked out, they stopped to peruse the beautiful live Christmas trees in pots.  They were quite tall and lush – very, very pretty.  I watched as they examined all of them, then came back to the one they obviously loved.  They talked quietly to one another, then turned to leave.  I rushed over to them, “Are you going to buy a Christmas tree?” I asked?  The woman smiled shyly and explained that they were not.  As they turned to go, carrying only half a pie, I decided that they needed the tree.  “Wait!  I have a Christmas gift for you!”.  We rang their tree out with our purchase as they looked at us with wide eyes and huge smiles.  They thanked us repeatedly as they took their new tree with them.  It was such a nice way to get into the Christmas spirit.  From the looks of things, I imagined them spending Thanksgiving with just the two of them.  I hope the Christmas tree brought them some special holiday joy.

Money used:  $25

- A woman in a local group asked if anyone had a special stroller buggy board that could hook to the back of her baby stroller.  It would allow her to have her older child stand on the back while she pushed the newborn baby.  No one replied that they had one to give her, so I ordered her one off Amazon.  She was thrilled!!  When I dropped it off her husband was outside hanging Christmas lights, and he “God Blessed” me several times.  This was money well spent.

Money used:  $105.99

- A neighbor was trying to make a Fairy Garden for two small girls who lived nearby.  She asked if anyone had any Fairy Garden supplies.  Well, that seemed like a request that needed to be filled!!  I bought supplies and several neighbors made and painted beautiful little treasures for the garden.  One woman even used a 3D printer to make a fairy house!!  We ended up supplying that garden with a lot – a Grandfather clock, 2 houses, a tiny mirror, a bed…  Those fairies had to be very pleased!!

Perhaps this is one of the fairies who visited...

Money used:  $35.58
(Value of fairies: priceless)

- Another neighbor was collecting items for a homeless shelter in Washington DC.  One thing she asked for specifically was new socks.  Homeless people often have issues with their feet because they may not change socks daily, and their feet sometimes get and stay wet inside their shoes, so clean, new socks are a premium.  I ordered 30 pairs of socks for her to hand out.  She was very thankful.  And really, doesn’t everyone deserve fresh, clean socks?

Money used:  $90.05

- Having lost 2 family members recently, I am involved in some grief support groups online.  I saw this post in one group: 

“My brother died at 47, unexpectantly, last September 12. The very next morning, I went to the school and informed all of my niece's instructors. I specifically made sure she had enough lunch money so she didn't have anxiety over not having lunch money at their cafeteria.

Last Friday, my husband had a stroke. He is still in the hospital and making progress. I now have custody of my niece and had to work the election yesterday. My daughter came home with lunch money due - I forgot to send her money. I realized that there is no one left to help, like I did. I am feeling so alone right now. There isn't anyone to run help here, or can you get this, or anything. I hate this so much. I have to pull myself together. I own my own business and time off is money, but I am emotionally so exhausted and the feelings of grief are just overwhelming.”

My heart ached for this woman.  It was not money she needed, but SUPPORT.  I contacted her and asked if I could send funds to replenish the school lunch accounts.  She was amazed that a stranger across the country would offer support.  I hope that she is feeling better these days.  Grief is a long, long journey.

Money used:  $200

- This expense was a fun one, because it turned out to be kindness begetting kindness!  As we were checking out at the grocery store one evening, I saw two young adults checking out.  They seemed to be being very deliberate with the purchases.  I approached them and asked if they minded if I paid for their groceries with Kindness money.  They stammered, smiled, and said sure!  Then they explained that THEY were being kind by shopping for their GRANDPARENTS!!  Isn’t that the quickest kindness boomerang you have ever heard of??  I loved it!

Money used:  $32.68

- I have never been an online shopper, but Covid has changed that.  And one thing I learned is – you can shop anonymously for other people’s wish lists!!!!  Talk about FUN!  One evening I was feeling down and knew that a dash of kindness would cheer me up, so I hunted for an Amazon wish to grant.  I searched for someone with my last name who had a special occasion coming up.  I found one!  Lauren appeared to be graduating from nursing school!  Here is the note I wrote with the gift, a keychain she had chosen:  “Lauren, I don't know you, but found your gift list on Amazon. I run the program "Kindness Activist" - sharing kindness with the world. I saw you're graduating this year! GO YOU!! You Believed You Could - and you DID!”

Money spent - $15.18

- Spousal abuse has skyrocketed during Covid.  Being pent up in the same space, often 24/7, has been disastrous on many relationships.  So, when I saw someone trying to find furniture to set up an apartment for a woman who had gotten out of an abusive relationship, I knew Kindness money was needed.  The woman had broken free and was setting up her new apartment with her one year old child. 

I can’t imagine how hard that situation must be.  It was almost Christmas.  It was cold.  And she was alone with her little one.  People pitched in toys, clothing and furniture.  And I used Kindness money to get a small Christmas tree, poinsettia, and grocery gift card.  Did she NEED a plant (poinsettia) in her nearly bare home?  Probably not.  But I like to think that a bit of LIFE – the green and red of the plant – brought her joy.  I hope that the support she got from the community rallying around her helped her get started on her new journey.

Money spent:  $57.98

Thanks again to everyone who shopped at the Kindness Yard Sale, donated, played 2020 Sucks Bingo, and joined in the cause in other ways.  There will be more fundraisers and opportunities to get involved soon.

I will try and do better at writing here.  There are stories of Kindness Yard Sale purchases from NOVEMBER that I still haven't shared!  I will catch up!  

And please, keep your eyes open in your own community for ways that YOU can spread kindness.  It doesn’t have to involve money.  Maybe you can hold the door open for someone.  Let someone in front of you in traffic.  Or make eye contact and smile at a stranger.  Kindness is contagious – spread some around, you will be glad you did.

(Little Free) Library Kindness

Have you ever been taking a walk and come across a tiny wooden LIBRARY in a neighbor’s yard??  I have, and boy was I was intrigued!  I went up and checked it out and learned that they are called “Little Free Libraries”.  They are an amazingly kind trend that has spread all across the country, actually, around the WORLD!!  As of January 2016 there were over 36,000 registered Little Free Library book exchanges – some in every single state in the USA and also in 70 other countries!!!

“Just what ARE Little Free Libraries (LFLs)??” you ask.  Well, first off they look like this:

Classic, simple, elegant

Or this:

Color, wild, and zany

And one of the ones in my neighborhood looks like THIS:

BEAUTIFUL and matches the house!

They are small (usually) wooden repositories for BOOKS of all kinds.  The LFL librarians (also known as stewards) keep them stocked.  And here is the best part – the books are not to LEND, they are to TAKE!  So it is neighbors sharing books with neighbors!!  Isn’t that fabulous??  They function on the honor system – so if you take a book today, it sure would be nice if you brought back a book (or 2 or 3) the next time you are in the neighborhood.  J

Ever since I saw a LFL a couple of years ago I have thought it would be awesome to have one.  We live in an area with a lot of walking traffic and I think if we put up a LFL it would have a lot of users!  Alas, real LFLs do not come cheap…  The most inexpensive one on the website is $149, and if you spend any amount of time perusing the choices of LFLs you will undoubtedly decided you “need” one of the fancier models.  I mean, just LOOK at the “Modern Two Story”!!  

Isn't this a cool design??

The official website explains that it is understood that not everyone can afford to purchase a “real” LFL and makes some great suggestions about repurposing other items and turning them into free libraries.  I may do that someday.

But in the meantime, I am lucky to have a few LFLs within walking distance of my home, so I decided to contact Michael Rhode, a LFL “librarian”,  to learn about why he has a LFL in his yard.  Here is what he told me:

Michael's LFL in the snow!

“First, one has to be a booklover. That leads one down all kinds of paths.  I had read about them (LFLs) in the Washington Post, and thought they were interesting. A few months later, I needed an idea for Christmas so I bought one for a family gift for Christmas 2013. The family may not have completely agreed with the thoughtfulness of the gift. My daughter and I painted it and opened it up in February 2014.  Now that it is up and running I do most of the upkeep and swapping out of the books when something is just not moving. My wife arranges the books so people can actually tell what's in the library.”

Michael and his daughter painting their LFL

When I asked him how having the LFL makes him feel, he told me, “Well, selfishly, it's a way to see new books that other people put in, and to move on books that I don't want. Also, everybody knows it as an Alcova Heights (Arlington, VA) landmark now. In the end though, I love books, and love sharing them, and can't bear to see unwanted books, so it's a feeling of satisfaction.”   

I was curious if users of the LFL left him thank you notes, and he said that they do not, but that many people thank him in person.  And when I asked him to speculate on how his library makes the people who benefit from it feel, he said, “Most people seem to think it’s right neighborly”.  J  I say, if you are lucky enough have a LFL that you frequent in your neck of the woods, take a moment to write or draw a little thank you and put it in the library! 

I wondered how much WORK it would take to run a LFL, and he assured me that once you build one and get it all in the ground, there is not a lot involved.  He explained that the things you have to focus on most are “overflow” – i.e. having TOO MANY books for your library, and having books get “stale”.  He gives stale books to our local county library for their annual sale.

Rain, snow, or sun - the LFL is a good addition to the neighborhood

Of course, since he is so involved in the library, I had to ask him what his favorite book is, right?  He told me, “I read so much that I don't have a favorite book anymore I'm afraid. I'd recommend “The Art of Richard Thompson” of which I'm an editor. As a teen, my favorite was Roger Zelazny's five-volume fantasy story “The Chronicles of Amber”, and that still has a place in my heart.”

I think purchasing, putting together, installing, and RUNNING a LFL for your community is an act of kindness.  It shares not only books, but joy with the neighborhood, free of charge!  But Michael doesn’t look at his library as a kindness.  He said, “Well, I don't really consider it kindness, but it's fun and it makes people happy. Anyone who likes to have a nice chat about reading with someone new on a sunny day should consider putting a LFL up. I love to find a new one, and will often go out of my way to stop by and check them out.”

Thanks for helping the neighborhood have things to read, Michael!  And maybe you have inspired some others to put up a LFL in their yard!!  If you want to learn more about LFLs or see where you can find one near you, visit:  Little Free Library website

Michael, thanks for making Arlington a better place.  You might not look at your LFL as an act of kindness, but I sure do.  I say you are a Kindness Activist!!  Thanks for having a positive impact on our community.