$625 Million Dollars Worth Of Kindness??

Just a short accounting and story today, mixed in with a bit of my personal philosophy on kindness. 

A common belief about kindness that I disagree with is this:  kindness is meant to be shared only with people in need.

I’ve seen people get upset about people in Starbucks drive-thru s “paying it forward” and paying for the car behind them.  The argument goes like this, “The people obviously have enough money to buy their own iced vente latte, or they wouldn’t be in line at Starbucks!”.

 

Yes, they do have enough funds to cover their coffee order.  But I would ask this:  does that fact make them any less deserving of kindness?  Couldn’t we ALL benefit from a bit of kindness thrown our way?

 

I always keep that in mind when deciding on Kindness Activist acts.  I get contacted a lot about need based kindness – a woman with children getting out of an abusive relationship needing clothing, a family just arriving in America with nothing but a suitcase, a child whose parents cannot afford a birthday cake.  And we often used Kindness Activist funds to help in those situations.

 

But, I also like to remember to spread kindness not just where it is needed.  Not where it is an emergency.  But just in normal, everyday circumstances to people who do not ask for help, don’t “need” help, but still delight in being surprised by kindness.

 

And that is exactly what I am doing today!  I bought 9 Powerball tickets and am handing them out in Hollywood Beach, Florida.  I am here for work, but I have a couple of hours before I start.  The news this morning announced that the Powerball jackpot is now up to $625 million dollars!  So, why not hand some tickets out to unsuspecting strangers and wish them luck??

 

It’s harder than you think…  First – who to choose??? 

 

I saw the first person I wanted to treat as I walked into the store to buy the tickets:  an old man eating his lunch sitting on a stoop in a parking lot.  He had found a bit of shade, but it still really hot out and he was wearing a hooded sweatshirt and pants.  His skin was rough and leathery – it has seen a lot of Florida sunshine.  He may not have housing, I am not sure.  But as I came out of the store he was carefully throwing his garbage in a can – thanks mister!  So many people just throw it on the ground!  I approached, smiled, told him this gift was for him and that it may be worth $625 million, told him not to lose it, and wished him luck.  He didn’t say a word to me, just took the ticket.  As I walked away, I could hear him shuffling along the sidewalk slowly – shuffle, shuffle, shuffle.  I peeked back just in time to see him tuck the lottery ticket into his back pocket. 

 

Then I had to hunt down people to give the other 8 tickets to!

 

One went to a sweet couple sitting at an outdoor table eating lunch.  I think they were visiting from another country (and I bet as I walked away there was talk in another language of, “Wow, AMERICANS!  Why is that woman giving these away???” 😊 ).  One ticket went to a man doing the gardening in the hot sun in front of a small hotel.  One went to a man who jumped off a truck to empty a trash can.  One went to a man who gives towels out to pool visitors at a hotel.  One went to a woman cleaning the bathroom at a hotel.  One went to a man painting the side of a building in an alley (he was the only one to question me, “Why are you not keeping this for yourself???”.  I think he suspected a scam of some sort.)  One went to a lifeguard who had to whistle for someone to not swim so far out in the ocean.  And I can’t remember who I gave another one to!! 

 

Sometimes you read stories about people whose lives were ruined when they won a big sum of money.  Friends and family hounded them for cash.  They spent it all on drugs.  They went bankrupt 5 years after winning.  Etc, etc, etc.

 

I would like to think that if one of these people win, their lives would be made better and not ruined.  I would like to think that, if they win, they will fondly remember the quiet woman who walked up to them on a sunny day and handed them a winning ticket, no strings attached.  And that they, too, would spread some kindness to unsuspecting strangers.  Not just because people need it, but because we all deserve a treat. 

 

Now if you will excuse me – I have one more ticket to give away!  I need to find another lucky person!

 

P.S. – I also bought myself a Powerball ticket (with my own money, not Kindness Activist money of course).  Fingers crossed!!!

P.P.S. - maybe the examples in this story did not clearly show my belief that kindness shouldn't only be given to people in need.  Sorry!  I guess I have just been pondering that notion today.  

 

Kindness Activist funds used:  $18

Summer Kindness Pop-Up - LET THE KINDNESS SPREAD! Accounting #1

It seems like the Summer Kindness Pop-Up was just yesterday, but some of the money raised at the event and after ($4430.40 and counting!) has already made its way into the world to spread kindness!!  Here is an update:

• On our drive south recently, we stopped for gas in South Carolina.  I decided to spread a little kindness right there at the gas station by handing out Powerball tickets!  I gave 9 strangers the chance to become multi-millionaires!  Two worked at the Subway restaurant inside the gas station and the rest were customers.  One person looked particularly “down on her luck” – she was at a table with what looked like all of her belongings.  Of course, I will never see those people again, and I doubt any of them won the BIG PRIZE, but I sure hope that woman who seemed to be experiencing homelessness won a few bucks.  She deserves a treat.

Total spent:  $18

Fingers crossed someone won!

• A neighbor contacted me and explained that she was behind on her rent and really needed assistance.  I so respect people who are brave enough to speak out and ask for help.  So many of us suffer – needing help but afraid to ask.  Because of the Summer Kindness Pop-Up, I was able to help her make her rent for the month.

Total spent:  $150

• During a shopping trip to Trader Joe’s, we decided to treat a stranger to a colorful floral bouquet.  We checked out with our groceries and the flowers and asked our cashier to give the bouquet to their next customer.  We went out to our car and realized we forgot an item, so I had to run back in.  I saw our cashier and asked if he had given someone the surprise yet, and he said, “Right now!” as he pulled them out and gave them to a very stunned mother and her teenager.  I rushed off quickly so they wouldn’t see me, but the mom was easy to lipread, “REALLY?  FOR ME?  Who??  Wow!!”.  Later we watched as they walked thru the parking lot, flowers in hand, smiling broadly. 

Total spent:  $7.41

• My sister Annette died of GBM, glioblastoma (brain cancer) in 2019.  When she was sick and coming to visit me in Florida, I got a little silicone ice cube tray shaped liked brains.  I thought it would be funny to have brain shaped ice in our lemonade (that may sound gory, but we tried to approach the situation with as much levity as possible…).  I recently returned to our home in Florida after a 2-year absence and saw the ice cube tray.  Only this time, it was hard to see the humor in it – it made me sad.  So, I decided to give it away to someone else who might be able to enjoy it.  I listed it as a gift in a Facebook group for people who have GBM or are caretakers of someone with it.  Someone replied RIGHT AWAY and said they loved it and wanted it!  It made me happy to see it would get used and enjoyed.  Then another person wanted it!  And another…  End result – I used kindness funds to order 12 more brain ice cube trays!  They will be so appreciated by these patients and families!  I am waiting for them to arrive, then will mail them with personal notes of encouragement. 

Total spent:  $36.16

Would you like some BRAIN with that soda?

• I saw this post on a friend’s Facebook wall – “This summer my partner and I are serving as camp counselors for the non-profit Go Beyond.  We will be taking groups of teens to Wyoming for 10+ days on an amazing outdoor experience!  One of our kiddos is in need of some hiking appropriate clothes and other items for the trip.  We will be taking him shopping to get the things he needs for camp.  To share a little about this teen, this will be the first time he leaves the square block he lives on.  His parents are not currently involved in his life as they struggle with substance abuse and his grandma is his caretaker.  He is full of personality, has no fear and is excited for this amazing adventure!”  I love being able to support these kinds of needs!  Sure, we could donate to the non-profit “Go Beyond”, but because of this ask we were able to help a young man directly!!  He got a memory foam pillow and sheets for his cabin bed among other things.  Happy Camper!

Total spent:  $100

• Oh, this was a FUN ONE!  We were shopping at Home Depot and I had to urge to surprise someone with kindness.  We walked around the tool area until we found the perfect people – a couple that was looking at socket sets.  I noticed that they had been examining them for quite a long time.  I approached them and told them it was their lucky day – they had $100 of kindness money to spend in Home Depot!  The only catch was they needed to do it in 5 minutes.  Their eyes LIT UP!  “Really?  Are you joking???” they asked.  I assured them it was indeed real, and whispered to them to not just get one wrench as they turned back to the sockets they had been studying to decide.  Once they made their selection, they brought it to us and explained that they had been looking for a while because they didn’t really have the money to get what they wanted and needed.  They were going to make-do with a small set because it was what they could afford.  But because of kindness, they were able to get a really nice big set of sockets!  They were thrilled.

Total spent:  $95.37 (they did so well at maximizing their $100!)

Thanks for following along on this Kindness journey.  I consider it an honor to be the keeper of these funds.  Every penny will be used to spread kindness!

$416.59 Given Away So Far - How It Was Used!!

Oh.  My.  Goodness!!  More of the proceeds from the Kindness Yard Sale have been given out, and it is SO FUN!  It is both inspiring and educational to decide where to use the money and to see it go out into the world. 

As a reminder, a total of $1552.76 was collected at the sale.  (I think that number is a bit larger than last time I wrote, because another donation came in 😊 ).  Of that, so far I have given out $416.59 – over $400!!  This is the 3^rd accounting report.  Here are the most recent ways the money was used:

·         $6 was given out to GOOD DRIVERS in Arlington, Virginia!  Our house (which we affectionately call “The Big Yellow House”) is right on a very busy corner at a stop light.  At the stoplight, drivers are supposed to stop right behind our driveway.  They should know this because there is a big line painted on the road, and a SIGN telling them.  The reason they need to stop so far from the red light is because city BUSES have to make left turns on our corner, and if cars pull all the way to the light, the buses cannot make the turn.  And yet, despite the signage and the line, MANY drivers pull all the way up to the light…  This is so frustrating for bus drivers who are trying to do their job and get their riders where they are going on time!  So, I made 6 envelopes for good drivers who followed the rules, each with a $1 bill inside.  Then I stood at the line by the sign and handed them out to cars that stopped in the right place!  It was funny to see people’s expressions when I congratulated them on following the rules of the road.  One recipient said, “Well, I stop here because it is the LAW!”.  Yea buddy, I wish everyone followed your lead. 

     ·         $3.85 was used to pay for a stranger’s boba tea 😊.  I was having one (paid for with my 
            money of course, not sale proceeds) and it was fun for the person behind me, too.

     ·                $25 was left in an envelope at our hair salon for our stylist’s next client to help pay for 
                their  hair cut.   Our stylist, Gilbert, was excited to be included in the giving and promised 
                to make sure the person after us received it.

·              $20 was put in an envelope for someone pumping gas.  This was an interesting one…              First, I taped the envelope to the handle of a gas pump because I thought that would make        it obvious and whoever came next would see it and be curious enough to open the 

          envelope.  Only, it turned out that people didn’t READ the envelope, they just saw a note 

          on a pump and assumed it meant the pump was closed.  So, I moved the envelope to the 

          windshield of someone who had gone in to pay and get snacks.  We waited and secretly 

          watched until they came out.  They SAW the envelope, took it off, and (without opening it) 

          threw it on their dashboard.  Oops!!  At first I was a little disappointed, but it was a good 

          lesson for me:  once the money is given, it belongs to the person who found it.  What they 

          do with it (even if that is never open the envelope to find it) it up to THEM.  I have no 

          control over that.  

·          An older gentleman often walks in front of our house wearing a bright yellow safety vest.  I  

        have wondered where he was coming from, and on a walk recently I found the answer 

        – HE SWEEPS THE SIDEWALKS on Columbia Pike!!  He gladly accepted a $5 tip for 

        keeping the space clean.

·          $50 was given to the Arlington Free Clinic so that a patient could have their first dental exam

        for free.  I had often passed the Clinic since it is near my bank, but had never gone in.  It is 

        really NICE!!  The staff were so friendly, too!  I got a tour of the facility and an explanation 

        of how it works.  Medical care is free, as are most meds.  But patients have to pay $50 for 

        their first dental exam (thereafter treatment is free).  So now one lucky person will get clean 

        teeth for free!  The staff were very appreciative of the neighborhood donating there.

 ·         We had a fun time using $25 of the proceeds to pay for PARKING FEES for people leaving the garage at the Arlington Hospital.  Boy were they surprised when someone whipped out $5 bills to pay for them!  I would like to do that again sometime.  I hate that we have to pay for going to the hospital (or the doctor if your doctor’s office is in that building).  So if we can help ease that burden off of someone I am all for it!

        ·         I want to use some of the funds to pay for a patient’s prescription, but I haven’t been able to 

              do that yet.  I have tried 3 times but there is never anyone with anything to pick up!  

              However, there was an older couple filling out forms to get inoculations, and I got to pay for 

              those!  The woman gave me a big thank you and hug – that was the best $8 spent that day                      for sure.

         ·         $26.75 was used to pay for groceries of someone checking out at Safeway on Rt. 50.  The 
                shopper was very surprised, and promised to pay it forward and do something good for 
                someone else.  

  ·         While road tripping from Virginia to Florida, we pulled over to get gas.  I used $20 to buy 

         10 Powerball tickets which we then gave to people – the man cleaning a fast food 

         restaurant, a checker and the man working at the fish counter at a grocery store, and a few 

         more people.  Everyone was very excited to receive a gift from a stranger that might be 

         worth $120M!!  I put the last lottery ticket (in an envelope with a note and a Kindness 

         Activist business card) on the windshield of a car in the parking lot.  I was hoping it would 

         not blow away and sure enough it didn’t!  The owner of the car contacted me!  She wrote:  

        “I would love to know how or why you selected my car to put a lottery ticket on.  Was it a 

         one time occasion, random?  My heart needed this act of kindness.  Even if I don’t win…         It was a down day for me yesterday.  Thank you for your act of kindness.”.  Later she 

         showed me an awesome project she is working on – connectmycause.com .  She said her 

         motivation is, “To help nonprofits thrive and bring awareness to the community about the 

         nonprofit services available”.   Sounds like kindness to me!

  ·         We pulled over to check out a LOVE sculpture on the same road trip.  Isn’t it cute??  We         hid $20 in an envelope under the letter “O” with a note saying that we love love, and the 

         finder should take their love to lunch.  I wonder if anyone has found that yet…

 

   

     ·       I posted a question on the Kindness Activist Facebook page (which you should “like” and 
           “follow” if you don’t already 😊 ) asking:  “Hypothetical question: if someone handed you 
           $50 right now, what would you do with it?  #KindnessActivist”  80 people viewed the post.                 13 people “engaged” with it (not sure what that means…).  And only 2 took the time to think 
           about what they would do and reply.  Those 2 were each rewarded with $50!  Rebecca Lahan 
           donated hers to RAICES to help immigrant children on the Mexico/America border, and 
           Samantha Blackby is using hers to buy new back-to-school tennis shoes for a child in 
           Kentucky whose family can’t afford them.  (Story on those gifts here:  Taking Attendance )

·       My sisters and I like to paint rocks and hide them for people to find.  We mostly hide them in parks and in the Cancer Center where Annette is being treated.  While they were painting rocks recently, I painted a big pine cone (my big sister helped put on some dots, too).  I put $10 in an envelope with an envelope saying the finder could use it for ice cream and hung it and the pine cone from a tree in a park (not a pine tree – we wanted it to stand out to passersby).  After I hung it, my sisters told me that a man (presumably homeless) had been peeing in the bushes nearby and saw me doing something in the tree.  At first we all thought, “Oh man – the guy who was peeing in the bushes is going to get the money, that’s yucky…”.  At first the man didn’t look in the tree, but then he turned and saw an out of place pine cone with an envelope…  He stopped and looked, then took the envelope.  He opened it, read the note, and put the note and money in his pocket.  As we watched from a distance, I realized he was the RIGHT person to find it.  He was in the right place at the right time, and he paid attention to the world around him.  I was glad he happened upon it.  So glad, in fact, that I took the pine cone down and we will hang it up again today with a new envelope and $10!!

 That is the current accounting report.  $40 is earmarked (in envelopes) but hasn’t been given away yet, so I will save that for the next entry. 

Thanks again to everyone who donated, shopped, and believed in the Kindness Yard Sale.  And GO OUT AND SPREAD KINDNESS EVERYONE!