Just Be Kind

I could never have imagined…

When I started my experiment of actively looking for kindness - noticing it, talking about it, writing about it – I could never have imagined what would happen. 

How this simple experiment could reach so many people, touch so many lives, and change my own life.

“Just Be Kind”.  That’s what the green neon sign that hangs on our front porch shines to passersby.  Just be kind.  It can be taken two ways really.  “Just be kind” – as in “come on – just please be KIND” – an imperative I guess.  Or it can mean “just be kind” – as in, “it’s simple – just be kind”.

But however you interpret it, this simple mission of spreading kindness, then being open and honest and discussing it, has changed my world.  It has given me a new outlook on life.  It’s introduced me to people that have become close friends.  It has given me a platform.  It has made me stronger.  It’s taught me to delegate, to share the load.  It has afforded me so many opportunities to talk to strangers.  It has taken over our home at times.  It has made me realize how interconnected humans are.  And it has given me so, so much joy.

You know, it's hard to narrow down all of your beliefs into a sentence or two – into a mission statement - but we are getting there.  And in the meantime, the activism continues.  There are more strangers to surprise with kindness.  More children to invite into the mission and more neighbors to get involved. 

We escaped to New York City for a couple of days to see a friend perform.  While we were there, a piece in the Washington Post that included Kindness Activist ran.  It was even in the Sunday print edition.  We got home at about 1:45 am Sunday night and I brought the paper in from our porch.  I took out the metro section and peeked at the article.  I was astonished to see my photo in the newspaper, yet again, this time surrounded by Amazon boxes full of donations that readers of the Post sent to fill the Little Yellow Free Pantry.  The article tells what happened after stories about several different organizations and situations ran, how readers responded and supported the causes.  Kindness Activist was just one of several stories mentioned, yet it was our photo that was chosen to be in print. 

Made me tear up.  Such an honor.  I wish my parents could see it.  Wish I could mail them a copy (or 2 or 5…).  I know they would be proud.

Thank YOU for being a part of it all.  For following Kindness Activist’s journey and supporting us.  None of the work that we do would be possible without COMMUNITY – people near and far – cheering us on and being advocates.  Thank you.  You are appreciated.

Kindness Ripples From A Stranger

Who would think that unpacking boxes of donated food could make a person cry…

And yet this evening, it has.

I was out of town over the weekend and the Pantry Crew took over pantry duty for me.  They are a crack bunch of humans who bring in donations and fill the pantry.  You see, since the LYFP has been in existence for 2 ½ years now, people have come to rely on it and know that if they need something, it is a resource.  So, when we are not here to take care of it, the Pantry Crew takes over.

As I was waiting for my Lyft to take me to the airport on Thursday, the Amazon driver stopped and dropped off some boxes.  I rushed to put them inside before jumping in my ride.  And the Pantry Crew brought more boxes that arrived while I was gone.  Now that I am back home, I have begun the task of opening boxes and putting the donations onto the storage shelves.

And that’s what brought me to tears…

People are donating in memory of E.A. Raven.

 

I told the story of this amazing human last week.  She was the “patron saint” of the Little Yellow Free Pantry – a complete stranger who must’ve heard about Kindness Activist by reading about us in the Washington Post or seeing the story about us on “On The Road With Steve Hartman”.  However she heard about our mission, she supported it wholeheartedly and gave very, very generously.  When her sister, another stranger to me, reached out to tell me that she had died, I cried.

 

And this evening donations coming in bearing her name made me tear up again.

 

Cheesy mashed potato cups.  Go-Go Squeeze.  Toilet paper.  A summer sausage. Shelf stable meals.  Soup.  Maple Flavored Spam…  And more.

 

All in memory of E.A. Raven.

May her generosity and commitment to making the world a better place continue to create kindness ripples near and far. 

Thanks, E.A. Raven.  Your work continues.  You are remembered.

(If you would like to donate items to the Little Yellow Free Pantry, the Amazon wish list is here:  Little Yellow Free Pantry Wish List

You can sort the list by priority (high to low) to see what is most needed. 

What is urgent as of November 6 is jars of peanut butter of any brand and type (we are out), cans of vegetables and fruit, cake mixes of any brand and flavor (we are out), and shelf stable meals (like Hormel Compleats or something similar – we go through a lot of those). 

THANK YOU.

 

 

 

 

Letters to Santa Makes the Washington Post!

I am so happy with an article in the Washington Post that came out today, December 10, 2022. 

The writer, Theresa Vargas, contacted me and asked if she could do a story about the Santa Project. She wrote a piece about the Kindness Yard Sale a couple of years ago, and this is a bit of an update on that if you will. The thing about my Kindness Activist work is that the yard sale is usually what gets the most attention. I get that - I mean, it is quite unconventional. 

But to me, the yard sale is just the fund raiser for the actual WORK that takes place throughout the rest of the year - surprising people with KINDNESS (that is funded by the sale). So, when Theresa asked if she could highlight the Santa Project I was thrilled. She is such a great writer. She is fun to interview with (which is not the case with all authors) - she truly listens and brings out the stories. The Santa Project is my favorite Kindness Activist event of the year. To share it with the world via The Washington Post is an honor. 

 Please read the story - it taps into the essence of the magic that is happening at the Big Yellow House. And, if you are interested in pitching in and fulfilling a child's wish, click the link in the article that says "gift giving project". 

If you cannot access the Amazon Wish List link from the article, go to this link:  Santa Project Wish List

And to read the beautiful article, go to this link:  https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/12/10/letters-santa-mrs-claus/?fbclid=IwAR1BqeuPFuCSLr_dZTkiAekWIFTwgj7lGysC2vjk1SXDKW6gnr1sx_4T8fo

THANK YOU AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!