All Around Kindness

Every once in a while I hear about somebody that really piques my interest.  Someone that makes me wish I could meet them in person.  And recently, thanks to Kindness Activist Amanda Nicastro, I heard about somebody that made me think, “Man, I really want HER to be MY FRIEND!!”.

Amanda is amazingly kind.  I mean, she DONATED A KIDNEY for goodness sakes (story about that super duper Kindness Activist act is here:  Donating Kindness).  So when Amanda emailed me and said she would like to nominate her friend DANA KRASHIN to be a Kindness Activist, well I sorta knew Dana would be deserving.  But I didn’t know how much of a flood of kindness would be reported to me by so many of Dana’s friends!!

Amanda and Amelia Bienstock (another friend) each secretly posted on Facebook (hiding Dana!), asking friends to reply with stories of kindness they had been lucky enough to experience because of Dana.  Well, it didn’t take long at all for the posts to start rolllllling in.  Guys, DANA ROCKS in the kindness department!!!

First off, Dana is a runner.  Like, a super fit marathon type runner.  But it isn’t enough for her just to RUN, oh no, she takes it to a WHOLE.  NEW.  LEVEL. 

Dana with a complete stranger at the Philly Marathon.  

Dana does volunteer work for Team Hoyt (and has raised A LOT of money for them).  I am not a runner by any stretch of the imagination.  I mean, I might run if chased by a snake, but that would probably be the only reason. So when people mentioned Dana volunteering for “Team Hoyt” I figured it was some “runner thing” that I wouldn’t really understand.  Oh, but if you watch this video, you WILL understand… 

The website to learn more about Team Hoyt and how YOU can help them, visit here:  Team Hoyt

Go TEAM HOYT!!

OK, so Dana runs.  And volunteers a lot for Team Hoyt.  But guess what else she does while running?  (Note:  this is the part that hooked me on the idea of Dana, this is right up my alley!)  SHE MAKES HOMEMADE MEDALS, CARRIES THEM IN HER FANNY PACK WHILE RUNNING, AND HANDS THEM OUT MID-RACE AND AFTER THE RACE TO FRIENDS AND STRANGERS!  Medals!!!!!  Is that not the most kind, fun thing you can imagine at a marathon???  I would love to be running (ok, I would hate to be running, but IF I was running, I would love this part…) and have Dana come up beside me and say, “Susan, you look like you are having a bit of a hard time.  But it’s ok!  You can DO IT, girlfriend!!  Here is a “I Got My Butt Off The Couch” medal that I made!  Keep running!!!!!”.  Sometimes she goes to events she isn’t running in just to cheer and hand out medals.  I totally know that her medals (and smiles and cheers) have inspired people and will continue to do so. Make sure you check out #FollowThatFannyPack to see stuff about Dana bringing joy and encouragement to loads of runners.

A MEDAL!!

Look - a homemade DANA MEDAL!!!  Lucky recipient!!!

Dana also INSPIRES people to run.  Her friend Amelia told me this: “I 100% could not have run a marathon ever without her. One day we agreed to go on a run. I told her that I was out of shape and definitely couldn't run more than 2 miles, but somehow she convinced me to run 6!  That was twice as many miles than I had ever run before. A few weeks later, she was like, "Hey, let’s go around the park another time," and that was my first 12 mile run. I was hallucinating after but sure enough, I did it, and absolutely would not have been able to push myself to do that without her. She was there for my first half marathon (and my 15^th!) and my first marathon. She's the reason I run. She's also so fun to run with, friendly, encouraging, has great outfits. We even started a show together that is currently called "The Runway" where we interview runners about what they are wearing.”  And her friend Danny told me about a particularly hard race where her mental image of knowing Dana would be at the finish line to cheer for her is what kept her going.

Team Hoyt crossing the finish line at the Boston Marathon!!

Dana not only runs, she is also a performer – she is part of the People’s Improv Theater (PIT), where she is an improviser and the “Random Acts of Kindness Queen”.  She does a TON of cool (and kind!) stuff for fellow performers!!  Kathleen O’Mara told me, “When I got on the PIT house teams, the first night of shows someone introduced her to me and she confidently said, “Oh, I know Kathleen.  She’s funny!”.  I am not sure we had ever met and if we had it was in passing at best, but it made me feel really good and confident on a day I was really nervous and insecure.  She’s a bright ray of sunshine.” 

Dana at the mic

Performing, especially IMPROV, really requires teamwork and the support of everyone on stage.  From the sound of it, her PIT teammates would love to be on stage with Dana any day of the week.  “She takes the mistakes of her teammates; the awkward moves, accents, gestures and she gleefully spins them into comedy gold.  You can do the worst set of your life on a stage with Dana and walk off looking like a genius because she cares enough to make the people around her look good through supporting their comedic offers, making blunders look intentional and just diving in to save a teammate who is floundering on stage- never worrying about looking foolish or bombing, just wanting to support, never wanting to leave you out there alone,” said Jessica Clark.

And how about THIS???  Dana joins the lottery every single day to try and get tickets for the Broadway show “Hamilton”.  Only, she isn’t trying to score them for herself – she is trying to win them FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY so that they can go see the always sold-out show!!!!!!  As someone who really wants to see “Hamilton”, I can so support this kindness on her part!!  She used to have to physically go to the theatre to enter the lottery, but now it is all online.  But still – I mean – who does that???  Who scores the hottest tickets in town and then LETS SOMEONE ELSE HAVE THEM?  Dana, that’s who!!!  And friends Amelia Bienstock and Giancarlo Osaben appreciate her kindness in this department (as will another person who doesn't even KNOW yet that Dana scored them Hamilton tickets!!).    

Dana just GETS kindness – she exudes it!  And in today’s world more than ever, we NEED people like her!  Check out what she did for her friend Christine Prynn: “I had a travel companion for my tours and cross country trips – a stuff animal of young Simba from The Lion King.  I posed Simba in different places to post pictures on Instagram.  On a trip back from Colorado last February, I lost Simba in the Denver Airport and was pretty bummed about it.

Oh no - Simba has gone missing...

Dana contacted the airport every day for two weeks to try and find him, but he never turned up.  Instead, she secretly bought a new stuffed Simba and opened a new Instagram account for that toy, posing it all over New York in a search for ME.  She and several people from Unauthorized were mum about the whole thing until a few weeks ago when she confessed.  The new Simba has passed hands and is continuing his travels for the time being.

It’s one of the loveliest gestures anyone that wasn’t my mother has done for me.  I’m impressed and flattered that Dana went to such lengths to find a replacement toy and entertain me.  This is one of the countless examples of what a loving, generous friend she is.”

As someone who travels with a mermaid tail and photographs herself in it all around the world, I can so relate to this story and how sad I would be if I left it in an airport.  But in the Simba emergency, Dana jumped in (as usual!) and saved her friend Christine’s day!

And it is not always “little” things like medals and stuffed animals that Dana does.  She also organizes big surprise SHOWS!!  She did one for Kindness Activist Amanda after she donated her kidney: “After I donated a kidney Dana contacted my all lady improv team and organized a whole surprise show in my honor. It really meant a lot to me. I was still processing this huge thing that had happened to me and not quite sure yet of how to talk out it with everyone.  Dana swooped in and made me feel loved and at ease to be enthusiastic & take pride in what I had done. And when our friends Abbie and Sean got married she organized a surprise secret show for them as well. They had gotten engaged at the theater and I know the show meant a lot to them.”

The big Kidney Show that Dana organized

Dana also picks out the perfect gifts for her friends, ones that when they use them make them think of her and smile.  Tamsi told me, “I am wearing a pair of socks right now that says “Let’s Taco About Love” and I own them because Dana saw them and thought about me and got them for me.  So I guess you could say, “When you ‘Taco About Kindness’, you TACO ABOUT DANA KRASHIN!”.  Another great gift she gave was to Amelia: “A few years ago at the annual PIT Holiday party, house team members got these really cool hoodies and interns (me…) got hats. I was bummed because the hoodies were awesome and I really wanted one.  Well, Dana secretly told everyone in the office that if they go on sale NOT to let me know or buy one, and then she went and bought one for me and gave it to me for my birthday. It was really sweet.”  And she found the perfect bracelets for her friends, too!   She got them bracelets that say, “It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon” after they completed their 1^st marathons.  And hey, Rachel Schwartz got pumpkin muffins hung on her door when Dana went home from Pancakeland, just cuz Dana knew she liked ‘em!  Damn, she is a great gift giver!!

Medals AND bracelets???  What a friend!!!

Dana organizes Biggest Loser contests with her friends and family.  Everyone who joins pitches in $100.  The winner gets half the pot, and the rest of the money goes to Team Hoyt.  Well, it is Dana’s contest, so she writes the rules, and wouldn’t you know one of the rules is:  IF DANA WINS, ALL THE MONEY GOES TO TEAM HOYT.  Bingo – first year of the contest, Dana wins (as does Team Hoyt!!).

I kept the whole “Kindness Activist” thing hidden from Dana for a while so her friends could write and share photos secretly.  But then I contacted her to get HER SIDE of the story.  I wanted to know what her friends had been saying about her and see what she had to say about her kindness. 

Wouldn’t you know it, she bawled. She hid in a public bathroom reading Facebook messages her friends had secretly written about her and CRIED.  And she totally thought she was UNDESERVING to be a Kindness Activist!  Can you believe it??  She is this super amazing person, and she said something like, “I am a fraud!  I am not kind!  Now Amanda, SHE is kind, she DONATED HER KIDNEY!”.  So I politely asked her to please take a breath, wipe her tears, blow her nose, and accept that she is, indeed a KINDNESS ACTIVIST.  J 

And then I asked her some questions.  Here’s what she told me:

Me:  Do you deliberately set out to be as kind as you are?  Do you have to "work" at it, or is it just a natural flowy kindness-y thing with you?  

Dana: “I don't really think there's any other option.  Also, I don't think the seemingly kind things I do are for the other person...it's really just plain selfish.  Doing fun things for other people makes me feel great and like I have a purpose.  It's so, so, so selfish.  It's totally selfish.  I love doing this stuff.  I love spectating.  It's my own favorite thing to do and it makes me so happy and energized and excited.  It makes me feel like I have a purpose.  So I guess it falls on the flowy side cause I'm pretty sure I couldn't live with myself if I didn't do simple easy things that made people smile.  It seems like the only choice.” 

Dana is an amazing person.  

Me:  What are some of your favorite examples of kindnesses that you have bestowed on others?

Dana: “I love surprises.  They stress me out like crazy, but I love them.  I love throwing surprise improv shows for people.  Oh man - that's the best.  

I love marathon spectating.  My family has only one tradition.  We didn't really do regular holidays but we ALWAYS went to mile 8.4 of the Boston marathon route to cheer for Team Hoyt.  For over 3 decades my family gone to this event as marathon spectators and it is in my blood.  So I loooooove spectating races for other people.  I love making medals.  I make them for my friends and for strangers.  Ugh - I love giving out medals.  I love holding signs for people.  Blowing bubbles, writing on the ground with chalk, wearing ridiculous costumes.  So I guess this is nice for someone running a race or for random runners, right?

Dana's family's spectating spot :)

So after spectating for most of my lifetime, I finally started running way late in the game.  Boston 2013 was my first marathon.  I got a charity slot running for Team Hoyt and raised a ton of money for them.  It all goes to organizations that make the lives of disabled young people better.  

Then I got stopped at mile 22 after the bombs went off and wasn't allowed to finish my first marathon. So who knows if I ever would have run another marathon...but being told to stop made me not be able to ever stop.  Now I've run 9, soon to be 10, and that's not enough.  Don't ever tell me I can't do anything.  So it became my mission to get more people running.

I'm not really sure if I had anything to do with this, but in the fall of 2012 when I got invited to be on Team Hoyt, I knew my dad was a marathoner and I had like one friend who was a marathoner.  Now everyone I know runs.  I'm not in any way saying that I made these people run or helped these people run, but I did try to spread the joy of it and it seems to make people happy...wait what were we talking about?!! :)

People who know me know that I will hold them to things they want to do for themselves.  Sometimes I'll call you early in the morning if you need help getting up for a run. I love checking in with people on losing weight, quitting smoking, other stuff like that.  I just think it's nice to feel like you're not alone in these battles.” 

When I asked Dana if she wanted to add anything else about her kindness, she told me this: “I have never been able to figure out what I wanted to "do for a living."  I just wasn't sure I could live with myself if I was doing anything that didn't seem completely for the good of other people or that was fun or happy.  So I've refused to commit.  Probably not the best plan, but here I am, teaching for non-profit after school programs as a teaching artist, coaching a little running, and doing a ton of unpaid improv and performing and marathon training.  I guess what I'm saying is - what I do for a living isn't my waiting tables on the weekend job...I call that rent.  The other stuff is the living.  When I can take a day off from the restaurant to go be ridiculous and watch my friends run a marathon that's 4 loops of a park and I can cheer for them for hours...that's a great day.  That's my living.

Dana is really kind to ANIMALS, too!

Also I think it's really important to note that I'm pretty sure I get a lot of this from my mom.  She's the marathon spectator that showed us the way.  She also always does everything for you.  I know everyone says that about their mom, but mine really does.  I knew if there was something I wanted, really hard to get concert tickets, a Cabbage Patch kid on the day they went on sale and you had to stand in line all night, a Muppets Baby HappyMeal Gonzo that NOBODY had... she would figure it out.  She is amazing like that.  Sometimes I have to say to her, "Hey do you have any idea how I can...(fill in the blank)...but PLEASE only tell me if you know the answer don't go making this into a project.

Dana and her mother - the woman who taught her to be so kind

I guess that's it.  I love the project of making people happy or giving them exactly what they want (if they knew it or not).  That I got from my mom.”

Well, I have to say that I think your friends and the strangers that you inspire are thankful to your mom for passing down that amazing trait to you.

Here are just some of the amazing things people said about Dana:

“Dana is the nicest, most supportive member of any community she is a part of and cares about everyone.  She makes you feel like you are one of the most interesting and important people in the world when you talk to her.”  Kathleen O’Mara

“She is the best person to get salads with and she still talks to me even after she has seen me cry a million times.”  Adrian Sexton

Dana is just pure support and kindness and light.  Dana rocks hard.“ Heather Jewels

“Dana is able to believe in people when they feel unable to believe in themselves. She is consistently looking for ways to bring a large, competitive, sometimes cynical community together. She celebrates others. She empathizes with others. She improves the lives of others.” Tamsi New

“Dana is by far one of the most driven, encouraging, inspiring, and supportive people I know.”  Amelia Bienstock

“Dana is just endlessly, tirelessly, indefatigably supportive.  She’s your biggest fan.  Your one woman cheering section.  She’s the human embodiment of “You can do it!”.  In a comedy world full of cynicism, she is a fount of sincere enthusiasm.” Jason Specland

“Dana always reaches out. I can be a real hermit, and if a week goes by that Dana and I don't talk, she will always text me and check in. She is probably my only friend who does this. I don't know if we're closer than she is with other people, because I suspect there are probably 40 people who have the exact same experience with Dana, but she makes me feel special and loved. Running brought us together, but I feel like wherever life takes me or her, we will always be friends. I count her as one of my closest, most trusted friends, and I feel lucky to have her in my life.”  Emily Johnson

“She gives so much love and support to her friends and to strangers that it balloons around her, connecting people.  Her kindness transcends and creates communities wherever she works or plays.  She’s a total love bug who wells up with emotion over the human condition on a 24/7 basis.”  Jessica Clark

“I remember the lead-up to the 2012 holiday party and the office discussion regarding who would win the PITizen of the Year. I think we spent all of 2 seconds before unanimously agreeing Dana would be the recipient.”  Keith Huang

“Dana does a million things 24/7, yet she always finds time to express her appreciation of others.  Dana’s kind words and thank yous always come from the heart.”  Mamma and Pappa Bienz (these are not her REAL parents, but this is what she calls them and they obviously adore that!)

“There isn't a thing Dana wouldn't do for the people in her life, and she asks for nothing in return. Over the last few years her selfless kindness has inspired everyone around her to do the same. Simply by existing the way that she does, she reminds me to be kinder to people. Everyone in our community of friends and colleagues is kind, supportive, and generous, and I dare you to find a single person who hasn't been inspired to act this way because of what Dana does.”  Danny Weinstein

LOOK – after you have read all of this about Dana, I know you are as inspired as I am.  Please, use that inspiration.  Go out and DO SOMETHING GOOD for the world.  Give a friend some socks!  Hand out a medal to a perfect stranger!  Inspire someone to run!! 

And for gosh sakes, follow Dana  on Instagram @followthatfannypack

Dana Krashin - KINDNESS ACTIVIST!

Tear-Off Kindness

A while back I wrote a piece called COMPLIMENT KINDNESS, which you can see here.

It was about a project I did where I hung tear off strips of compliments in my neighborhood, which went over really well.

Today I am sad yet again at the state of our country.  More gun deaths – this time in Minneapolis and Baton Rouge.  It seems never ending, and it is hard to feel hope of things ever getting better.  I applaud people who are standing up and speaking out.

In the spirit of maybe making society a teeny tiny bit better, I have hung out a new sheet of tear off strips.  This one is called “Make the World a Better Place” and it has 19 little tear off strips that passersby are encouraged to choose from and then act upon.  The sheet looks like this:

  

Quick ways YOU (yes you) can make the world a better place.  Take 1 and USE IT.

Call your mom or dad and tell them you love them

Carry a stranger’s groceries to their car

Send someone a real card or letter, not an email

Give a flower from your garden to a neighbor

Pay for the person behind you at the coffee shop

Give someone a genuine compliment

Pick up trash that someone else left

Smile at people as you ride the escalator

Leave a quarter in the “have a penny take a penny” jar

Tell a kid how great he or she is (and mean it)

Let someone ahead of you in line

Bring cookies to work for sharing

Share produce from your garden

Post something NICE on Facebook or Instagram

Stop by the fire station and say THANKS  

 Buy stuff at a garage sale and say “Keep the change”

Send a letter to a former teacher thanking them

Give a granola bar to a homeless person

Take back someone else’s grocery cart for them

Look, I know that these simple little things that I am hoping to inspire people to do are not going to change the world.  They are not going to protect innocent lives.  They are not going to make it safer for black men in America. 

But I hope that they DO make people think.  And I hope they make people ACT.  And if we all could stop, think, and ACT kinder and nicer to everyone, well, then wouldn’t the world be at least a smidgen better? 

Would you hang one of these signs in your neighborhood, too?  If you would like the template to print one, comment below or email me at kindnessactivist@gmail.com .  Maybe these tiny reminders of how simple little gestures can improve the world are one itty bitty way to make a dent in negative state of our country. 

As for my sign, 3 strips have already been taken.  I am hoping that someone has “sent a real card or letter” to someone, given someone a “genuine compliment” and “picked up trash that someone else left”.  Bit by bit, piece by piece, I hope someway we can improve the world

Facebook Kindness - IMPORTANT UPDATE!

When I started this Kindness Activist project, a friend and fellow interpreter contacted me with an idea.  Kelly said she would pledge to do an act of kindness that I thought would be impossible:  she was ONLY going to post kind things on Facebook for an entire year!  No negativity, no snark, just KINDNESS...  Here is the original story about that:

Facebook Kindness

Ok, sooooo, Her pledge was a wee bit more difficult that she had imagined.  I mean, it is an ELECTION YEAR, people, and this election is a doozy.  And you may not have noticed it, but there is a huge battle about gun rights raging...

So Kelly kinda sorta hasn't been able to keep her "only KIND things on my Facebook wall" pledge. She has posted things like this:

Guns...

And stuff like this:

Kelly wasn't the only person ticked off by this Trump stunt...

And to her credit, she also posted stuff like THIS:

Buddha Doodles - BE KIND

 But far and away, the best, favorite, most IMPORTANT and BEAUTIFUL thing she posted is THIS:

Kelly and Lisa

KELLY GOT MARRIED!!!!!!!  Congratulations, Kelly and Lisa!!!  I am so excited for you both. Best wishes for a lifetime of happiness together.

Kelly, you bring joy to so many people.  Thank you for being a Kindness Activist.  And yes, you can keep your Kindness Activist button.  :)  Nobody's perfect!  And your Facebook posts still make me smile.

Karing Kindness

I saw a video recently that went viral that really caught my eye – maybe you saw it, too.  It was about a little girl named KHLOE who has a project called KHLOE KARES.  Here’s the video on Pop Sugar Celebrity:  

  

Khloe and Khloe Kares have seriously gone VIRAL!  Her beautiful caring (karing J ) is being shared on so many different fronts!  The Huffington Post did a piece: Huffington Post piece  Cosmopolitan did a piece:  Cosmo piece (not sure how her mom feels about her daughter being called “badass” in that one!).  Even People Magazine did a feature on Khloe!  People piece

9 year old Khloe “klicked” with me for a couple of reasons.  First off, she and I share the same last name!!  And secondly, she and I both hand things out to homeless people!!  So I decided I needed to talk with this little girl to see what makes her tick.  I mean, she is definitely a Kindness Activist! 

Konnecting with Khloe via email was easy, but konnecting on the phone was much harder…  Khloe and her mom are stars right now, and I am sure their phone is ringing off the hook and they are travelling here, there, and everywhere to get the word out about Khloe Kares.  After a couple of failed attempts at talking on the phone, we settled on email.  Here’s what she and her mom had to tell me.

Khloe on a bag delivery mission!

Khloe, who will be in 4^th grade when school goes back in the fall, kept walking by a homeless woman in her Irvine, California community.  So she decided to do something to help out – she started making her Kare Bags.  She and her grandma sew them out of fabric!  Isn’t that terrific??  When I hand things out to homeless people I usually put the goods into Ziploc bags, but Khloe saw the need for these women to have functional, lasting, and might I say, STYLISH bags!!!  She and her grandma have sewn 200 so far!

I asked her what exactly they put in the bags, and she told me: “We put a lot of stuff in the Kare bags like tooth brush and toothpaste, socks, lotion, soap, shampoo and conditioner, feminine products, wash cloths, wipes, hand sanitizer, deodorant, first aid kits and we just added tee shirts, sun block and toilet paper“.  Isn’t that great??  I think their new additions are perfect and will really be helpful to the lucky women in California who receive them!

A very grateful recipient of one of Khloe's bags

Sharing these essential items with women gives them more than the toiletries, it gives them a connection.  I bet they are so happy to have an interaction with Khloe.  She said that giving women the bags, “Makes me feel good that I'm helping. And maybe even putting a smile on their face,” and told me that the women always tell her thank you, God Bless You, and give her hugs J .  I am guessing those hugs mean even more to them than the shampoo.

I asked Khloe’s mom to describe her daughter in 3 words and she chose:  giving, sweet, and compassionate.  Would we all like to raise children with those traits??  She told me, “It's always hard for me and her dad to take credit for Khloe and her kind spirit. She was born like that. We truly believe that God made her this way. She has always been a sweet little girl. Any advice I would give to other parents is support their dreams and visions. That's what we did. And it turned into something positive where she is helping others.” 

Khloe getting one of those hugs she mentioned!!

And when I asked if all of the recent media buzz has been difficult for such a young child, her mom said, “Khloe has always been a kind little girl. And even with all the attention she is getting she is still grounded and at the end of the day her mission is to help people.”  I say – go Khloe go!!  While other kids her age might be playing video games or watching television, she is getting out into her community and making a big difference!  And inspiring others to do the same.

Khloe wanted to make sure that people hear about another big project Khloe Kares is doing - a toy drive on July 16th. “We will be donating toys to the kids at the Raise Foundation. It's going to be a fun day and a day of giving back.”  You just know that if this toy drive is anywhere near as successful as the purses she makes, there are going to be LOTS of children made happy by her activism.

I think Khloe summed herself up perfectly when she said, “I'm just a normal kid that has big dreams. “

Way to go, Khloe.  You are an inspiration.  Thanks for shining your bright light in this world and helping so many homeless women. Your kindness has made us all, including your parents, more aware of this population that needs assistance.  Her mother said, “She has opened our eyes and she has giving us a new respect for the homeless community. Treat everyone with love and respect.”  I think we can all agree to that! 

To learn more about Khloe Kares go to:  Khloe Kares

And to donate to her GoFundMe campaign, see:  Khloe Kares GoFundMe

For other stories and photos of kindness, make sure to like our Facebook page - Kindness Activist 

Orlando Kindness

My heart has been heavy lately, thinking of the horrible events that took place at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida.  49 people were killed in an act of hatred, terrorism, and intolerance.  It was a senseless act that has caused a city, a state, the whole country to pause and take time to reflect and cry.  Like many things in America, especially in election cycles, it has also escalated political arguments about immigration and gun control. 

The purpose of this blog is not to share my personal beliefs on issues, except for my core belief of KINDNESS.  So we will let the debates that have arisen continue in other venues (with my voice being expressed loud and clear in those spaces) and let THIS SPACE be one that resonates KINDNESS.

Two beautifully kind Orlando events were shared with me today that I think shine a light on the spirit of love in that city.  My partner David has performed twice in the Orlando Fringe Festival, an annual theatre event that hosts performances from around the country.  Because we have been there for Fringe, we have made lasting friends that live in the area.  We think of them and all of those that are personally affected by this tragedy. 

The first kind Orlando action brought to my attention today are two groups working hard to ensure the funerals of Pulse victims are respectful and peaceful.  One group is Angel Action Wings for Orlando.  It consists of theatre people coming together to make sure that the funerals are not disturbed by hate groups. 

Angel Wings - full of love and peace, being modeled by Tyler Schank, Orlando performer

Modeling the back of the wings - Marlie Tollefson

Westboro Baptist Church, from Topeka, Kansas, is a “church” that appears to have hate as its core value.  They travel around the country to protest events like military funerals, concerts, etc, and have been given a permit to protest the funerals in Orlando.  But Angel Action Wings for Orlando has been busy planning, sewing, and organizing to make sure that the funeral in Orlando will be filled with love and respect instead of hate.  Patrons of the arts have donated fabric and volunteers have sewn very large angel wings (74” long and 36” wide).  Volunteers will work in shifts wearing these wings during the funeral services, using them to block out the hatred being demonstrated behind them.  Instead of hate, mourners going to the funerals will see love and peace.  THANK YOU, Angel Action Wings for Orlando.  Your kindness and warm spirits remind us that love prevails. 

These people MADE the wings.  Thank you!  (Names listed below)

Lindsay Taylor working on a set of angel wings

Human Chain Link for Pulse Funerals is another Orlando group working hard to make sure families and friends of Pulse victims can grieve in peace.  They recently had over 400 people show up with flags and signs of peace and love to block out any hatred at Orlando events.  They spread POSITIVE messages.  In this time of sadness and grieving, it is wonderful to see that some kind souls take action and do all they can to make the world a better place.

Love wins.  Human Chain Link for Pulse Funerals in action

Orlando KINDNESS

The other beautiful example of kindness came across on a friend’s Facebook page.  Christopher Levy is very active in the Orlando Theatre community (one of his jobs is Music Director of the Winter Park Playhouse).  He shared a poignant example of a Kindness Activist in action:

Chris

“I went to Office Depot this evening to pick up an ‪#‎OrlandoStrong banner for the Playhouse. It was going to be my contribution. When I went to pay, the woman behind me in line asked to pay for it. I said "Oh, thank you, but it's okay, this is my donation" and she insisted on paying. I broke down. I could barely get out anything beyond "thank you". We hugged. And I'm posting this because it's important that a) just when you think you're okay, you're not, and b) to counter all the stories of unfathomably heinous behaviour shown by some people, and show that there is still good in the world. Anne Frank was right.”

Such a simple yet amazing action by the woman in the store.  Her kindness inspired not only Chris, but the hundreds of people who have read the post and will hear the story.  THANK YOU, unknown woman at Office depot.  Your kindness makes a difference in the world. 

Chris with the sign at the theatre - THANK YOU kind woman in Office Depot!

Orlando, we are thinking of you, grieving with you.  #OrlandoStrong  #OrlandoUnited

Resources:

OneOrlando is a group that has been set up to provide support to victims and their families.  Please visit their site and donate if you are able:  https://www.oneorlando.org/

Angel Wings for Action has a long history of supporting funerals and events that are protested by hate groups.  They began after the founder,  Romaine Patterson, was shocked to see the hate filled neon signs of Westboro Baptist church at Matthew Shepard’s funeral.  Read about Angle Wings for Action here:  http://eatromaine.com/1/laramie-angels.html

The Orlando Playhouse will host a benefit event for victims on June 23, 2016.  Please see this article to learn more about it and attend if you can:  Winter Park Concert for One Orlando

Names of those pictured in the photo of angel wing makers:  Front-Piper Tollefson, Mollie Tollefson, Marlie Tollefson, Becca Haskins, Jeannie Marie Haskett Back-Shaina Tollefson, Simone Smith, Kristina Tollefson and Misha Tollefson   Not pictured: James Erwin and Delson Junker

Article on the Westboro protest, and the Angel Wing action:  Angels to Block WBC

Thanks to Jeannie Marie Haskett for photos

Victims of attack on Pulse Nightclub:

•  Stanley Almodovar III, 23 years old
• Amanda Alvear, 25 years old
• Oscar A Aracena-Montero, 26 years old
• Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33 years old
• Antonio Davon Brown, 29 years old
• Darryl Roman Burt II, 29 years old
• Angel L. Candelario-Padro, 28 years old
• Juan Chevez-Martinez, 25 years old
• Luis Daniel Conde, 39 years old
• Cory James Connell, 21 years old
• Tevin Eugene Crosby, 25 years old
• Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32 years old
• Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, 31 years old
• Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25 years old
• Mercedez Marisol Flores, 26 years old
• Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22 years old
• Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22 years old
• Paul Terrell Henry, 41 years old
• Frank Hernandez, 27 years old
• Miguel Angel Honorato, 30 years old
• Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40 years old
• Jason Benjamin Josaphat, 19 years old
• Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30 years old
• Anthony Luis Laureanodisla, 25 years old
• Christopher Andrew Leinonen, 32 years old
• Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21 years old
• Brenda Lee Marquez McCool, 49 years old
• Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, 25 years old
• Kimberly Morris, 37 years old
• Akyra Monet Murray, 18 years old
• Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20 years old
• Geraldo A. Ortiz-Jimenez, 25 years old
• Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36 years old
• Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32 years old
• Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35 years old
• Enrique L. Rios, Jr., 25 years old
• Jean C. Nives Rodriguez, 27 years old
• Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, 35 years old
• Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz, 24 years old
• Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan, 24 years old
• Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34 years old
• Shane Evan Tomlinson, 33 years old
• Martin Benitez Torres, 33 years old
• Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega, 24 years old
• Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, 37 years old
• Luis S. Vielma, 22 years old
• Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez, 50 years old
• Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37 years old
• Jerald Arthur Wright, 31 years old

Croc Kindness

My friend Jody heard about this project and introduced me to her sister Amy.  Amy is most definitely a KINDNESS ACTIVST, and I was thrilled to hear her story.

Amy and her husband have two adorable children, Lilia (age 11) and Kaiser (age 6).  Both were adopted – Lilia from Russia and Kaiser from Ethiopia.  So just that fact, that this family is open-hearted enough to adopt two children, makes me smile.

Beautiful family with huge hearts

But there is much more to the story…

When Amy and her husband went to Ethiopia the first time, they were struck by the kids’ SHOES.  Amy told me that the kids they saw were wearing shoes that were way too small, much too big, or had big holes in them.  Some of the children only had ONE SHOE.  Amy’s husband said, “Wouldn’t it be great if we could collect a bunch of shoes to bring back to Ethiopia on our second trip?”.

You get where this is going…  And it is terrific!

Amy says, “We just had it in our heart that this is what we were supposed to do.”  So do it they did!  They set a goal of collecting 100 shoes to bring to Ethiopia (which Amy was secretly doubtful they could make).  They decided to collect CROCS, because most of the kids they saw did not have socks so Crocs would be a good shoe for them. 

They set their sights on 100 pairs of Crocs...

They made pleas to their families, their church members, and everyone they could contact via Facebook to donate shoes.  Their Croc collection for those little kids in Ethiopia was ON! 

And here is the amazing part:  they collected 377 pairs of Crocs!!!!!!!! Crocs of all colors!  Beautiful, sturdy, functional CROCS!!  Amy says, “God provides, and we felt awesome.  We felt like even through the little things, God shows that he does care.  He cares about people far away.  He cares enough to pull our hearts towards kindness and giving”.

Now THAT is a lot of CROCS!!

They brought so many shoes to Ethiopia with them that every single child in the orphanage where they were adopting their son Kaiser got a pair!  Not only that, they had even MORE shoes to give to several other orphanages in the area!!  “The kids were ecstatic!  When they came out with their shoes on, they were all smiles and so thankful,” Amy told me.

Little feet in little Crocs!
 (They could not take photos of children's faces other than their own son)

Isn’t that just great??  They gave one child a forever family – a brand new life.  And they gave all of the children at the orphanage a beautiful gift of sturdy shoes. 

How could you NOT fall in love with this cutie????  Here is Kaiser in a pile of Crocs!  :)

Like almost every Kindness Activist I have interviewed for this project, Amy downplayed her story.  She said that they were more blessed by the experience than the kids.  And she stressed how much need there is in the world, “Even if we worked every day for the rest of our lives, the need would still be great”.  This is, of course, very true.  But it is people like Amy and her family that help put a dent in that need and serve as shining examples to the rest of us. 

And, as icing on their kindness cake, they also brought 300 Matchbox cars to hand out in Ethiopia.  J 

Thank you for sharing your inspiring story, Amy.  If you know of a Kindness Activist, please tell me about them!  Email me at kindnessactivist@gmail.com.  And be sure to “like” us on Facebook (Kindness Activist).