PIE It Forward! Kindness Yard Sale 2020 Accounting Update

There’s a lot of negativity going around lately, what with Covid raging and the election almost a week away. So, I thought I should take a moment to update you on how I have used more of the money raised at the Kindness Yard Sale! Nothing like a bit of KINDNESS to take the edge off of a tense time. First off – PIES! “What??” you wonder. “Pies? What does PIE have to do with kindness?”. Well, I PIED IT FORWARD! More specifically, I went into our amazing local pie shop, Acme Pie, and left 2 cards (each with $40 in them) for the next 2 pie shoppers to come in. I figured the shoppers could get their pie with that money and use the left-over money to spring for some ice cream to put on top of the pie, a cheap bottle of wine to drink with it, or whatever else they wanted! I have no idea who came in after me to find that their pie had already been paid for, but I can only imagine it brought a smile to their face. 

Total spent: $80

Acme Pies in Arlington, VA are the BEST!

Next up – COFFEE! A neighbor is on furlough due to the pandemic, so has limited funds for groceries. The local grocery store had an amazing sale on bags of coffee, it was “buy 2, get 3 free”!!! PLUS we had a coupon! Well, I couldn’t pass that up! So we got lots and I left the bags of coffee on the neighbor’s doorknob. Boy was she happy. She said she would have enough coffee to last a good long time. 

Total spent: $16 

See this girl? Her name is Bella and she is 14 years old. Not only is she smart, she is also an entrepreneur. She has opened her own online business selling earrings that she creates from fun stuff!!! I donated $50 of the Kindness Yard Sale funds to help her buy more knick-knacks to create earrings. I wish her and her new earring shop well! If you are in the market for funky earrings, you can find her work here:  Bella's Earring Shop

Total spent: $50 

Bella and her dog

I am a sign language interpreter. Professionals in my field, like many others, have been hit hard by the pandemic. Many interpreters freelance – going to doctor appointments, therapy, business meetings, etc. And many of the settings where they normally work have been closed since March. This has meant no income. So, I used some of the yard sale money to donate to a fund started by RID (Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf). The money will be used to support interpreters in need. I am proud I am proud to say that as of tonight, 27 donors have raised over $6000 for the fund. If you would like to contribute to this fund, go here: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/registry-of-interpreters-for-the-deaf/covid-19-certified-interpreter-relief-fund Because interpreters are ESSENTIAL. 

Total spent: $50.40 

Image from the RID campaign

The other day I took myself out for breakfast at my favorite local coffee shop for the first time since Covid began. I sat at an outside table, but while I was inside waiting on my order I noticed a woman organizing school supplies by putting them into tote bags. She told me that her name was Anika and that she was starting a non-profit to help underserved youth in our community. She had run a Go Fund Me campaign, hoping to raise a lot of money to buy new school supplies for kids’ whose families could not afford them. Her Go Fund Me did not reach the goal she had hoped, but she was marching on anyway, making as many supply bags as she could. That sounded like just the kind of project that the kindness money was raised for, so I gave her $20 toward her cause. 

Total spent: $20 

Specially packed bags of brand new school supplies ready to be delivered

A woman in our county, Jaimee Wise, recently had a brain aneurism. Luckily, her young son noticed there was a problem and got help quickly. She is in a coma and the family will have a lot of medical bills, so $100 of the Kindness Yard Sale money went to a Go Fund Me for Jaimee. If you would like to help out, too, you can find the information here:  Go Fund Me for Jaimee Wise

Total spent: $100 

This is Tri. She lives in my community. She recently took a big step and sat for her lactation consultant exam. She, like me, is a nervous test taker. So BEFORE her test some Kindness money was used to get her a multi-amazonite bracelet (with the hopes the “woo woo energy” in it would help her be calm and take her test (the website says, If your nervous system tends to run away like wild horses over the hills, this Multi Amazonite Energy Bracelet is the ticket to temperance, hope and a happy can-do attitude. Amazonite is known as The Hope Stone, and this bracelet is comprised of specially selected stones that ebb and flow like sunlight on water and a thousand grains of sand on the shore.” Then, for AFTER her exam, I used a bit of money to get her a bottle of sparkling wine to celebrate. She doesn’t get her results until December, but I have a good feeling that she passed. 

Total spent: $23.99 

Tri, soon-to-be LACTATION CONSULTANT!

That’s it for now. More stories coming soon, including a re-telling of a recent Kindness Activist fundraiser – 2020 Sucks Bingo!! Until then, please keep spreading kindness. The world really needs it these days.  And if you know of someone that could use a little kindness, send me an email at:  kindnessactivist@gmail.com.  I am always looking for good ways to throw kindness around like glitter.

The Kindness Continues - Yard Sale 2020

It’s time for another update on how funds raised at the 2020 Kindness Yard Sale are being used!  Get ready, it’s a good update and the money is spreading lots of joy!

First off – FLOWERS

Who doesn’t like flowers, right??  There were some vases left over after the yard sale, so I put them to good use!  I bought bouquets, arranged them, and handed them out to people who deserved some sunshine!  We delivered one to the local fire station, one to the police station, one to the man at the hospital who was working outside the emergency room checking temperatures before people could enter, and one to the hard working people at the post office.  The flowers made the recipients smile huge smiles.  Their jobs are sometimes thankless.  If you have a moment, make sure to thank important workers like them!!

Bouquets full of love and kindness

Total spent:  $35.98

Next up – VIRTUAL SCHOOL

Like many districts across America, our school district decided on remote learning.  I am not a parent so I have not experienced this personally, but every parent that I see is stressed beyond the limit at trying to make sure their children don’t fall behind in this difficult new virtual environment. 

So, I decided that the PARENTS needed some encouragement.  I bought parent-worthy treats and wrapped them in pretty boxes.  Inside were:  a can of wine (yes, you can buy wine in single serving cans!), a bottle of hand sanitizer, tea bags, chocolate bars, biscotti, a Kind bar, and a cake in a cup mix. 

Little treats for overworked, overstressed parents

Each came with a pretty card and this note:

“Dear You.

Yes, you.

You didn’t PLAN on being a teacher.  Or maybe you DID, but you didn’t plan on doing it from your HOME with your kid/s on iPad/s. 

And yet – 2020.

Here you are.

And it’s NOT EASY.  In fact, it is downright HARD!!!

But you are doing it.  Cuz you have to – it is what needs to get done.

There may be tears.  A bit of yelling.  Maybe even a curse word or 2…  But never-the-less – you will persist!!

And you deserve a little treat.  Everything in here is for YOU.  Not for your partner.  NOT for your kids.  But for YOU – the one making sure the iPads are fully charged, the missing headphones are found, and the kid sits in front of the screen and pays attention to the teacher.

These treats were purchased for you using money raised at the 2020 Kindness Yard Sale.  ENJOY!”

Presents ready to be delivered

I made 8 gift boxes, then just started knocking on doors!  It was a little odd knocking on stranger’s doors but it was also fun.  I had a lot of “no answers” (they were probably busy learning on their iPad!) but then finally someone came to the door.  I explained what I was doing and the woman happily took the gift.  One man was very skeptical and asked what was inside the box.  I explained and he replied, “No thanks,”.  That’s ok, buddy!  More treats for someone else 😊 .   

Delivery in progress

The recipients loved the boxes.  Here is what one parent told me: “Thank you so much.  I’m actually a little teary eyed.  It’s been rough and we (parents in general) have been worried about how our kids will fare, sad that this is their “normal” (my son started his first year at middle school), and just stressed that we are not “doing it” right.  The thing is, no one is really encouraging parents because we are all busy encouraging the kids.  So, this gift is refreshing, and a salve on our wounded belief in ourselves.  Thanks a trillion.  I owe you a real hug after the Rona takes her leave.” 

Total spent:  $57.41

Thirdly – CRAZY SOCKS

I saw this post in a Facebook group:  “Hi, I'm new to the group. If this isn't appropriate, please delete... I HAVE A FAVOR...A VERY SPECIAL FRIEND OF MINE IS TURNING 9, today (but hey, she's not going to care if they are late). Maddie has the heart of gold and spreads kindness wherever she goes. I was wondering if some of you wonderful painters would be willing to send a rock to her for her birthday. If so, message me and I will send you her address. (I have her mom's ok.) She loves the colors pink, blue, purple. Flowers, butterflies, polka dots the Eiffel Tower, she loves crazy socks LOL. Their family doesn't have much money right now and I just thought this would lift her spirits. She is so easy to please. Thank you for making this birthday a special one for Maddie.”

Well, that was a no-brainer!!!  I contacted the author and asked if it would be ok if I sent a pair of crazy socks!!  (I am a crazy sock lover, too!  I have a whole drawer full.)  I picked some mis-matched watermelon socks and Miss Maddie loved ‘em. 

Crazy socks are the best

Total spent:  $13.95

And finally for this update – A RAINBOW

I saw this rainbow rug on a recent Ikea shopping trip and I KNEW who needed it. 

A neighbor has been doing great things for the community all during Covid.  She paints rocks and makes games with them!  She paints very detailed, gorgeous rocks, then hides them in neighbors’ yards.  Then she puts a sign at the end of the block telling people what to look for and how many rocks they can expect to find.  It’s super fun!  She has done the solar system, rainbows, quotes, Hamilton, and now the final game of the season is about voting.  Her rock hunt is a terrific excuse for lots of people in the neighborhood to get some fresh air and exercise.

This neighbor is also a fierce advocate for the LGBTQ+ community.  Her family has pride flags and signs out all year round.  So, let’s just say, I knew this door mat would fit right in!!

One rainbow rug, comin' right up!

We snuck it over and dropped it off quietly with no note.  It didn’t take long for her to figure out where it came from 😊 . 

Total spent:  $12.99

That’s it for this update.  There are literally thousands of dollars left in the 2020 Kindness Yard Sale fund, so expect more “accounting” news as it happens.  Now get out there and SPREAD SOME KINDNESS!

Sweet 16 Kindness

I really believe that the vast majority of people WANT to help, want to be KIND.  But sometimes we get so busy and overwhelmed by our own lives that it is hard to see where we can help out in someone else’s. 

But when people are brave enough to raise a hand and ASK for a little assistance, kindness and love overflow.  It’s beautiful!

And that’s what happened recently here in Arlington, Virginia.  A mom contacted me and explained that her daughter’s 16^th birthday was coming up.  She wondered if there was any way our community could help make it a SPECIAL day for the girl, even though Covid restrictions are still in place and money is tight.

And do you know what?  That’s all that was needed.  An ASK.  A clear request for what would be helpful – a blow-out party for a special girl turning 16!!!

A group of 18 women had been working together to help another family.  I posed the question to them – would they like to work on a 16^th birthday party, or were they “helped out” from the other generous things they had been doing for the other family??

I bet you can guess where this is going, can’t you?  Those 18 women rolled up their sleeves and went to WORK!!!  “What is her favorite flavor of cake??”, “What does she enjoy doing??”, “What is her favorite color???”…  Messages and questions flew for days!!  We were ENERGIZED – we had a MISSION!!!

And even though we all had our own things to be worried about – sick family members, school starting, house renovations, work, etc. – having this PARTY to plan seem to give us energy and life!!  I don’t think any of us KNEW the birthday girl.  But we had all turned 16 before.  And we all wanted to make it a special day for her!

Each person pitched in.  One offered to make cupcakes!  One ran to the store to find a shirt in just the perfect color for the birthday girl!  One asked other people to donate items that the girl would like!  And piece by piece it came together – like a big birthday puzzle!!  The birthday girl had a wish for special shoes.  She had picked out some really cool Vans.  So, one group member scoured the internet and found the same exact shoes locally.  And even though she was super busy building a little schoolhouse and taking care of her family, she drove out and got the shoes.

Beautiful necklace for the birthday girl

Perfect make-up case for a strong woman

A member of our community heard the birthday girl liked skateboards so donated his longboard!  A member of the small group and her boyfriend had the equipment needed to make personalized vinyl letters to decorate it and spent HOURS getting them just right!  The longboard turned out PERFECTLY!  They also made the plain shirt into a printed workout shirt with the birthday girl’s favorite Bible verse on it! 

Longboard BEFORE

 

Longboard AFTER!!!!

Donated gifts came in – books, journals, beautiful photo prints….  Some gifts were purchased new with money raised at the Kindness Yard Sale.  And everything was wrapped carefully (and fancy!) to surprise the recipient.  20 presents were ready to surprise a special stranger.

Gifts just waiting to be opened!

A time and location was set.  A photographer was sent to the location (my partner, David 😊 ).  And 4 cars met up.  One was decked out with a sign and big bow.  One had HAPPY BIRTHDAY blaring from the speakers.  With secret messages to the mom, we headed over to the house.

And the birthday girl was SURPRISED.  She was HAPPY.  And she was GRATEFUL.

Here is a video of how it all went down.  You will smile if you watch it.  It will remind you that there is good in the world.  Drive By Sweet 16 Birthday Party Video

You only turn 16 once.  And I would like to think that the kindness of strangers made this girl’s 16^th birthday a memorable one.

Happy birthday, G-Zel.  We were honored to be part of your special day!

If you see a need in your community, reach out.  And if you could use a bit of assistance, ASK.  Don’t be embarrassed or afraid.  Because there is an army of people around you just waiting for a call to action.  We all want to help.  And who knows, maybe your request will be the one that makes us smile so hard our cheeks hurt.

Kindness Yard Sale Money spent on birthday gifts - $87.58 

Carts of Kindness

David and I both love grocery shopping.  In fact, going to the grocery store was part of our very first date!

But we are privileged.  We can basically put whatever we want in our cart and know that, come pay day, we should have enough to cover it.  That being said, we are thrifty shoppers, always hunting for deals and using coupons.

Yeah – COUPONS.

A grocery store in our area, Harris Teeter, built a new location.  They mailed people in the area coupons – usually a set of 4, one for each week of the month.  They vary in amount, but normally they are $10 off a $30 purchase.  Isn’t that a great deal??  As grocery lovers, we have made a game out of spending as close to exactly $30 as possible each trip (so after coupon, $20).  One time David hit it RIGHT ON THE NAIL (and danced a jig as we giggled at the register).

But in these very uncertain times in our country there are many households where grocery shopping is NOT fun.  Many people are laid off, furloughed, or simply out of work because of the pandemic.  So, I got the idea to use some of the Harris Teeter coupons for others!

First, I asked neighbors if they had any of the coupons they were not using and coupons poured in!  Then the fun part started – figuring out who to grocery shop for!!  Two people were easy to identify; they are both out of work right now yet are still volunteering to help OTHER people in the community as much as they can!!!  Their kind hearts amaze me.  Another neighbor told me about someone else who needed assistance, so they got added, too.

I asked them to write out shopping lists.  Whatever they wanted – totaling $30.  I said there was no judgement – if they wanted to spend the entire $30 on a fancy steak that they had been craving, or on bags of Doritos, it was their choice. 

And off we went!!  We got bacon, cheeses, eggs, waffles, tortillas, honey, ground turkey, ground beef, chicken, juice, bread, butter, cottage cheese, green tea, ricotta, and so much more!!  Whatever was on the lists, we put in the carts.  One recipient made me realize how fortunate we are when they told me, “We’ve been able to get eggs, rice, beans, pasta, milk, potatoes etc. from the free food distribution sites, but they don’t give any meat so this is such a great help”.  That made me think about how little CHOICE they have had in their food these last few months.  It is not like walking down grocery store aisles – it is taking whatever is given.  These are not families that are used to waiting in line for food assistance.  These are strong, proud, contributing members to our country who have been thrown for a huge loop with this pandemic.

I am glad the families were willing to accept the help.  Asking for assistance is not easy. 

We are looking for 5 or 6 more families in the Arlington area that could use a special grocery shopping delivery.  I feel like this is the perfect use of money raised at the Kindness Yard Sale.  If you know someone who is out of work and could use some groceries, please message me. 

Total of Kindness Yard Sale money spent on grocery deliveries so far - $79.66

P.S. - this would be a great act of kindness for you to take on, too!!  If you know someone out of work right now, have them write out a grocery list!  Pick up the food.  Deliver it to them.  It takes a village. 

 

 

Secret Ikea Kindness

Often people think of ACTS OF KINDNESS as huge, elaborate things that require preparation, time, and money.  But many times they can be simple, spur of the moment, and not that pricey!  And on the very rare occasion, they can be a bit magical and mysterious!  Here is the quick story of one of THOSE acts of kindness…

The other day my sweetheart and I were heading to Ikea.  I saw a neighbor post in a Facebook group that she was hoping someone had an Ikea shelving unit to give away.  I commented on her post that I would be happy to pick up a new one for her while we were at Ikea if she would repay me.  She replied that she didn’t have it in the budget to buy one right now, but was hoping someone had one they were no longer using that they would pass on.

I thought that was the end of my interaction on the matter and had my fingers crossed that someone would give her their old one.  But I never imagined that a different person in the group would see the short exchange and volunteer to be a “mysterious kindness fairy”!

Someone messaged me and said, “Susan, if you go to Ikea and they have the item she wants, grab it and I will reimburse you”.  Just out of the blue!!!  I replied and told her she was amazing, to which she humbly said, “Nah, it’s just been a crap year and this stuff makes me happy”.  AMEN, mystery kindness fairy!!!

THEY HAD IT IN STOCK!  Ikea for the win

Ikea DID have the item, so we bought it and delivered it to the person, telling her that someone wanted her to have it but not giving any names.  She was REALLY SURPRISED and delighted.  Later that evening she wrote, “Some faith restored in the kindness and generosity of stranger(s) this evening.  Thank you, whoever you are!”.  And the next day she sent me this photo of her brand new, fancy storage area!

PERFECT!!!  Printer stand.  Storage boxes.  Ahhh, organized!

So, you see, kindness doesn’t have to be elaborate.  It can be done in secret if you like!  All it has to be is heartfelt.  Your actions can make a difference.  Especially NOW, in this time of turmoil and anxiety in our country, little actions mean a lot.

What can YOU do to make a difference?

The Kindness Yard Sale Funds Are SPREADING!

It’s time for a KINDNESS YARD SALE UPDATE!!  Because the sale was soooo successful, there’s a ton of kindness to spread this year, and it is exciting!  So, let’s take a peek at the recent kindness that has gone down:

A woman named Tracey in my local Buy Nothing group posted that she was looking for white shoes to wear to nursing school.  Wait – what??  You can’t wear USED SHOES when you are learning to be a NURSE!  I pictured her standing on her feet all day, walking the hospital hallways, learning how to chart and take blood pressure, etc.  No, used shoes would not do in that situation.  She needed BRAND NEW ONES – shoes with good support and in perfect condition!

I contacted her and asked if it would be ok to get her some, and she was thrilled.  She looked online and found just the ones she liked.  I ordered, we waited, and VOILA – new white shoes!!!!

Nurse-to-be rocking her new white COMFY shoes!

Tracey - I hope nursing school goes great.  I know from experience that nurses are some of the most IMPORTANT people in the healthcare industry.  I bet you will be an awesome one!

(Spend on the nursing shoes: $64.26)

A neighbor sent me a message recently asking if I take nominations for people to receive kindness.  Hmmm.  The woman contacting me had both donated and shopped at the yard sale, so I didn’t have to think long before saying, “Well, sure!  What do you have?  I would love to consider it!”.  She explained that she had a friend who was feeling isolated during Covid.  My neighbor wished she lived closer to her friend so that they could visit in person, but wondered if perhaps a little kindness from a stranger would bring some joy.  That sounded like a perfect fit for a Kindness Activist act, so I started online shopping! 

Before long I landed on the website Uncommon Goods.  Boy oh boy, if you ever want to get someone an interesting, unique gift, check it out!  I asked my neighbor a couple of questions about her friend, then narrowed my search down to a few items.  My favorite was this bracelet, so I was glad it was my neighbor’s favorite, too! 

Here is the description of it from the website:“Shooting stars. Birthday candles. Found pennies. The perfect moment to make a wish doesn't have to rely on chance. Hidden within this bracelet's clasp is a secret compartment to stash your personal wish - whether it's a daily intention, a meaningful reminder, or exactly what you've been wishing for. Simply write your wish on a tiny bit of paper (a set of just-the-right-sized sheets is included), roll it up, and tuck it into the opening. Wear it as a daily reminder to keep at it and stay focused on your goal—because putting what you want out there is the first step in making your wishes come true. “

Just a few clicks, a little note to insert with the bracelet, and then we waited!! 

I was so excited the day my neighbor messaged me and said, “IT ARRIVED!  And she is trying to figure out who it is from!!”.  The mystery of it all made me giggle.  Eventually my friend revealed the back-story, and the bracelet recipient might even be reading this now!  If so, hope you liked your special gift.  I hope you wear it in good heath and tuck a special wish or dream in the secret compartment.  And I hope when Covid is over and you come to visit Arlington, I get to meet you!

(Spend on the bracelet - $54.64)

Website: https://www.uncommongoods.com/

You may remember a story I wrote about a young man I met at the Kindness Yard Sale and really took a liking to.  His name is Langston, and he is in the ASL (American Sign Language) club at his school.  I am an ASL interpreter, so I encouraged him to keep studying and come work with me someday!  The field needs more male interpreters and interpreters of color.

He and his mom bought several things at the sale.  One thing he picked out for himself was a Fit Bit.  He walked by a couple of weeks after the sale his dad and they stopped to chat.  I was thrilled to hear that Langston is using that Fit Bit every day!  His record is over 23,000 steps in one day!

Anyway, to continue to encourage him to study ASL, I used Kindness funds to buy him a t-shirt made by a Deaf woman.  It says “equal” in ASL.  It can also mean “equality”.  I thought it was really fitting with the Black Lives Matter movement happening now.  I wore my ASL shirt when we delivered Langston’s so we could take a photo together.  On mine, the “O” in the word “vote” is the sign for vote!  Isn’t it cool? 

EQUALITY!

(Spend on t-shirt - $24.45)

Website:  https://shop.spreadshirt.com/erryb/?fbclid=IwAR1MpPD49Nb1j2HEZg6-z9HqChi515eKFXe9PtZpUYO2tX_kCyGwkuPN5ZU

A woman in town is taking care of her mother who has memory issues.  That duo has such a soft spot in my heart - watching their relationship is beautiful.  When there was a little wicker desk/vanity left over after the Kindness Yard Sale, I hoped her mom could use it!  She likes to write cards and letters to mail to people.   Sure enough, it was a size and style that would fit in their home, so we put it in the back of our car and brought it to them.

But you can’t have your own DESK without a little PLANT on it…  So, we got a little potted mini rose bush.  And if you are going to have a desk, you need PAPER…  Got some memo pads.  And if you are going to write cards, you need CARDS!  Grabbed some cards. 

Desk with supplies - all ready for the new owner and lots of letter writing

It was very fun to drop everything off at the house.  Because of Covid we socially distanced and set it up in the front yard (they brought it in later that evening).  But we talked a while and the mom smiled.  She was very curious about the tiny roses.  And as we pulled away I saw her move the desk a bit so she could sit at a bench in the yard and “work at the desk”.  Made my heart very happy.

(Spend on desk supplies - $14.52)

And finally for this update – a MYSTERY GIFT!!!  I read somewhere that someone bought something for a stranger off of their Amazon Wish List.  I do not use an Amazon Wish List, so I wasn’t sure how that would work, but I called my big sister on video, shared my screen, and off we went!!  It was FUN!

We decided a BABY GIFT would be good, so we went to the Baby Registry.  Then I made up a name (a common-ish sounding name) and typed it in – VOILA!  There were about a dozen women with the name I entered who were having or had had babies and had wish lists!!!  We chose a woman whose baby is due soon (September 3^rd) who lives in Kentucky.  We could tell from looking at her wish list that she is having a boy, and it looked like it was probably her first baby. 

Nothing on her list had been purchased so we had lots to choose from!  We debated which route to go – diapers would be PRACTICAL but also maybe something local friends and neighbors would give her.  In the “go big or go home” department – we decided on the most expensive item on her registry – a video baby monitor!!  It looked really nice and I bet she will get a ton of use out of it.   And it is also something that would be hard to buy out of a pocket when you are also dealing with getting all of the basics.  We also bought a little board book about animals. 

New baby monitor for a brand new baby

We included a note that the money used to buy these gifts was raised at the Kindness Yard Sale in Arlington, VA and we had chosen her at random on Amazon.  The gifts were delivered this Saturday!  I wish I could have seen her face when she got them.  She doesn’t have my name or contact info, but who knows, maybe she will Google “Kindness Activist” and end up reading this!

(Spend on baby gifts - $179.83)

That's the 2020 update so far.  More Kindness Yard Sale news as it happens!! 

Kindness Yard Sale 2020 - REALLY the Final Total (Leave a Trail of Kindness)

It is hard to explain it to people.

The Kindness Yard Sale.

But the thing is, it is SO MUCH MORE than that.

Yeah, it’s a yard sale, big deal…

And for the last month and a half, my life has basically been consumed by it.  Asking for donations of items.  Begging for hangers (and more hangers, and more hangers…).  Borrowing tables and clothes racks.  Washing load after load of clothing, stuffed animals, blankets…  Coming home to new bags and boxes on our porches - treasures donated by neighbors, some of whom I do not even know.  Our front porch got so filled with donations that for a couple of days there was only a skinny walk-way IN and OUT of the front door (and this is a wrap-around 3 sided porch we are talking about!!).  Driving around picking up donations.  Setting up bookshelves and tables.  Posting little on-line auctions on my Facebook page to raise some money before the actual sale and give out of town friends and family a chance to participate.

This is probably about 1/5 of the jewelry donated to 
this year's sale!  So pretty!!

In the end, all of the work was supposed to be for ONE WEEKEND.  But oops, that first weekend went so well that we stretched it into TWO weekends.  But those two weekends were magical!

I met SO MANY fun people.  People from many different countries, speaking different languages and having different traditions.  If you have never tried to explain the concept of “Nothing has a price tag, you pay whatever you would like to pay, and we will use your money for kindness…” to someone who does not share a common language with you, well, let’s just say the concept is a tricky one!  I did a lot of mime, gesturing, and sometimes sounded like – “Shirt?  You buy.  Money – you give.  Money big, small – you choose.  Your money I take – help other people!!”.  Often I was met with what can only be described as a, “Those nutty Americans…” look of disbelief. 

That first weekend we had NO slow times at the sale.  People were waiting (pacing!) when we opened the “doors”, and we had a steady stream of shoppers well into the night both days.  I thought I would have enough reusable shopping bags to last the whole sale, but I think they were all gone the first day!  The 2^nd weekend was calmer but still busy and productive. 

There are so many things I love about the Kindness Yard Sale.  Here are just a few:

1. Some parents use the sale it as a teaching tool for their children.  It DELIGHTS me to see kids being taught the concept of kindness.  The children would show up (with masks on!) and their own money in their pocket.  They would look around (usually for a very long time) and decide what they wanted to buy.  Then I would ask how much they wanted to pay, and many of them were so thoughtful.  They really considered the value of the items and paid generously (and I often rewarded that by giving them another item they had been eyeballing for free – a gift with purchase if you will).

2. The sale quite literally SAVED things from the landfill.  I know this for a fact, because one evening as we were on the porch organizing donations some people rode by on bikes and declared that they had just passed a dumpster that had loads of CDs and book ends in it.  They asked if we would like them to get in the dumpster, get them out, and donate them to the sale.  “Sure!” I said, not know exactly how MANY CDs they were talking about!!  They brought back tons of music!  It was both fun and funny!  And do you know what?  Those CDs sold!  People were excited to sort through them and find their favorite artists or music genres that they liked.   The sale also saved things off the side of the road, because the months leading up to it, I would holler, “Pull over!!!” whenever I saw something good being thrown out.  We carried a lot of “treasures” in our car these past few months.  😊

I found this lantern on the side of the road and rescued it.
Rehabbed it and its' twin and sold one at the yard sale!     

3. The sale gives people the opportunity to be HELPFUL and KIND.  Whether donating items, shopping and giving money, or helping set up or tear down.  Opportunities to be helpful are sometimes hard to find, believe it or not.  And I think we all crave them.  I am so very thankful to friends and neighbors who helped with it all. 

4. The sale re-homes SO MANY items.  You know the old phrase, “One man’s junk is another man’s treasure”.  It is so true!!  A Pilates ball.  A board game.  A swimming suit.  A hula-hoop.  A set of dishes.  All things no longer needed in one household, but now treasured by another.  I love when things find the perfect home.  I kept a couple of larger items inside our home during the sale and kept my eyes open for a good fit for them.  One was a horse from the American Girl Doll series.  The horse was really nice – it even came with accessories like a bridle!  I wanted it to go to the “right home”.  I asked several kids during the sale if they had American Girl dolls, and I wasn’t finding a good fit.  Then I asked one little girl who told me she had a doll like the American Girl dolls and she really liked playing with it.  Well, you should’ve seen her eyes light up when I brought that horse out for her to examine.  She loved it!!!  And soon after she left with it (and other purchases) her parents sent me photos of her playing with it.  Perfect fit!! 

5. And finally, the sale brought the neighborhood together.  I don’t know if it was because we were all jones-ing for some face to face interaction with people or what, but people TURNED UP in the heat.  We masked up.  We stayed socially distant.  They shopped.  And we TALKED.  We laughed.  And it.  Felt.  Good. 

So now we are a week out.  I am nursing a sore back (from all the lifting, standing, and heat I think), but my heart is still joy-filled with the whole experience and when I think about it I get giddy.

Last year the inaugural Kindness Yard Sale raised $1905.76.  That was a LOT of money and it allowed me to spread kindness around the world for an entire year!!  We did so many things with it and I wrote about them in my blog so you could follow along.

Well, this year’s Kindness Yard Sale more than QUADRUPLED 2019’s total!!! 

The Kindness Yard Sale 2020 raised $8,265.10!!!!!  Yes, over $8,000!!!!  It raised $8,265.10 to be precise.  Now you can understand why I am giddy!!  The possibilities of kind things we can do with that amount of money seems almost limitless!  We can spread it so far, so wide.  And I can’t wait!!!

As promised, I will keep clear records of where the money goes and share the stories here.  We began spreading the kindness yesterday so I will leave you with the first three stories for 2020’s accounting.

1. We bought this fun basket of goodies and delivered it to an amazing family.  The mom lives with her two adorable kids and her very soon to be born 3^rd child.  They are so kind and generous to others, in fact the American Girl horse that I talked about above was donated by this family for the sale!!  The mother is a shining example of kindness for her children.  She told me that they have a neighbor who is, how should I put it, very cranky.  But instead of being cranky back, these kids wanted to bake COOKIES and make “happy cards” for the neighbor!  So that’s just what they did.   And one time the little girl gave a child she saw with too small shoes the SHOES OFF HER OWN FEET – her favorite sparkly sandals!!  (She DID tell the new owner to keep them clean because they needed to sparkle 😊.)  Anyway, this mom and her children spend a lot of her time being kind to others, and I thought a little kindness needed to come her way.  She was surprised and excited to get the basket.  (Accounting - $179.78)

Basket of goodies for the whole family

2. A little neighbor girl that I am very fond of came to the Kindness Yard Sale a few times.  She was spending her own money and using it very wisely.  I happened to know she is a fellow mermaid fan, so I set aside a few mermaid items for her to look through.  While at the sale, unbeknownst to me, she begged her parents to let her buy “Corny”, our inflatable unicorn with glued on googly eyes.  They kept explaining that the unicorn was NOT for sale…  Her mom told me that she must’ve asked to buy it 1,000 times.  😊  Finally, the mom said that they could take a picture by the unicorn, but not buy it.  That was good enough for then, but once I heard the story I knew she needed her own unicorn.  So, we ordered one, glued on some eyes, and snuck out last night to leave it outside her home.  (Side note – apparently her dad got spooked by it when he saw it in the dark!)  When she found it today she was thrilled!!!!  I am certain it will be the most well cared for unicorn in the neighborhood.  She has named her Uni, shaded her with an umbrella, bathed her, and given her a nap (all in one day!).   (Accounting - $24.45)

   

At the sale - she wanted to buy that unicorn SO badly!

Click here to see video of secret UNICORN KINDNESS in action

TADA!  Her own unicorn, with mataching mask!!

We made a donation from the yard sale proceeds to a lemonade stand run by Graeme, a little warrior who, though still having to go to doctor appointments himself, raises money with his brothers to help Connor’s Heroes, an organization that supports pediatric cancer patients and their families (that has been instrumental to Graeme’s family).  Those brothers did a great job fund raising this year!  (Accounting - $50)

Seriously, WHO could resist this cuteness??

We have the next kind act all lined up, just waiting for the right time to do it!  And there will be soooo many more this year, thanks to generous donors and shoppers.

It’s not too late.  If you still want to pitch in for Kindness, you can donate via PayPal or Venmo.  All donations appreciated, accounted for, and used wisely for spreading KINDNESS.

PayPal – thompsongaines@msn.com

Venmo - @susan-thompson-gaines

THANK YOU.  Thank you neighbors.  Thank you donors.  Thank you shoppers.  Thank you rain for holding out and only dripping on us a bit during the sale.  Thank you woman who ran and got ice for the cooler.  Thank you person who translated into Spanish for me one time.  Thank you online friends and family.  Thank you to people who loaned things.  Thank you to the kind stranger who volunteered to sew masks from donated fabric (that everyone loved!).  Thank you to the woman who grew and donated little plants.  Thank you to my sweetheart for indulging this huge “disruption” in our home and being so supportive.

See you at the Kindness Yard Sale in 2021!!