Random Acts of Kindness Day is Coming.jpg)
A few months ago, a friend of mine told me about how she and her kids loved doing "random acts of kindness" in order to foster a love of giving. We thought her idea was so great that we have decided to promote it every quarter. On July 1st, we encourage you to do one random act of kindness in order to spread goodwill to others, and also to remind people that millions of children around the world live each day as orphans.
To take part, here is what you should do:
1) Print off the image on this blog, and cut it out as a small "coupon" or postcard. (if you double click on the image, it should load it on your computer in a larger size)
2) On July 1st, pick a moment to do something kind for someone. Some suggestions include paying for the person behind you in the drive-thru line, buying a cup of coffee for the person in line behind you at a coffee shop, helping someone with lots of groceries load them into their car, etc. Be creative!
3) After doing your kind deed, give the person your "kindness card". If you are in a drive-thru line, simply give it to the cashier and ask them to give it to the next person in line while telling them that their meal is free. Then you can turn around and wave at the unsuspecting person behind you with a huge smile as you drive away.
So many people in this world are having a hard time and could really use a pick-me-up. You will never know how your random act might have given them just the encouragement they needed that day. It ALWAYS feels good to give, doesn't it? Invest just $5 into surprising someone with random kindness on July 1st, and help spread awareness about all of the children who go to bed every night without parents to love them. You will be adding a moment of giving to the world as well, and no act of kindness is ever wasted. Do a fun deed on July 1st and then come back here and tell us how it went!
(Warning: our friends who have done this with their children say their kids absolutely LOVE doing it, so be prepared to have some extra cards printed and in your glovebox! What a great way to teach our kids that giving to others is a blessing.) Have fun!
Amy
Amy,
ReplyDeleteOur church did this in January and it was soooo much fun. I have to tell you it put me wayyyyy out of my comfort zone and even kept me up all night thinking about what I had to do but it ended up being so much fun.
I will accept your challenge and I look forward to it.
Amy, I love this idea!! Thanks for sharing it - I will be sharing it as well.
ReplyDeletePeace,
Teresa
Hello,
ReplyDeleteI know that it is not a relevant comment. I request you to do a random act of kindness.
Please visit this website: http://savesaji.org/Save_Saji/Home.html
A young man is fighting against cancer, and there is not enough money to save him. A small donation can help him. Even a $10 donation.
How FUN!!! Can I copy and post your post on my blog?
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely spread the word. Thanks so much! I hope we get some great stories on what people decided to do. One woman suggested paying for the toll of the people behind you if you drive regularly on a tollroad. Loved that one!
ReplyDeleteWell, this will be a LONG comment, but here's my day!
ReplyDeleteMy first stop was at our local library where I donated a bag of books that I had already read. I put card #1 in the middle of one of the books. They were having a book sale today so it was perfect timing.
Next stop was our wonderful bakery, Otto's - I couldn't wait to get there. Last time I had stopped, Anne (the owner) had told me about a little IOU board she had for people who didn't have cash to pay for their goodies (Otto's doesn't accept debit cards). I had planned to pay for one of those IOU's and leave a card in it's place to give to that person when they came back to pay their bill. Unfortunately, they didn't have ANY IOU's today. So, I settled for buying a dozen donuts which Mark took to the local sheriff's office along with card #2. I know he wasn't thrilled about doing that so I really appreciated him being a good sport!
I headed for Mickey D's to pay for the person behind me. Murphy's Law - it's 11am and NO ONE is going through the drive through. I circled the parking lot twice before I noticed someone headed that way - quick got in line ahead of them. When I paid for my order and the person behind me, I asked the cashier to give them card #3. While I waited for my food, it was fun to watch them looking at my car, trying to figure out if they knew me. And I was getting more pumped up about my challenge!
Our local dollar store was the next destination. My plan was to pick up balloon bouquets. As I was checking out, the cashier asked if I wanted to purchase a toy to donate to "Kids in Crisis" - a program that allows law enforcement to provide a stuffed animal to a child as part of their interaction in difficult situations. I requested that card #4 go with the toy and the cashier readily agreed!
On to deliver my balloon bouquets at the pediatric unit of our hospital. I explained my challenge to the unit secretary and asked that the 2 bouquets (and cards #5 and #6) be given to whichever children they thought most appropriate. She was thrilled to be part of the surprise and also loved the cards! While I was there, I left a bag of candy for the staff along with card #7 and thanked them for everything that they do in caring for sick children.
Oh, I was having fun! Being at the hospital triggered my next act. One of the staffing people I interact with recently found out that she was losing her job this month. Carol is such a nice person and has a beautiful soul. Well, she works from a location at the hospital so while I was there, I stopped at the gift shop - bought her a little thank you card and chocolate - leaving it on her desk to find with card #8.
After this, I needed to make a stop at the bookstore. As I was looking for a parking place, I saw 2 young adults on the corner - singing and playing guitar. Hmmm - another opportunity! They were packing up by the time I parked and walked up to them, but I still handed them a few dollars with card #9. They were so appreciative!
I had parked at the opposite end of the block from the bookstore for my last random act. Although I wasn't able to use card #10, I got out a handful of quarters (hoping I had enough)and walked down the block plugging change into all the parking meters that a car was setting at. Not surprisingly, I still had 3 quarters left at the end of the block. God always provides for our needs, doesn't He?
It was a privilege for me to perform these Random Acts of Kindness and share them with you! I hope this will be a small step towards making these types of gestures part of my daily life.
My kids had SUCH a fun time with this today!!! We went through Mcdonalds and had our card ready, and when we went up to pay we gave an extra $5 and asked the guy at the window to please give the card to the next car behind us. My kids were so excited, and waved enthusiastically to the car behind us all the way out of the parking lot!!!!! We will definitely be doing this again.
ReplyDeleteWe handed out 5 cards, and my 10 year old wished it could have been more!!! We helped two people to their car with their groceries, stood and opened doors for two groups of people, and then bought an ice cream for theperson behind us. What a fun day!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteIt was so wonderful to get to read the messages today on how people went out of their way to do random acts of kindness for others! I hope many others will post as well. I have to say that you all were WAY more creative than I was! I did the tried and true paying for someone in the drive thru line behind me, but I think it made not only my kids' day but also the day of the young lady working at Chik Fil A. She was so excited to get the card to give to the people behind us, and said, "I love being part of this!" I think it is wonderful to know that a few more people perhaps went to bed last night remembering how many children around the world live as orphans. Thank you all for taking part!
ReplyDelete