It’s time! Time to share the lovely things that you’ve been doing this month to help others. Each December we run a few Random Acts of Kindness blog contests, to encourage you to keep your eyes open for ways that you can help others. I know that many of you are aware of this all year long (just because you’re nice like that.) For others, this is always a good reminder that it doesn’t have to cost a lot of extra time or money to help make someone’s day, and to be an encouragement to them. On Friday’s blog, I gave you links to the contest from last year, in case you wanted to read some of the comments for ideas.
What am I doing? This year, our church has been talking about encouraging people to give more, spend less, worship more, and love all. I like that idea. How do you give more, but spend less? Give your time. Give things that you no longer use. Give encouragement and support. Have you knit some of your gifts this year? Then you’ve given time to each of the people who will be getting those gifts. I’ve made several gifts this year, and hope to do that each year. I’m also going to go through the overabundance of scarves that College Girl and I have knit up, and we’ll be washing those up and taking them to a local homeless shelter. While we’re at it, we’ll go through our winter coat closet and see what else we can add to the pile. While I love cold weather, I don’t like to BE cold. I like to be all bundled up. There are plenty of people in all of our communities who don’t have the luxury of being bundled up, so hopefully a few warm items will help.
What random acts have you done to spread holiday cheer and encouragement? Leave it in the comments and we’ll do a random drawing for prizes that we’ll announce next week. (Do you do these things for the publicity and the drawings? No, of course not. But your comments help to give ideas to others, and the drawings make it a little more fun.) 🙂 We’ll do a second Random Acts contest next Monday, and the last contest the Monday after that, so keep looking for ways to commit some acts be a blessing to others. Speaking of contests – have you joined our Facebook and Twitter pages? I put up one of our 24 Hour Quick Contests this morning, so it runs through tomorrow morning. Pop over and enter. The prize is a Loopy Ewe Gift Certificate!
Sheri justaddinginafewre-stocksandupdateslatertoday.
NotafullblownSneakUp.However…moreontheway…
My neighbor, a breast cancer survivor, donates her time continually to this effort in so many ways. For her efforts, I’m knitting her a shawl that goes from light pink to darker pink as a thank you and Atta Girl.
My neighbor became a widow last december just before xmas. In the summer we go together to the farmers market, otherwise i always bake an extra loaf of bread when baking to bring her, or supply veggies from our garden to her as well. When shopping if i see someone just finishing loading their groceries i will take their cart from them, saving them (hopefully they were planning to corall it) a trip away from their car. i just turned in a few preemie hats today as wel! I try to do a good deed every day, even if it is simply saying hello to someone who looks lonely or down on their luck.
There is a teacher wishlist at my daughter’s school so I donated an educational game to her classroom. When I was out and saw some inexpensive card games, I picked those up and donated those to the school as well.
I volunteered to take the 4am shift for an implementation on New Year’s Day at work so my boss didn’t have to come in until later in the day. His wife is going through a serious illness so I think they should be able to ring in the new year together.
My RAK is collecting children’s books from the local library stores and “gifting” them throughout the year to some women who work with my DH. They are both single mom’s and have a hard time getting the extras for their children. This has been so easy and so good for all of us as reading is a great joy.
A 12 yo boy in my son’s class was recently diagnosed with a brain tumor. My son and his classmates decided to make candy cane reindeer ornaments to sell as a fundraiser at their holiday program. They raised $700 for the family. I spontaneously offered to ask a few people at work if they would buy a $1 ornament. I sent out a brief email to the department faculty and asked my college students if they would be interested in purchasing an ornament. I thought I might raise an extra $50 or so. To my surprise I raised $600 in one week. Honestly all those that donated were the ones that did 600 RAK and should be praised. Look at the trickle effect with one RAK it caused 600!!!!! Think about if everyone did 1 RAK and it impacted people 600 times over. Now that’s motivation.
The boy is doing well but he and his family will need all the prayers that can be sent their way.
A friend of mine who lives overseas has been going through a difficult time whille his partner has been away on a lengthy business trip. I have been getting up an hour early each day for the past week to call him. it seems to have cheered him up.
There was a 30 year old undergoing radiation when I was going through the final sessions. She was so scared and depressed. I tried to share my experiences and give her hugs and words of encouragment. I don’t know if I helped her, but I like to think that I did. I say prayers for her well-being every night.
And I handed out gifts to all of the people who worked in radiation oncology and made the process better from the warm smile of the secretary to the techs who played my favorite music to the dr who treated me and his nurse.
These are the true heroes who do random acts of kindness every single day.
My office adopts a VNA family every year and get them gifts. We get a list of what they want and I help the receptionist make the tags and then they get posted for staff to pick what they want to purchase. I dropped off my package today. I was a lot of fun to shop for an 11 year old again. My mother and I plan to go through some of the scarves we have both knit that are just waiting to be gifted and we are going to donate them to a local charity. We should get to it this weekend so they can be dropped off next Monday or Tuesday.
I have a friend who’s husband is unemployed. Although we don’t exchange gifts with each other, I made up a gift box of all the health and beauty products she would need for the next several months so she could save their money for more important things.
Our church usually collects mittens, hats and scarves to give to another church in the inner city, but this year I pushed us to go further. We got the names of 42 residents of an inner city nursing home, each one with a very brief wish list. Their “wishes” were for simple things like Diet Coke or Sudoku puzzles on up to flannel shirts or a jogging suit. We put the 42 names on a Christmas tree and within 2 hours all but 9 had been taken. Within a week every name was gone. The gifts will be distributed at a Christmas party at the nursing home just before Christmas.
Our Life Group at church has adopted a family for Christmas this year and my husband and I are buying gifts for these kids instead of buying gifts for each other.
Something from this Sunday’s sermon really stuck with me. “The smallest acts of obedience are far greater than the grandest of intentions.”
My knitting group and the community knitted over 200 hats to go to the Cleveland School kids that live in shelters.
I have been able to help a new person to our town find local shops etc when I found them wandering around looking lost. I have also been able to donate to worthwhile charities on behalf of my family instead of Christmas gifts as we feel we have more than enough already. That also saved on what I normally spend for Christmas which was a win, win situation.
Today, I picked out my gift to Heifer International (www.heifer.org) – a sheep for some lucky family. I dare anyone to go to their website, read about their charitable purpose and not help out a needy family – you can donate money for trees, honeybees and even money for a water buffalo. This is the best kind of gift because the family gets something they can use to make their lives better and they in turn help someone else.
I knitted some scarfs and shawls for a local church that helps the homeless .
I went into work just for an hour Sunday night to cover for someone who wanted to go to a Christmas party.
Bought toys for a toy drive in another county.
I knit all my gifts this year. Mostly from my stash. I though about each person and what they would like instead of making what I like to knit. It has been a wonderful experience.
If I don’t get back to knitting someone is going to get their Girasole with the needles attached.
I am not sure if the neighbor noticed or not but I shoveled his walk and driveway when it snowed.
I cleaned out my closet this past weekend after my husband took my winter sweaters down from the top shelf of my closet and everything became extremely cluttered. Out went 3 huge bags of pants, tops, sweaters, shoes, jackets, and even some knit socks, scarves and hats. We always call a local pastor of one of the small churches in our community when we do this, and he comes by, picks it up and distributes it to member of his church who are in need. He always tells me “bless you”, but I always say, “No, bless you” in return.
The lady who answers the phone at my husband’s job is always so nice. I was in the office last month and we were talking about the H1N1 vaccination. She told me that she had gotten it because her husband has leukemia and she didn’t want to risk getting the flu and giving it to him. Today I took her a small quilt I had made. I’m thinking she’s busy making sure everyone else in her family has a good Christmas and I hope I made her day a little brighter.
sorry for the second post — Patti pointed out that I put this in the wrong place.
I am a bit behind in my blog reading but one of my knitter friends told me that I had to come here and share my story of a Random Act of Kindness — I didn’t even know about the contest. I was riding the metro downtown to the hockey arena on Friday night to catch the game. I just made the train, so ended up sitting in the middle as opposed to the front car (which is usually much less crowded). At the next stop someone got on and started talking to me (an unusual thing on the DC metro as there is an unwritten rule of no talking to strangers especially if you aren’t seated next to them and it isn’t a late train after a night out — this was still commuter time) which made everyone a bit more friendly. We talked about hockey, course. Soon the car began to fill up with commuters and hockey fans, both. Then we heard a cowbell (thanks SNL) and a older bearded “gentleman” came down the aisle in a wheel chair. He had a box for pan handling and a sign that said “vet”. I don’t know if he was actually homeless, but his circumstances as could be read from his appearance weren’t great. But he wasn’t asking for money he was just chatting about hockey as well, he was heading down to the arena — just inside the glass doors they have a huge TV where they broadcast the internal (not TV feeds) of the game and he watches most games there — he mentioned he would go in if he could get a ticket. Well, I happened to have an extra and after he chatted with riders for a while, I asked if he really wanted one and gave him my extra. He commented that this was better then any amount of money I could have given him. He continued to work his way down the aisle and chat and then came back and said “Ma’am this ticket says $50, that is too much” but I insisted that I wouldn’t be using it and that he should take it. He thanked me profusely, complimented anyone around me who may have been associated with me and went on his way to the hockey game (which the Caps won).
I picked an ornament from our wall at work at St.Louis Children’s Hospital to shop for toys for a child. I bought a MetroLink Pass with my work discount for someone I know who can’t afford a car and walks or bikes to work at Whole Foods all the way from the West End in the coldest winter weather! I encouraged our daughter to give us as a Christmas gift, an adoption of an injured sea turtle at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island. Our turtle’s name is Corretta Rose.
Tonight on my way home, I had to stop and pick up kitten food for the little stray I’m taking care of. I noticed an older man at the bus stop without a hat, scarf or gloves, and it’s bitterly cold here tonight. I ran into Old Navy, and picked up all three items, then back out to the bus stop and gave them to him. He cried–so did I.
I was inspired by Anne Hansen of Knitspot to knit two scarves for the Red Scarf Project. It felt really good to be giving my expertise and using some of my stash to help someone I don’t even know.
I clear the snow off the car next to me while I’m warming mine up and defrosting everything. I like to think that the person trudging out to their spot to clean off their car is pleasantly surprised to find that it’s been done already.
Donated a toy for tots at my sons daycare.
this year for our holiday party, we had everyone bring a toy for Toys for Tots. We got alot of toys and this will hopefully help some children this holiday season.
I’ve contributed to letting my brother and sister-in-law enjoy a much needed weekend alone by filling in for the time slot during which my parents weren’t available to babysit the kids. The timing wasn’t great as I was not feeling well this past weekend, but my gentleman friend came along and helped me make this possible. It was a nice opportunity to spend time with my favorite kids in the world, so it was totally a win-win for everyone involved!
this is not really random per se, but here’s mine this week:
my boss is tired of organizing our work holiday party. we are an overnight shift and are often forgotten by the “carpetwalkers.” a co-worker and i have taken upon ourselves to organize the event and it will be tomorrow (tuesday night). we’ve set up a secret santa and a potluck sign-up. it’s really amazing how it just takes a little initiative and everyone seems to hop right on board.
This week I’m taking my best friend to the dentist so she doesn’t have to drive herself to/from her root canal. She’s scared to go alone and I don’t want her to- so I volunteered to take her since I knew she’d never ask me to because she wouldn’t want to impose or make me rearrange my schedule. It’s such a small thing to do for someone who brings so much happiness to my life.
We have an elderly aunt in the early stages of Alzheimers disease. She wanted new carpet, but we knew she would not remember or follow through, so we got an estimate, then took her away during installation. It was a really long day but we tag-teamed visiting with auntie, clearing the rooms for the workmen, and then putting the apt. back together again. Worried that something might be out of place and upset her, we left a note, explaining what we had done and wishing her a Merry Christmas. All of us worried about the reaction but hoped for the best.
Auntie got home, read the note and was overjoyed. We were so relieved. Next day, she read the note, and it was all new to her. We will have to get her to move on soon, but for a little while, every day is Christmas.
I am so very blessed at my age to have my all four of my grandparents living yet (no small feat at almost 40 years old). I routinely give my grandfather a shot every two weeks, and then wash my Nana’s hair for her. This weekend I brought them supper while working on-call for the whole weekend (no small feat either). I know this act is random, but they have given me so much over the years, that I feel blessed in helping them.
I have continued to randomly pay for coffee or whatever for the car behind me in the local coffee shop line. One time, the gal in the window laughed and said, we love it when you do this. The last time, it lasted for 6 cars! Made my whole day, and it cost $1.19. N
I was at a my mother’s wedding reception. My daughter and I were on the way out the door of the hotel/restaurant to get something from the car and there was an elderly couple struggling to get out the door with their luggage and things. We immediately offered to carry their luggage to their car (with our dresses on and no coat..big deal…it was so cold out!) and they were so thankful. It wouldn’t have occured to me to do otherwise.
The ghastly thing was, right at the door, there were two young men watching as they struggled!!! SHEESSHHHH…what happened in their upbringing!!???
I always have a pair of “plain ribbed” socks going in the small knitting bag I carry with me at all times. (size: about medium – but they have amazing “stretchability”) Last week I was about to finish a pair when someone at the coffee shop I was sitting at, admired the socks. Seeing me knitting reminded her of her grandmother who was also a knitter. The lady left the coffee shop and I finished my coffee and the socks. I left the socks with the owner of the coffee shop (a friend of mine) and asked that he give the socks to that lady (she’s also a “regular”) next time she comes in. Hope she enjoys the surprise. (I’ve lived all over the world – and have given away dozens of pairs of socks to airline personnel, cashiers, garage attendents, mechanics, security guards, shopkeepers – I love knitting them – my form of therapy, people are often reminded of people near and dear to them who “used to knit”, and some needy feet have been hugged by warm and lovely yarn . . . . What more could a person ask for?)
My university age daughter met a French Canadian guy at the climbing gym. He is living out of his car until he finds employment. This week he flies back home to be with family for Christmas and needed a place to leave his car and kayak. We told him he could park the car at our house and we put his kayak in the garage for safe keeping until he returns.
I just opened this blog this morning to come across this contest. Yesterday I gave a lady $1 just because. I told her it was for her. She looked puzzled and said, ‘this is for me?” I told her yes and left. I believe we should do this regardless of the holidays. We should strive to do this EVERY DAY! As we do this, it makes the world better one person at a time.
Yesterday I volunteered to help do toy sorting for our Salvation Army toy drive. It was really interesting to see what everyone put into all the gender specific piles. Honestly all the science and sports stuff was on the boys side and all the beads, crafts, dolls were on the girls side. I kept mixing it up a bit. We wonder why girls aren’t as prevalent in math and science fields. And who says a 10-12 year old girl wouldn’t like a soccer ball? :p Anyway at a week overdue of pregnancy I was sort of hoping all the bending and running around would help induce my labor. it didn’t but this is the second volunteering event my baby has done in utero!
My mom has been unemployed for about a year now so I took her resume and revamped it to make it easier to read and more clear for when she applies for jobs.
I did knit a few gifts this year but I don’t really count it as RAK because I’ve never really thought of it that way. I knit a shawl and sock monkey for my sister and some mini-mitten ornaments: a set of 6 for my boyfriend’s family and a few singles to adorn gift tags.
I plan on donating one of my older laptops to a charity or organization that needs it, but I need to do the research on how to go about doing that.
last night I finished a simple prayer shawl for Hope Lodge, and this morning I paid for an elderly customer’s breakfast at the Spa where I eat, I hope to do that every day from now until Kings Day in January.
A friend of a friend is going through some rough times and my friend is going to visit her this Christmas. I sent along a Restaurant.com Gift Certificate so she could take her out to somewhere a little nicer for a girls’ night out away from the kids.
I made a batch of creamy caramels on Saturday and bagged some up to take to the women at the senior women’s residence. I also made some Chai Concentrate to take to a friend who has lost six people this past month to death.
I was in the checkout line at Joannes when I heard the clerk ask the person in front of me if she had a coupon. She didn’t and I did. I offered her my coupon and it saved $10 off her purchase. It brought a smile to all of us.
I bought coffee and breakfast for a stranger at my favorite local independent coffee house. He was from out of town, and didn’t know that he couldn’t use credit cards there. He almost refused my offer — it was curious to see someone so shocked by such a simply thing. (Maybe he was from way out of town?) I was happy both to do something for him and for my local coffee house — I didn’t want them losing his business to a chain! (Okay, I guess I did this also for me, since I want them to be doing business in my hometown for many more years to come.) Happy Holidays!
We recently moved and as we unpacked we donated around 25 boxes of clothes, toys and kitchen/houseware stuff to several local charitable organizations.
I love reading these comments so much – they just warm my heart.
One of the ladies where I work has a daughter who was selling Girl Scout cookies and when I ordered they gave me the option of buying cookies that’d be sent to deployed military personnel. I thought this was a wonderful idea and promptly ordered twice as much so half could be sent off to the troops.
Our local library puts up a tree each year for people to hang donations of hats and gloves on for those in need. The tree looks so wonderful and it helps keep everyone warm in the winter. This was the first year I heard about this, but it will not be the last time I help decorate the tree!
I gave a 20% coupon to the guy behind me in line at Bed Bath Beyond – AFTER he tailgated my car for two miles and hit me in the ankles with his cart! He must have been having a bad day, so I hope the coupon helped.
Took some of my home baked Baklava to the gals who work for my dentist. They even managed to save a piece for the boss.