Posts tagged ‘#Write31Days 2018’

Kindness is Becoming an Organ Donor


Kindness is attentive, considerate, friendly, and thoughtful. Kindness sees a need and fills it. Sometimes that need is commonplace like delivering a meal or writing a letter. Sometimes it requires more of a conscious effort like becoming an organ donor.

Becoming an organ takes more conscious effort because you have to think about death. Your death. And that is not a popular topic to dwell on.

There is a huge need for organs. Sure, it might sound creepy, but it is kind

113,000 people are on the organ donor transplant waiting list in the US according to July 2019 statistics. 20 people die each day before receiving a transplant. Only 36,528 transplants were done in 2018. There is clearly a lack of organs.

95% of adults agree with organ donation, but only 58% have signed up.

Did you know that one donor can save eight lives?

I live in California and so am interested in California stats. The following info came from the DMV.CA.Gov site:

  • More than 21,000 Californians are waiting for a second chance at life.
  • About 20% of those nationwide waiting for an organ transplant are Californians

Go here for more nationwide stats. 

Sign up today.

  1. Driver’s License. It is easy to sign-up for this when you apply for or renew your driver’s license (or identification card).
  2. Health App. You can sign up via the health app on your iPhone.
  3. State Donor Registry. It is easy and quick to register with your state’s donor registry. 
  4. Tell your family. Make sure you tell your family, your wishes. Talk to them even if they are resistant to the idea.

Read this book: Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadaversby Mary Roach. This book shows scientific contributions and ways cadaver research has impacted modern life.

Along with cadavers, the protagonists of Roach’s book are the doctors, technicians, and environmentalists who labor over decaying flesh for larger causes. Underlying the eleven chapters of Roach’s book is her clear-eyed belief that, despite the perceived indignity of dismemberment, the fate of cadavers may be better than that of corpses. In its usefulness for organ donation, science, and the environment, a cadaver is a “superhero.” Quote taken from ENotes.Com

Here is a video review of the book.

If you want you to donate your whole body, you’ll need to go to a local hospital to fill out extensive papers  That is something I want to do as I think we don’t need more coffins  I will not be in my body after I die  I like the idea of being helpful, even after I pass from this earth.

Your Turn . . . Are you an organ donor? If not, why not? … Have you thought about being a whole-body donor?

You can practice being kind by leaving me a comment. 

Please leave me an idea or two that I can add to my acts of kindness list. The idea can be intentional or random.

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Want to know what other acts of Kindness are on the list? Go to my Landing Page . . . Scattering Kindness: A 31 Day Adventure of Intentional & Random Acts of Service.  

Previous #Write31Days Topics

Thanks go to Elizabeth Symington for making my #Write31Days button and basic graphic for the kindness quotes. Elizabeth is writing a 31 days series on Summer of Service in Yosemite.

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Kindness is Hosting a Card Making Workshop

Scroll down for the Landing Page (aka Table of Contents) for this Kindness series.

“I just used two of my “praying for you” cards today – cards that I made at the workshop you gave us. And it felt like a real gift to be able to send these folks a handmade card. Thanks again for leading that workshop. And thanks for helping us make such awesome cards.”

I recently sent the above message to my friend, Gillian, who is on the Women’s Ministry Team at my church and is also a Stampin’ Up Demonstrator.

Gillian said, “I always tell people that card making is a two-part process. We get the joy of making something ourselves, sometimes with our friends. Then we brighten someone else’s day by gifting them with our handmade card.”

Most women I know like the idea of crafting. But many are insecure about their ability and so don’t make time in their schedule to do this at home.

Kindness is attentive, considerate, friendly, and thoughtful. And kindness sees a need and fills it.

A need we saw at our church was a card-making workshop. We had one last year which was well-received. And we will have one this year. Soon each attendee can have the two-fold blessing of creating something and then gifting that to someone else.

Kindness is Hosting a Card Making Workshop.

My Landing Page for This series . . . Sprinkling Kindness: A 31 Day Adventure.  Please leave me an idea or two that I can add to my acts of kindness list. The idea can be intentional or random.

You can practice being kind by leaving me a comment. 

Your Turn . . . 

  • Do you like making cards? Come join our class.
  • When was the last time you recieved a handmade card? How did it make you feel?
  • What need do you see that you could fill?

Related Posts . . .

Previous #Write31Days Topics

Thanks go to Elizabeth Symington for making my #Write31Days button and basic graphic for the kindness quotes. Elizabeth is writing a 31 days series on Summer of Service in Yosemite.

. at . Leave a comment

Kindness is Sitting With Someone

On most Sundays, a majority of people sit in the same spot at church. They do this out of habit, so they can see or hear better, so they can socialize with their seat buddies, or so they can leave the sanctuary mid-service (for a potty break or to tend a child) without disturbing a lot of people.

Plus, doing so brings pleasant feelings. Regularly sitting in the same area gives people a sense of belonging and familiarity. These feelings enhance the worship experience.

If you are new, shy, or haven’t made friends yet, you probably don’t have a set seat. And worse yet, if you take someone’s set-seat, sometimes you are given a frown or shooed away. All this can lead to feeling like an outsider.

Let me suggest one thing. The next time you go to church, sit with someone who is alone. Or invite him/her to sit with you. Doing this sends the message that you are inviting him/her into your sphere of friends. It is a kind thing to do.

Kindness is making a point to sit with someone who is alone.

Need a refresher on what kindness looks like? Kindness is caring, considerate, friendly, hospitable, observant. A kind person wants others to feel like they, too, belong.

Your Turn . . .

  1. Do you have a special spot you like to sit when you attend church?
  2. How do you feel when someone sits there?
  3. When was the last time you purposefully sat with someone who was alone?
  4. Tell about a time someone did that for you.

Related Posts . . .

You can practice being kind by leaving me a comment. 

Please leave me an idea or two that I can add to my acts of kindness list. The idea can be intentional or random.

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Want to know what other acts of Kindness are on the list? Go to my Landing Page . . . Scattering Kindness: A 31 Day Adventure of Intentional & Random Acts of Service.  

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Kindness is Writing a Letter

 

Do you write letters on a regular basis?

I like to. In fact, I have several letter writing projects on this blog.

However, I got bogged down and didn’t keep either project as an ongoing habit.

Today I received a letter from a friend who lives locally. She moved to a different area and attends a different church. I let my life overrun my schedule. We were out-of-touch with one another. My friend gave a recap of her year and shared answered prayers. I felt such joy reading about the faithfulness of God in her life.

Her letter reminded me of our shared interests and love for one another. Her letter rekindled a desire to make this friendship a priority. I texted her right away to say, “Yes, let’s meet up.”

This weekend, I will take time to write her. Yes, I will do that even though we will see one another soon. I want my friend to receive the same joy I had after reading her letter to me. After all, kindness is writing a letter.

Can writing a letter really be called kindness? Yes! If the letter is attentive, considerate, friendly, and thoughtful, it is a kind act. Both the writer and recipient benefit from this kind act. Such letters reaffirm friendship, reminisce on shared history, and remind of what’s important in life – people.

I want to get back to my letter-writing habit. It is a great way to let others know how important they are to me. So, I am going back to setting aside the third Sunday of each month as a letter-writing time. (March 15th will be my first time to do this.) Of course, I can write more letters than this, but my realistic goal is once a month.

Your Turn . . .

  • Do you think letter writing is an important habit to cultivate?
  • Do you see it as an act of kindness?
  • When was the last time you wrote a letter? How did you feel after writing it? How was it received?
  • Will you write a letter this week?

Related Posts . . . 

You can practice being kind by leaving me a comment. 

Please leave me an idea or two that I can add to my acts of kindness list. The idea can be intentional or random.

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Want to know what other acts of Kindness are on the list? Go to my Landing Page . . . Scattering Kindness: A 31 Day Adventure of Intentional & Random Acts of Service.  

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Kindness is Feeding People

Food is at the center of American activities. Food is a necessity and a luxury. It is a joy and it bonds people. Denise, a woman who oversaw the kitchen at our church felt that when food was served at an event, people felt welcomed and at ease.

There are many ways we can share food as an act of kindness. Be sure to add your ideas to this list.

  • Invite someone over for dinner.
  • Take an extra portion of your sack lunch contents to give to a co-worker.
  • Make cookies for a neighbor or the school crossing guard.
  • Make an acceptable goodie for someone who has food allergies. Getting a treat like this is rare and makes the recipient feel noticed.
  • Take a meal to someone who needs help (a new mom, someone just home from the hospital, someone who is grieving). I think a just-because meal would be gratefully accepted, too.
  • Buy gift cards to fast food restaurants to give to a teenager or homeless person.
  • Donate food to the food pantry or to a program like Neighborhood Meals (NM).

NM is a free community meal served at my church (near Sacramento, CA) the last Friday of every month. If you are hungry, come and eat; if you’re not, come and serve. We have room for people to help in the following positions: set-up, clean-up, serve food, help our guests take food to the table, and visit with the guests while you both eat. We also take food and clothing.

“There are people in the world so hungry, that God cannot appear to them except in the form of bread.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi

When someone is hungry and doesn’t have easy access to food because of homelessness, pain, depression, or recuperation, that is a vulnerable state to be in.

Kindness is noticing that food is a necessity and brings comfort and acceptance. Kindness is feeding people.

Your Turn . . . When was the last time you performed this act of kindness? . . .  When was the last time someone gave you food? . . . How did either/both situations make you feel.? . . . Who can you gift food to this week? 

Related Posts . . . 

Go here for yesterday’s post . . . Kindness is Trick-or-Treating

You can practice being kind by leaving me a comment. 

Please leave me an idea or two that I can add to my acts of kindness list. The idea can be intentional or random.

_____________________________________________

Want to know what other acts of Kindness are on the list? Go to my Landing Page . . . Scattering Kindness: A 31 Day Adventure of Intentional & Random Acts of Service.  

This post is part of #Write31Days where bloggers write every day in October on one topic. I am writing about Acts of Kindness, random and otherwise. It will be interesting to note how I am different and/or how my community is different.

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Kindness is Trick-or-Treating

“Cor, all I have to say is, ‘Trick-or-Treat’ and people will give me sweets?” Robbie asked this multiple times during the car ride to Bentwaters Air Force base which was 80 miles northeast of London, England).

I assured him that was true. My two kiddos, Tim (6) and Elizabeth (5) had several Halloweens under their belt and knew the drill. But for Jamie (7) and Robbie (3 1/2) this was their first time since this holiday wasn’t observed in England. We had three more delightful Octobers together exchanging sweets for a three word sentence before we moved back to the United States.

Candy is universally loved whether you are a child or an adult. So I decided to give out Halloween candy to my neighbors as a way to get to know them. Of the 14 apartments near mine, i “knew” only one lady (because of her friendly cat.

However, this giving had a twist. I was going to reverse trick-or-treat.

  • I would go to their homes.
  • I would do this on a night other than Halloween because I hoped to catch my neighbors at home.
  • They didn’t have to say, ‘Trick-or-Treat.’
  • And if they weren’t home, I planned to leave the treats on the door step.

This is a sample of what I left for those who didn’t answer their door.

As a shy, introvert, I was so nervous. On the first night I went to six apartments.

  • I talked two people who were quite receptive to my gesture of friendship.
  • One lady ran from me into her apartment. I put the goodies by her front door.
  • Two apartments had packages on their porch, so I left my treats on top.
  • At one home, the occupant opened the door when I left. I heard the creaking so I said, “Oh, good, you are home.” Their reply was a slammed door. I left their treats on the door step.

I was so discouraged by these results. But last night, I tried it again. I dropped off treats for eight more apartments.

  • Two people weren’t home. Again I left their goodies by the door.
  • One person  didn’t answer the door. I could hear him talking. But he got treats, as well.
  • I talked to five neighbors! Four of the neighbors were happy to meet me.

In total six ladies were glad I knocked on their doors to introduce myself. Kindness is getting to know your neighbors. Kindness is reverse trick-or-treating to do just that.

Your Turn . . .  How well do you know your neighbors? . . . Would you try reverse trick-or-treating as a way to introduce yourself to your neighbors? Why or why not? . . . How did you get to know your neighbors?

You can practice being kind by leaving me a comment. 

Please leave me an idea or two that I can add to my acts of kindness list. The idea can be intentional or random.

Want to know what other acts of Kindness are on the list? Go to my Landing Page . . . Scattering Kindness: A 31 Day Adventure of Intentional & Random Acts of Service.  

This post is part of #Write31Days where bloggers write every day in October on one topic. I am writing about Acts of Kindness, random and otherwise. It will be interesting to note how I am different and/or how my community is different.

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Go here for yesterday’s post: Kindness is Being a Friendly Driver

Related Posts . . . Rolls and Buns: A Communication Mishap . . . Kindness is Neighboring Well

Previous #Write31Days Topics

Thanks go to Elizabeth Symington for making my #Write31Days button and basic graphic for the kindness quotes. Elizabeth is writing a 31 days series on Summer of Service in Yosemite.

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Kindness is Going to the Funeral

“But I don’t like going to funerals. I feel awkward, don’t know what to say, and I didn’t even know Julie’s dad,” I said to an elderly mentor.

“Is Julie your friend? Is she hurting?”

I answered both questions with a “Yes.”

“Often times,” my mentor said, “we go to a funeral to support our grieving friend. It has nothing to do with us. It makes a difference that we attend.”

I found out at the funerals of my parents, that it did make a difference. Some people who attended didn’t even know my parents. I felt supported, loved, and understood because these friends were with me during a HARD time.

Besides going to the funeral, send a card. And find the most meaningful card you can. My grandpa Carol, a very unsentimental dude, told me about a card he received after his wife, Ruby, died. “It was the prettiest card and the words were so comforting. I put it on the TV for months.” This card was a little gesture, a kind gesture, that meant so much.

Kindness notices the needs of others. It meets those needs. Kindness is going to the funeral. It is sending a card.

Your Turn . . . Do you attend funerals or do you skip them whenever you can? . . . Have you ever thought about how significant a card can be? . . . What is something else we can do to support a grieving friend?

You can practice being kind by leaving me a comment. 

Want to know what other acts of Kindness are on the list? Go to my Landing Page . . . Scattering Kindness: A 31 Day Adventure of Intentional & Random Acts of Service.  

Please leave me an idea or two that I can add to my acts of kindness list. The idea can be intentional or random.

This post is part of #Write31Days where bloggers write every day in October on one topic. I am writing about Acts of Kindness, random and otherwise. It will be interesting to note how I am different and/or how my community is different

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Go here for yesterday’s post: Kindness is Putting Away Shopping Carts

Related Posts . . . 

Previous #Write31Days Topics

Thanks go to Elizabeth Symington for making my #Write31Days button and basic graphic for the kindness quotes. Elizabeth is writing a 31 days series on Summer of Service in Yosemite.

. at . 5 comments

Kindness is Putting Away Shopping Carts

This post is part of #Write31Days where bloggers write every day in October on one topic. I am writing about Acts of Kindness, random and otherwise. It will be interesting to note how I am different and/or how my community is different.

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I arrived at the store ready to do a BIG shop. With a list in hand and a ticking clock, I went towards the cart coral inside. There wasn’t a single cart. Not one! I’ve never seen it empty before. I fumed a little as I went back out and grabbed one of the many carts that were parked by cars near the entrance.

Shopping done, on my way out of the store, I noticed that the in-store cart corral was still empty. I tucked my groceries into the trunk, and looked at my cell phone clock. I had finished early! 13 minutes early.

I put 13 minutes on my timer. Then I whizzed around gathering carts. I put the gathered carts into the outside cart corrals. Isn’t it funny that I didn’t want to get “caught” by a store employee. A few people thanked me. And one man said, “Why are you doing THEIR job?”

“So you can have a cart now and not have to come back outside,” I replied.

The older gentleman grunted as he took a cart from the cart cage. I whispered, “You’re welcome.”

Just as I was getting into my vehicle to drive away, a store employee was taking carts into the store. I don’t know whether I was spotted or not, but I did a spontaneous,13 minute, kind deed for the day. And it felt good.

Your Turn . . . Have you ever gathered a bunch of carts to return them? Did you feel conspicuous like I did? . . . Did you ever think of returning your shopping cart as an act of kindness? . . . What spontaneous act of kindness can you do today?

You can practice being kind by leaving me a comment. 

Want to know what other acts of Kindness are on the list? Go to my Landing Page . . . Scattering Kindness: A 31 Day Adventure of Intentional & Random Acts of Service.  

Please leave me an idea or two that I can add to my acts of kindness list. The idea can be intentional or random.

Go here for yesterday’s post: Kindness is Praying

Previous #Write31Days Topics

Thanks go to Elizabeth Symington for making my #Write31Days button and basic graphic for the kindness quotes. Elizabeth is writing a 31 days series on Summer of Service in Yosemite.

. at . 3 comments

Kindness is Looking Someone in the Eyes

This post is part of #Write31Days where bloggers write every day in October on one topic. I am writing about Acts of Kindness, random and otherwise. It will be interesting to note how I am different and/or how my community is different.

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One of the best joys of being the parent of an adult child is when they have children. Being a grandmother is an unexpected pleasure.  My two oldest grand children (5 and 2) keep me up to date on their lives by face timing me several times a week. And I am always surprised when I learn from them, even from one as young as five.

Recently, I spent several nights with my grand children. It was a full weekend of playing talking, walking, cuddling, photographing each other, and crafting. As I left to leave, Sofia said, “Grandma, let’s talk to each other tomorrow.”

“OK,” I replied. “I want to make that happen.”

And Grandma, don’t do anything else,” She added.

“What do you mean, Sofia?”

“Don’t do your dishes or anything during the time we are talking,” Sofia clarified.

 I thought it was okay to do my dishes or ironing when we were talking. But I understood then, that Sofia wanted me to look at her. That is why she always calls me on Face Time and not on the regular phone. She wants eye-to-eye contact.

And really, don’t we all. We want to know that someone is paying attention when we talk.

Have you had a conversation where there wasn’t much paying attention going on? Perhaps the TV was on or cell phones were in use. Or like me, you were busy doing chores.

While you might have been having a conversation with someone, did you feel neglected because the other person wasn’t paying attention to you? Or maybe you were the one doing the neglecting.

Conversation requires both people being involved in listening and speaking. And a meaningful way to show that we are focused on them is by looking at the other person, giving them our undivided attention.

Kindness is paying attention. It is looking at someone when they talk. It is not doing anything else.

 

 

Your Turn . . . How good of a listener are you?  . . . Do you prefer people look you in the eyes when you are having a conversation?

You can practice being kind by leaving me a comment. 

Want to know what other acts of Kindness are on the list? Go to my Landing Page . . . Scattering Kindness: A 31 Day Adventure of Intentional & Random Acts of Service.  

Please leave me an idea or two that I can add to my acts of kindness list. The idea can be intentional or random.

Go here for yesterday’s post: Leaving a Surprise in a Library Book

Related Posts . . .

Previous #Write31Days Topics

Thanks go to Elizabeth Symington for making my #Write31Days button and basic graphic for the kindness quotes. Elizabeth is writing a 31 days series on Summer of Service in Yosemite.

. at . 3 comments

Leaving a Surprise in a Library Book

This post is part of #Write31Days where bloggers write every day in October on one topic. I am writing about Acts of Kindness, random and otherwise. It will be interesting to note how I am different and/or how my community is different

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Do you ever go to the library? Is it a valuable resource for you?

I love the library. I go for the free books. Since I have been decluttering, having these free resources has been ideal. And I like participating in the Summer Reading program as it helps me stay committed to reading during those three outside-busy months.

I hardly ever go TO the library now. Whenever I can, I borrow the items digitally. I like being able to (usually) start reading right away. And I like the ease of returning the books. Since they are returned automatically, I don’t get fines for late books anymore.

When I was a younger (and poorer) woman, the library was a refuge from life. It was quiet, safe, and I could read current magazines for free. I do miss reading current magazines. So because I love and value the library, I wanted to do an act of kindness IN the library.

I imagined the person fining the money buying a specialty coffee. So I left a $5 bill inside one of my fave 2017 reads. This was a fun RAK.

I don’t prefer RANDOM acts of service or kindness. I like to purposefully bless folks I know. So many of them could use this touch of love. Love is kindness with work boots on.

However, this act of kindness is truly random. I got the idea from one of the many RAK (Random Acts of Service) lists on the internet.

“Leave some money in a library book.“

So I made a trip to my local library, which just opened after a month-long remodel. It was harder than I thought to put the bill into a book.

  • I had to find a book that was tall and thick enough. When I put it into a short, thin book, the page opened right to the money when I picked up the book. I wanted the money to be a surprise for when someone got far into the book.
  • I wanted to pick the RIGHT book. I wanted the book to be one that I enjoyed. At that moment my mind went blank. So I went to the list of books I read last year. I looked for 8-9 books before I found a physical copy of a favourite book. And I had to test it was tall and thick enough.

I wish I could’ve seen the person’s face when they discovered the money.

Your Turn . . . Do you do RAK’s?  . . . Have you ever found money in a book? What were your thoughts.feelings? . . . How likely are you to try this act of kindness? If you do this, be sure to let us know.

You can practice being kind by leaving me a comment. 

Want to know what other acts of Kindness are on the list? Go to my Landing Page . . . Scattering Kindness: A 31 Day Adventure of Intentional & Random Acts of Service.  

Please leave me an idea or two that I can add to my acts of kindness list. The idea can be intentional or random.

Go here for yesterday’s post: Leaving a Generous Tip

Related Posts . . . 

Previous #Write31Days Topics

Thanks go to Elizabeth Symington for making my #Write31Days button and basic graphic for the kindness quotes. Elizabeth is writing a 31 days series on Summer of Service in Yosemite.

. at . 4 comments

Kindness is Leaving a Generous Tip

This post is part of #Write31Days where bloggers write every day in October on one topic. I am writing about Acts of Kindness, random and otherwise. It will be interesting to note how I am different and/or how my community is different.

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How often do you eat out? Information from 2017 says Americans eat 18.2 meals outside the home each month. I eat out 5.1 times a month (on average). I don’t indulge as much as I’d like because of food issues and cost. Most of the that time I eat out with a large group of people. It is interesting to note the tipping habits of folks.

How much do you tip? I usually tip 20% because I REALLY appreciate the work provided by our server, dishwasher, busser, etc. I really appreciate not having to menu plan, shop, put the groceries away, cook, and then clean up. And I just like eating out. A friend recently said that her love language is eating out. Me, too. So I tip accordingly.

Both of my children have challenged me in my tipping. They remind me how little servers and other restaurant staff make. And in the long run, will I miss that extra couple of dollars? No, probably not.

I have done this act of kindness several times in the last year. I tip 50% of my bill. I should say I am not frequenting high scale restaurants. So my average tip (at the high-end) is $10. I do save up money for this act of kindness. I always feel a secret pleasure that I was able to do that. Before I go out, i decide if this is the day I’ll tip extra. I do so regardless of the service. Once my daughter asked me about that.

“Every one can have a bad day,” I replied.. “I want to bless that person. Maybe the extra tip will be seen for the kindness it is and change that person’s attitude. Maybe it will just let that person know they were seen.”

Leaving a generous tip is an act of kindness.

Your Turn . . . I am not telling you this to toot my own horn. I am telling you so that you can think and see if you’d like to do this, too. . . .  What kind of a tipper are you?  . . .  Do you think I am crazy or wasteful for tipping extra?

You can practice being kind by leaving me a comment. 

Want to know what other acts of Kindness are on the list? Go to my Landing Page . . . Scattering Kindness: A 31 Day Adventure of Intentional & Random Acts of Service.  

Please leave me an idea or two that I can add to my acts of kindness list. The idea can be intentional or random.

Go here for yesterday’s post: Kindness is Neighboring Well

Previous #Write31Days Topics

Thanks go to Elizabeth Symington for making my #Write31Days button and basic graphic for the kindness quotes. Elizabeth is writing a 31 days series on Summer of Service in Yosemite.

. at . 6 comments

Kindness is Filling Operation Christmas Child Boxes

This post is part of #Write31Days where bloggers write every day in October on one topic. I am writing about Acts of Kindness, random and otherwise. It is my hope that my community and I are different as a result of this 31 Day Series.

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Christmas, shopping, and loving on kiddos. When a project combines all three, I am in. Therefore, I am totally in when it comes to Operation Christmas Child. Ever since 2002, I have packed at least three shoe boxes each year. One year I packed as many boxes as I was old (55 of them).

Last year, a friend and I started a church crafting/sewing group to make items for our OCC boxes and to collect items year round.

  • We sew bags for jacks, marbles, and Legos.
  • We sew backpacks that the box will fit into.
  • We sew pillowcase dresses and dolls.
  • And finally we sew cloth menstrual bags with an accompanying purse to hold the bags.

If we have more items than we need, we send the extras items along with our boxes to the processing facility. Extras are always needed because some folks don’t FILL up their boxes. And some folks don;t read the directions and send things that HAVE to be taken out, like … glass items … war related clothing and toys … dirty and/or broken things … food … liquids.

This is such a cool way to show love (kindness with work boots on).

  • Most of these impoverished kiddos will get only ONE box in their life time.
  • For some kiddos, this is the only gift they’ll ever receive. It is something they’ll never forget.
  • This is a way to help the kiddos I know to develop their kindness muscle (by being involved in OCC). I’ve packed boxes with my nieces and my granddaughter.

This action of filling a shoe box for an impoverished child I’ll never see, is a kind action. It is kind because the box portrays the idea that someone sees them and cares enough for them to send a gift. This gift does not greatly change their physical environment, but my prayer is that it changes their emotional environment. That it brings a bit of hope. We all need hope. And hope makes a difference.

Your Turn . . . Have you asked anyone to join this OCC Kindness Army? . . .How are you involved in OCC? If you need ideas, read on …

  • Contribute money for the shipping cost ($9). 
  • Contribute several items to a location or person that collects year round. My church is such a place.
  • Make up an/or collect filler items and donate these. One such items is school supplies. The Pencil Granny gives great suggestions on what to load into your zip lock baggie.
  • Pack your own box. Go here for directions.

You can practice being kind by leaving me a comment. 

Want to know what other acts of Kindness are on the list? Go to my Landing Page . . . Scattering Kindness: A 31 Day Adventure of Intentional & Random Acts of Service.  

Please leave me an idea or two that I can add to my acts of kindness list. The idea can be intentional or random.

Go here for yesterday’s post:

Related Posts . . . 

Previous #Write31Days Topics

Thanks go to Elizabeth Symington for making my #Write31Days button and basic graphic for the kindness quotes. Elizabeth is writing a 31 days series on Summer of Service in Yosemite.

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60 Acts of Kindness, Intentional & Random to do my 60th year

The Finish Date.

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