KIND Blog & News

May’s KIND Tuesday showed yet another flow of kindness from our community.   KINDAHOLICS across the country took the simple challenge of preparing a healthy meal for someone who makes them feel full and transformed this act of kindness into something much bigger.  Beyond the touching and creative ways that our community prepared meals for someone special, their kindness has enabled us to work with the San Francisco and Marin Food Banks to provide thousands with healthful meals.

As always, everyone’s kindness counted in helping us reach our goals, and below are some of our favorite stories from KINDAHOLICS who accepted the KINDING Mission.  We will be sending a KIND Cube to each of the winners below for making us feel very happily full this month:

I have a heart condition and have not been feeling well.  I have an appointment in a week, so my loving husband has done everything and not letting me lift a finger. One night when he came home I had a healthy salmon dinner waiting for him.The smile on his face was priceless.He gives so much for me and I will continue to do what ever I can to do a kind act for someone as special as my husband and pass it along to family friends and a stranger if they let me.
- Monica

My mom has always been the go-to gal in her small community. If someone is ill and needs help, there’s mom. If someone is going through a rough patch, there’s mom. She cooks dinners for elderly women in her town that cannot help themselves and cannot afford to go to a “home” where they can be cared for. The least I could do is make HER a meal. Nothing special, just something SHE didn’t have to make. It was refreshing to be able to help her, after all she has done for friends and family. It made me feel good to be able to say “No, Mom, you can’t help. Just go sit down and we will chat while I make dinner!”
- Colleen

I have a friend who is going through a rough time. We had a LOT of leftover chicken from a barbeque, to I cooked it, put it in a cooler, and gave the whole thing to her. She was so grateful she almost cried.
- Teresa

I have been making meals for an older couple. The wife has Alzheimers’s and the husband is so kind and patient with her. His caring attitude is an inspiration to me!
- Debbie

This week I met a homeless family traveling to the city for work so I invited to have dinner at my home and told them about how they could start anew in this town. They thanked me for dinner and said they will let me know how things work out. They were nice family and I hope to hear from them soon.
-San

This KIND Tuesday unleashed another generous outpouring of kindness from our community.  The simple mission to write a note of thanks to an educator sparked touching acts of kindness across the country.  Thank you to each and every one of our KINDAHOLICS whose communal kindness has enabled us to bring textbooks to Phoenix Children’s Hospital to benefit children who are too ill to attend school.

Here are just several of our favorite KINDING Stories that were shared which have us even more excited for next KIND Tuesday! We hope that the KIND Cubes we send to the following KINDAHOLIC super stars will fuel them to repeat their kindness next month!

I thank a former teacher/co-worker by visiting her mom a couple of times a week in her assisted living home because I am retired and the daughter is still teaching full time AND coaching the basketball team. We have even enjoyed a KIND bar together. I did not know the mom until this placement and like most times when you do something kind, I am one getting blessed also.
-Kelly Kline Carrizosa

I thank my mother for teaching me to be a strong, smart, single woman who needs to rely on no one (ok maybe my mom at times). I thanked her by taking her out for a day in her favorite place, New York City. We went up to the MET so I could show her some of my favorite works of art and the new American wing. We then had a dinner at a restaurant in midtown and took her shopping in Times Square to end the day.
- Tiffany

A returned missionary who had took leave of teaching school had recently moved in with her daughter, to help with the young ones. one week before they where scheduled to move they had the choice to move in the next day to a bigger home or to lose it. The chose to move so they could all continue to live together. I went that night & started packing. I made 18 phonecalls & fb messages. The next day starting one hour late when the scheduled help left do to some tardiness on the family returning from the walkthrough & breakfast pickup. I brought my family & my eldest & I stayed till 6pm. Other individuals came & went & came back. We did it & were very joyful thoughtout the move. I thank God that day for letting me serve. Robin
-Rw Burdette

Today I thanked the many teachers that I work with. I announced to the class that today was A Day of “KIND”ness and explained your mission. One girl wrote a note to the children in the hospital that you are going to help bring “school” to them. Another 4th grade student delivered her note thanking her 3rd grade teachers and came back to tell me that they cried while reading her touching note. A few of my current students thanked me with a note too. Kids write some powerful thank you notes. Thank you for encouraging everyone to accept this mission of “KIND”ness. As Ellen says, “Be KIND to one another!” Thank you!!!
-Kristina S.

My son goes to a public preschool. Yesterday I send an email to our Senator so they will not cut the budget for the programs. I also sent it to his teacher I read it to her before. She was also my Daughters teacher a few years ago. I have a good relationship with her. Anyway it made her cry because of the things that was in there. This was before I signed up for the Kindness program. Just thought I would share this keepup the good deeds
-Beckie Howe Warger

I sent a note to the educator at Phoenix Children’s Hospital to let her know what a difference she made to me as a new nurse. She has the opportunity to touch and inspire every new nurse who starts their nursing journey at PCH and she certainly inspired me. She knows, that though not in this particular note to her, I am now working on my MSN-Ed (Masters in Nursing Education) and she will always remain a role model to me as I move forward in my nursing career. Here is what I wrote to her: Kathy, I am taking the KIND challenge to send a thank you note to an educator. Yes, I am responding to a request to do so, but actually it is just a good kick in the tush to do something I want to do but never get around to…. It took only a split second for me to think of you when I read the challenge to send words of appreciation to someone who has made a difference in my life through education. You are an educator I will always keep in my minds eye as a great example of classroom demeanor, follow through on commitments, centered wisdom, connection to the students and the use of humor in education. I hope you know the positive impact you make on others, and as a new graduate who was in your GAPP class, I think every person in that classroom would agree with me. Speaking as a new grad nurse, your comittment to helping us all feel welcome, respected, understood and cared for was paramount for making the challenging transition to the floor as a “real nurse” more exciting than terrifying! lol I felt like you really understood what we were all being faced with, thinking in the back of our minds and biting our nails about. Thank you for all you do!!
-Linda B.S.

my mom is the best teacher I know for that I thank her by surprising her with her favorite chocolate.
-Monica Anderson

I sent the following to my favorite highschool English teacher: Dear Lyn, Just wanted to send you a quick note to thank you for your efforts as an educator. While I know it may not have been the most lucrative career, nor did it set you up for the most comfortable retirement, it certainly had value in all the students lives you touched. You encouraged my already desperate love for reading but still pushed me to explore written works outside of my comfort zone. Additionally you provided me an excellent foundation in writing, one that I was able to cultivate further in years following. Those skills served me well both in college, while pursuing a graduate degree, and even now as I prepare grants and communicate with donors. Thank you for always taking an interest in your students and guiding the academic explorations that made us into the people we all are today. All the best, Megan
-Megan M.

For my mission, I sent a “teachers care” bumper sticker, pin and a thank you note with a few kind snacks to my 3 neighbors that are teachers. It definitely made them smile and they all have the stickers on their cars now.
-Coleen Walsh

We gave my son’s teacher a candle as a thank you for being a part of his bright future. =)
-Alea S.

The KIND Food Truck made a special visit to ABC Phoenix to invite viewers to Do the KIND Thing in support of Phoenix Children’s Hospital. The Sonoran Living team spoke with KIND and a representative from Phoenix Children’s Hospital about the importance of the text book delivery we are working to make possible and encouraged viewers to sign up at KINDMovement.com, to make their acts of kindness count in getting us there!

Via two live broadcasts from Phoenix Children’s Hospital, KIND issued a call to NBC Phoenix viewers to Do the KIND Thing in support of Phoenix Children’s Hospital. The NBC Phoenix Channel 12 news team joined KIND in inviting Phoenix residents to write a note of thanks to someone who educates, so that KIND can deliver hundreds of text books to hospitalized children who cannot attend school with their peers. Watch one of the full segments by clicking the image below!

Throughout the past week, we’ve received tons of touching stories about how people in our community carried out the KINDING Mission. And boy were they in good company! Celebrity moms Tiffani Thiessen and Elisabeth Rohm also pledged to Do the KIND Thing by helping a parent in need.

Thanks to all of the KINDAHOLICS who did one small act of kindness this KIND Tuesday, KIND will be partnering with Baby Buggy to deliver diapers and other essential goods to parents living in shelters. Because of your kindness, we will be able to brighten the future for babies in need!

Here are a few of our favorite stories (who’s sharers will be receiving a KIND Cube!) showing how KINDAHOLICS are making the world a bit KINDER.

“I am an Ambassador of moms meet and I run my own moms group, I have 10 moms in my group right now. None of us are wealthy or able to afford baby sitters very often for nights out on town or just alone time with our husbands or for ourselves. Most of us are working moms and are very busy and very stressed out!! We always put our children and husband’s first. I have been saving money for several months now so I could do something special for the mom’s, well when I saw this kinding mission I felt inspired and thought what better time to show my mom’s group how special and deserving they really are. So, I got with a lady that owns a nail salon here where we live and worked out a special deal to rent out her salon last saturday night and give all my moms a mani and pedi, I also bought several bottles of wine for them to share together while having there special night. I also kept all of there kids free of charge for them to all go to the salon. When they finished there mani’s and pedi’s they then returned to my house where I had hot yummy pizzas waiting on them that there kids and I had prepared from scratch, Which served two purpose’s…1. It gave the kids a fun activity to do as well as letting them to do something special for there mom’s. 2. It provided the mom’s a nice hot meal to eat. My mom’s group had so much fun saturday and they have not stopped thinking me for it and I know that they needed it!! I even had a few of the mom’s break down and cry because they were so touched and because it was something that they really needed but could not afford, I can’t begin to tell you how good it made me feel, doing something for someone else…That is the ultimate gift!! Thank you so much for inspiring me to do something for somebody else!!”
- Amanda H

“My brother in law is in the air force and my sister is left at home with her two boys a lot of the time. She had the chance to take a trip to Hawaii with her husband so I volunteered to watch my nephews for 2 weeks. They had a great vacation together and I loved helping them out.”

- Clarissa K.

“I met a family in January who lost everything in a fire, including their precious child. The mother is raising 4 other children and just recently she called me to say that her husband left her. Her children were home from school because it was a school free day. She said that one of her sons asked her if he could have a grilled cheese sandwich, but she realized she had neither cheese nor bread, and she said she had to go into her bedroom and cry. I contacted my church’s food pantry and since the mother doesn’t have transportation to be able to get to the food pantry, I picked up many food and grocery items and drove them to her home. Since I am disabled myself, it means so much that I can still use my capabilities to help others. She hugged me and we both shared a moment as 2 moms who know what it’s like to go through times that challenge the heart. She called me her “friend” ~ best gift she could share with me!”

- Dee J.

“We went to the womens shelter and delivered 12 boxes of diapers. While we were there a new mom was in tears because she had a baby that was 5 days old and she had nothing except a car seat that she got from the hospital. We told her to meat us back at the shelter in an hour and we returned with a crib, clothes, bath necesseties and just about everything we thought she could use. When she met us she just burst into tears. We were so glad we were able to help her. It was like we were meant to be there at the same time.”

- Tammy M.

“I have group on mommy friends that I met during birthing class. Our kids have “known” each other since before they were born. We get together on weekly play dates and it has been great to watch our kids grow up with their “village” of friends that truly care about all of them. One of our mommies is due with her second any day now and has had some complcations. It has been a rough pregnancy, especially chasing after an 18 month old. So, our village of mommies has pitched in to watch her daughter while she goes to doctor appointments, brought goodies and treats over when we know she was down, and set up house cleaning for her for after the baby is here and she won’t have the time with 2 babies. We know she would have done the same for us and we are excited for the next round of little babies to join our village.”

-Rebecca

“For my kind act, I collected samples of makeups, perfumes, lotions, soaps, and other beauty products and put them all into a great bathroom bag (picked up on clearance at Target), and for less than 2 hours of my time, and $8 I brought a bag full of beauty/healthcare products to a family in my school-district with a mom and two teenage daughters who are currently homeless. I am hoping it will help all three of them to feel like they are a little more “put-together” and help to brighten their spirits during an extremely challenging time.”

-Amy M.

This February, the kindness of our community resulted in a moving event that touched the lives of hundreds of wounded, recovering veterans.

Because enough people expressed their gratitude to someone who serves, we were able to partner up with the incredible team at Operation Gratitude and work together to put on a heartfelt and fun Mardi Gras Party that served up tasty foods and treats such as gumbo, crawfish and cake to troops at varying stages of recovery.  Everyone was invited to have a bite to eat, grab an Operation Gratitude care package and read through the notes of thanks and gratitude that so many KINDAHOLICS like YOU provided.

We learned many inspiring stories during the day’s festivities – one man spoke of his injury which took place last July when his vehicle was severely hit.  He was covered in 80 pieces of shrapnel in his torso and legs and suffered 3^rd degree burns on his hands, face, and body after he pulled his fellow troop out of the burning vehicle.  This courageous soldier is now looking forward to continuing his education, joining the ROTC program and getting involved with Wildlife Management.

This man, among many others, was beyond grateful for what we were able to do to give back and we want to thank YOU for making this happen.  Without you, your heartfelt words of kindness, and Operation Gratitude, none of this would have been possible!

To learn more about the KIND work that Operation Gratitude continues to do for our soldiers and veterans, please visit www.OPGratitude.com.

Sometimes, it can be difficult to thank people who work behind the scenes to make our lives safer and all around better. But this month, KINDAHOLICS across the country showed us just how easy expressing gratitude can be! Thousands of KINDAHOLICS expressed their gratitude to someone who serves (be it a member of the military, a firefighter or a helpful friend) and in turn, KIND is partnering with Operation Gratitude to deliver care packages to hundreds of hospitalized, recovering veterans.

We are so thankful for the collective kindness of our community that has enabled us to unlock this Big KIND Act. Read below to see some great stories from KINDAHOLICS about how they carried out their KINDING Mission. To show our thanks, we will be sending KIND Cubes to each of the story sharers below! Thank you to the entire KINDAHOLIC community for making another Big KIND Act become a reality.

My cousin Danny is a firefighter in North Carolina, and I live all the way in Chicago and don’t get to see him a lot during the years, Being and living in Chicago and living in the city I constantly hear fire sirens going off to the rescue and think of him every time I hear them and send him good thoughts and the fact that he is putting his life on the line for others. Today I sent him a message letting him know how proud and grateful I am for him. Thanks KIND for giving us these Missions and the chance to be extra KIND! Newcomer and proud member of the KIND movement!!!!!
-Mr. Beckman

I am very grateful to my brother Joe, a Navy verteran, who has always looked out for me; I’ve called him and thanked him for his support and love.
-Pauline F.

I met a Veteran, John, who had served in the Persian Gulf War one day while I was visiting my local library. He asked me for change so we started talking… He was telling me that he was homeless, staying in a shelter and how difficult it was for him to navigate the Dept of Social Services. I ended up treating him to dinner as well as giving him a ride back to his shelter. I also met up with John a few days later and accompanied him to the Dept of Social Services and assisted him with completing the applications he needed so he could obtain assistance. I also assisted him with applying for Social Security Benefits as well as with the Red Tape associated with The VA. John is now on his way to “Feeling human” (his words) again. I am still in touch with John as he was able to obtain a free cell-phone through a program. He is now able to rent a room in a safe neighborhood, afford groceries & necessities. I am so thankful that I was able to help John as he gave up so much to defend & protect my freedom. It was the least I could do. I also made a very good friend!
-Debbie B.

This month, we received hundreds of amazing stories describing how you carried out January’s KINDING Mission, proving that our KINDAHOLIC community has really raised the bar for 2012! Every single person who did something nice for someone who has helped them take a big step has enable us to unlock the Big KIND Act.  Thanks to you, we will be delivering 5,000 pairs of shoes to adults and children in need.

Below are some of our favorite stories about how our KINDAHOLICS carried out their KINDING Mission.  As a thank you for sharing your stories, we will be giving a KIND Cube to each of the following KINDAHOLICS.  Thank you to everyone for accepting the mission, sharing your story, and for helping us make the world a bit kinder!

I asked my husband for my Christmas present to be a budget to redecorate my mother in laws bedroom. I completely redecorated her room, which she has been wanting to do for years but hasn’t had the time or money to do it. We surprised her with the project and she was completely shocked and happy. We took down old wall paper and repainted her room and bought new bedding and made curtains and brought in new shelving units and a ottoman for the end of her bed for extra storage. She does so much with helping us with our new kids that I felt we needing to do something really special for her.

-Megan

I prepared “goodie” bags for the ladies at the church I attend and put them under the Christmas tree at church. Each bag had a thank you note, a small silk bag with items such as a purse size tissue pack, lip balm, notepad, individual snacks, etc. It gave me great pleasure and joy to surprise these dear ladies and thank them for the kindness they have shown me.

- Mary M.

My husband had a very hard day at work yesterday and I knew about what time he would be home. He was home about midnight… so when he walked in the door his dinner was hot and I had a hot cup of tea ready for him. Usually I do can not stay up that late let alone have anything ready for him, but I wanted to be kind!

- Heather

Though I’m a middle child and VERY independent, my parents worry about me constantly since I live alone and 450 miles away from them. Since I’m currently unemployed and had the spare time, I made a surprise Christmas visit this year to thank them for their unfailing support. Rather than suggest I move back in with them, they have sacrificed their own funds to make sure my bills are covered so I can remain living in an area I have come to love. I couldn’t ask for a better example and I strive daily to live the values they taught me: that love is a more precious commodity than material possessions.

- Laura

My BFF has been going through some rough times with her family. I sent her a box of household items to make things a little easier. I just want things to be easier for her. I check on her daily. She has been there for me ANY time of day with love and acceptance. She is the most loving and kind (no pun intended) person I know.

- Jenn P.

Our favorite thing about the holidays is that everyone seems to be excited about giving, and as you can imagine, KINDAHOLICS took this spirit of generosity to the next level! Because thousands of KINDAHOLICS donated their time or an item (such as used books, canned goods, or old backpacks) to local shelters or food banks, we will be partnering with Publix and the Chapman Partnership to deliver toys to hundreds of homeless children.

 
Thank you to our entire community for enabling us to brighten the holidays for homeless children.  Each and every KINDING Mission has made this Big KIND Act possible, and we’d like to thank the following KINDAHOLICS with a KIND Cube in appreciation of the extraordinary kindness that they have shared:

Every year we work on a haunted house in a tent in our front yard for Halloween.  This year, I spent the entire year making new props and such for the “house.”  When the time came to install the props, we also made the admission fee a non-perishable food item for the local food bank.  I figured it was beggars nite and we should do a little begging of our own.  We collected in 4 hours over 82 pounds of food for the food bank.  What’s more, the kids had a great time in the “Hunger Haunt.”  The amount surprised me and the food bank was more than happy to get the food, even a small amount such as ours received great thanks.

- Lisa R.

My son Kevin, age 14, surprised me by declaring that instead of presents for Christmas this year, he only wanted to spend time together as a family, baking, playing games, etc.  He said since we wouldn’t be spending money on gifts for us we could buy gifts for some children from the Angel Tree who otherwise would not have any gifts.  We not only did that, but we also organized a neighborhood food drive (actually our third one since June ’10) to support our local food pantry.  We collected over 600 pounds of food! Although we, as are many others, are struggling ourselves financially, it felt so good to help those in need from our community.

-Connie J.

I just started working after almost 2 years of unemployment.  Before I started, I went through all of my clothes and got rid of anything that I hadn’t worn in a long time or that no longer fit.  I had two 33 gallon garbage cans full of clothing.  All of it was donated to a battered women’s shelter.  Everyone feels better when they feel like they look good and I wanted to help some ladies find their “pretty” so that they would smile and feel good about themselves.

-Mary P.

After moving this summer, and finally going through many boxes, we found we had a few boxes of unopened toys nobody was ever going to use.  We realized with Christmas coming and that donating 3 boxes full of brand new toys could not come at a better time than Christmas! Luckily Toys for Tots made that incredibly easy, as they don’t even ask that presents be wrapped.  It’s great to know my famil could do this as part of this month’s KINDingAct!

- Erin

Where I live, there’s many soup kitchens and shelters around to help many local, struggling citizens… My mother had found and amazingly supporting food bank near us called Love Kitchen.  They were humble and understanding… so I am prooud to say that a year later with much hard work and a new hobby of clipping coupins we donated not 1, not 10, but 120 cans of various fruits and vegetables.  My family and the local food bank could never have been more grateful.

- Gina P.