A random act of kindness – the moment we capitalize on an unforeseen opportunity to be kind in some way to someone else. It can be as simple as letting someone ahead of us in line, holding the door even when the person is several steps behind us, or giving an unexpected compliment, smile, or greeting. Ideally, the random act is paid forward by the way the recipient interacts with others throughout the day.
And then there are those who not only embrace the opportunity to perform a random act of kindness, but diligently plan them – leaving no question that kindness will occur. Here are two shining examples.
1) Holiday Heroes
Pick any day on the calendar and you’ll find Alicia and her family doing or planning something to bring joy to others. If it’s a holiday, you can be sure there is a serious plan. Here’s what made this year’s “12 Acts of Kindness” list for the 12 days of Christmas.
- Holiday Cards for Heroes – handwritten notes and cards for US soldiers in combat and recovering in hospitals
- Volunteer at Santa’s Workshop – sort toys for toy drive
- Volunteer at the Wreaths of Remembrance ceremony – place wreaths at gravestones and donate money for wreath purchases
- Spread Holiday Cheer with ‘Kids on a Quest’ – make Christmas crafts and distribute them to nursing residents
- Children’s Christmas Choir – one child volunteered and committed four weeks of her time to rehearsals
- Donate new books to the book drive to help underprivileged children
- Sponsor a child to attend a local Holiday Rollerskating Party
- Donate unused toys and games to a local charity
- Donate a new toy to a toy drive at school to be distributed to chronically ill children spending the holidays in the hospital
- Donate items to a Girl Scout troop’s Pet Drive for a local animal shelter
- Donate food to a local Food Drive
- Make “Rainbow Loom” bracelets -support a classmate’s service project for young survivors of the Phillipines’ typhoon
They made their list, checked it twice, and did everything on it- which was way more than “nice”!
Who is inspired for Valentine’s Day and Easter?
2) Birthday Bonanza
When Laura read about celebrating a birthday with Random Acts of Kindness, she let the idea simmer a while – then turned up the heat. Several months prior to her 37th birthday she began researching ideas, enlisting the help of others to join her, and requesting one act of kindness in lieu of gifts or cards.
She grew her volunteer army to include her parents, 2 sisters-in-law (Heather and Amber), 3 nephews (Noah, Nathan and Nicolas), 1 niece (Hannah), boyfriend (Scott) and his daughter (Lauren). Weeks ahead of the big day, they assembled each gift with a card with the following message:
“It’s my birthday and I am celebrating by giving to others!
Please accept this intentional act of kindness. I hope it gives you a smile and serves as a reminder that you are important, valued and exceptional!
Have a WONDERFUL day!
Don’t forget to pay it forward and join me in celebrating by giving.”
Warning: the following progression of events will likely make your head spin, but derive from it what you can. Here’s how the day of her birthday went…
6:45 kickoff and they
- left cookies, a lotto ticket and a bottle of water for her mailman
- put a package of cookies left on their neighbor’s front porch
- had a family breakfast at her favorite place where they left “Wishing you an EXTRA Special Day” notes with gum on cars in the parking lot
- gave a gift card to their waitress
- paid for a couple’s breakfast and the kids shared with them why
- gave another gift card to a young family
- left a handful of quarters by the register for candy for kids to enjoy
- left a labeled package of diapers in the bathroom in case a family needed them
- put quarters in all the candy machines at a store so that the next child in who turned the lever would have a surprise (a fun job for the kids in the crew)
- left more diapers in the bathrooms
- passed out more gift cards
- gave out some lotto tickets and wished the recipients good luck
- gave candy and temporary tattoos to children
- picked out art and craft supplies and sports equipment to be delivered to a family in need by a mutual friend
- left more EXTRA notes on cars in the parking lot and got ‘caught’
- went to a dollar store where each kid carefully considered a toy or game they liked for a kid to find and set a dollar next to it
- gave a lotto ticket to man in the store
- gave a gift card to the young lady working at the register
- chased down children entering a restaurant to give them candy and temporary tattoos (another job for the kids)
- gave the restaurant hostess an “Extra” note in thanks for her kindness
- taped lotto tickets to pumps at the gas station and handed 2 out to people that were there
9:45am, just getting warmed up, they
- went to a pre-arranged visit by mom to a nursing home to visit a great aunt, made crafts and visited with the residents, and knocked on doors to pass out artwork
- passed out several packages of cookies to employees working there
Lunchtime, they
- supplied a pizza party lunch at a Day program- organized by Heather in honor of her brother there
- gave goodie bags for the staff as well as the all the men and women at the program
- met some kids on the playground and passed out more candy
Afternoon, they
- went to Laura’s favorite park and left messages on the running path to encourage the runners
- put quarters on the vending machines at several of the areas
- left diapers in several bathrooms
- put a bucket of sand toys at each beach
- put a case of water on ice at mile 3.5 for all her fellow runners to enjoy
- met a nice family and passed out candy then later gave them a gift card just for being so thankful
- put more EXTRA notes on cars
- went to a big playscape and gave out temporary tattoos to the kids there
- dropped quarters around the play area and heard the squeals of kids as they found the quarters
- gave out a few more gift cards- including one just because a woman had a Michigan State University shirt
- went to another park and completed all the same things
- delivered cards and homemade cookies to the local police station
- dropped off cards and cookies at the fire station
Back at home, they
- made “beat the heat” packages for soldiers
- made congratulations signs for all the swimmers about to complete their season with Athletes for Autism
- sent Heather out with a gift card for a family in need that she had met recently
- sent Laura’s mom out to the Urgent Care Center with some coloring books and crayons to provide something for kids to do while waiting
- made a donation through Laura’s Plan G account to the Ronald McDonald house.
Phew! Their acts of kindness were met with reactions of surprise, joy, disbelief, appreciation, compliments of character building, blush-inducing hugs for the kids, and many promises to pay it forward with kindness and generosity.
They don’t know each other, yet Alicia and Laura share much in common in their well planned approach and experiences.
Both enlisted the help of others to share the joy of giving.
Both created acts of kindness that resonated with the volunteer group – plus some that enabled them to stretch a bit.
Both groups served those in plain view, as well as those obscured and afar – showing appreciation of everyday moments as well as those who too quickly can be forgotten.
Both rolled with it as they executed their plan – open for opportunities for extra random kindness along the way.
No doubt, both were successful in their efforts to GROW LOVE.
And as always seems to happen, they both got so much more from the experience then they could have imagined.
the grow love project 
This is such an inspiration post filled with wonderful ideas to get the creative juices flowing. Sometimes it’s difficult to come up with ideas!! Thank you for showcase my family’s 12 Days of Kindness over the holidays – Im so honored 🙂 Im so impressed to read about Laura too!! With us, we thought of about 9 things, but the three others came up as opportunities along the journey… it’s easy during the holidays – much more challenging at other times of the year.
PS- I Havent forgotten about sending you a photo in our awesome Grow Love Tshirts you so generously shared with us!! The first weekend, hubbie had flu (he’s my picture taker bc of course i need to be in it LOL). Second weekend, was my daughter’s 8th bday shindigs and celebrations and a trip to Baltimore City. Ugh- I HAVENT FORGOTTEN you though!! I have visions of grandeur with this picture – you’d think i was taking it for a magazine cover or something LOL! xoxo – Always a fan, Alicia