“I am a father of two, the parent of an eight year old handsome second grader and a five year old beautiful little girl. Our way of giving back is through them. We have started to guide them in the right direction when it comes to giving to others. We encourage our kids to always be on the lookout for those in need. If my son sees in the local paper that a family has lost everything in a house fire, we encourage him to get the name and location and determine what we as a family can do for that family. It may be money donated, or paying for a few days in a hotel. If my son tells me that an elderly person needs some help around their house, we will plan a way to help that person, just him and me. If my daughter sees on the news that someone is struggling in a local shelter, we want her to remember that name and she and I will drive to that location and offer some sort of support directly from HER. Some money in a card signed by her can go a long way in “lighting up” both my little girl and the person she’s helping. We want our children to learn at an early age the importance of doing for others. By doing this, it reminds me and my wife to be active as well, because we must participate in any activity that they feel is important. This is a life changing commitment for all of us and something that we would highly recommend to others.” Greg Tucker
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“Sometimes it takes a catastrophic disaster for us to pause and reflect on how much we truly have to be grateful for. For some, these events move and stir something within ourselves and we stretch beyond comfort to give financially to relief efforts.
It is an interesting statistic that in troubled economic times, charitable giving often goes up. There is something innately stirring about the human strife. Even when much of the world is realizing tough times, by comparison, we are a pretty fortunate bunch and feel compelled to share what we have with others. Sometimes that is easier said that done; it can be overwhelming to decide which charities or causes to give your time and resources to. In addition, there are times where we want our giving to be “hands on,” to somehow feel that we are making a direct impact with our actions.
Can you remember the last time you reached into a coat pocket you hadn’t worn in a while only to find a $10 bill? There’s a special feeling that comes from the unexpected. For that reason, random acts of giving are sometimes the best ways to begin a kindness movement. Sometimes more commonly known as “paying it forward,” this is about doing something charitable for someone you don’t know.
So how do you get started? The first thing you’ll need to decide is how much you want to spend. Start with a small and attainable goal so that “paying it forward” is something you can do time and time again without a huge dent to your pocketbook. As for the amount of time you allocate, it’s up to you. Sometimes you might set aside an hour to focus on giving while other times you may give along the course of your day. Listed below are some great ideas to get you started:
- IDEA 1: Buy as many bus tokens as you can with your budgeted money and stop by a popular bus stop/station. Pass a token out to each person and explain to them that the ride is on you today.
- IDEA 2: Stop in at a grocery store and purchase as much baby food or diapers that fall within your budget. Deposit those directly into the food bank collection bin. If the store doesn’t have one, take them directly to your local food bank. Baby food and diapers are two of the most needed items at food pantries.
- IDEA 3: When using a drive-thru, leave enough money to pay for the person behind you. This works great for fast food or coffee establishments because the purchases amounts are pretty consistent and any leftover money can be used as a tip. Leaving enough to cover the purchase and tip blesses two people at once.
- IDEA 4: Take flowers, chocolates or any other “thoughtful” gift and deliver them to someone in your workplace that is vital to your company. This could be a receptionist, doorman, mail clerk, etc. Think of the people that don’t normally hear “job well done.”
- IDEA 5: With a little preparation, this last idea can go a long way in making a difference. Visit your local drugstore and stock up on toothbrushes, travel-sized toothpaste, cough drops and small Kleenex packs. Using Ziploc bags, create as many “toiletry” bags as you can with your supplies. Take your kits to an area where homeless congregate and pass them out. Even better: add granola bars, chocolates or anything else you can think of to place in the goodie bag.
Remember that the purpose is to unexpectedly change someone’s day for the better… so have fun with it! You never know how you might impact the people whose lives you touched that day. Start the movement and see what happens.” ERIN TURNLEY
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“How do you turn $93 into over 165,000 meals for hungry families? Well, my friend, Carolee Hazard, has done just that. And totally inspired me in the process.
Here’s how it happened. One day, back in August, Carolee was in line at Trader Joe’s. The woman in front of her had lost her wallet and was a bit panicked. Carolee generously—though not without wondering if she’d made the right move—paid the $207 tab and gave the woman her address so she could repay her. Later, on Facebook, Carolee posted that she was “vacillating between feeling really good and very, very stupid”. Friends reassured her that she had done the right thing and good karma was sure to follow. They were right.
It turned out the woman, Jenni Ware, was not only thankful, but generous in return. She promptly sent Carolee a $300 check and told her to put the extra $93 towards a massage. Instead, Carolee turned to her Facebook friends again to ask what they would do with the money. Many suggestions later, Carolee decided to donate the $93—and match the donation—to Second Harvest Food Bank since the chance meeting took place in a grocery store.
Friends, inspired by the idea, started matching the $93 donation as well. Then Jenni heard and her friends started donating too. Before they knew it, donations had reached over $2000. Kids were donating 93 cents from their allowances. Those with tighter wallets were donating $9.30. The press picked up on the story and it became the random act of kindness heard around the world. And now, months later, the 93 Dollar Club—with a lot of love from Carolee and Jenni—has raised almost $83,000 for Second Harvest Food Bank. And that doesn’t include all the people around the country who heard the story and contributed to their local food banks instead.
I made my donation and joined the 93 Dollar Club on Facebook a few months ago. But somehow it felt bigger than $93 (and technically it was, thanks to Yahoo!’s donation matching program). Taking part in this group and spreading the word about it has made me feel like part of a movement. A movement that is reminding people of the power of a random act of kindness. And that a little good can lead to a lot of hope. It’s a lesson I’ve taken to heart—and am doing my best to teach my children each and every day.” AMY HEINZ
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