I thought about waiting to share this story until after the entire acts of kindness related to it are finished, but I am excited to tell you about it, and I also like to write when things are still fresh in my memory.  So here is a quick update on…   JUNE BUG’S KINDNESS HOT COCOA STAND! If you follow Kindness Activist you will remember that recently a sweet little girl named June Bug hosted a hot cocoa stand to raise money for us!  In a short 2.5 hours, this little dynamo raised $1118.75 – all to be used to spread kindness!!!  (Note – that number is slightly higher th ..read more

I was thinking about what to name this story…  Several possibilities popped into my head: “Two Worlds Colliding” “Coming In, Going Out” And others in that same vein.  The concept being – opposite things happening simultaneously. But the more I considered it, I realized that my framework for the story was entirely off.  It was not opposites.  Nothing “collided”.  Instead, it is a story of coexistence.  Of humanity, and how we are all alike and all are welcome. So that is what it shall be called.  “All Are Welcome”. Now the story. Yesterday Kindness Activ ..read more

I have not written any stories recently of how Kindness Activist funds have been used.  I am sorry about that!  I guess I DO have a good reason – I have been busy with Kindness Activist work! But I will pause this evening to tell the stories of how some funds have been used.  After all, that is one of the main premises of Kindness Activist – if we talk openly about kindness and share kind acts we see, do, or receive – we can spread kindness ripples.  Those ripples will continue to spread when people inspired by the stories we share go out into the world and spread some kind ..read more

You don’t think of ADVENT CALENDARS as having a “sound”.  I mean, they are inanimate objects.  Simple or ornate paper creations with tiny doors that peel open daily – December 1 – 24 – to reveal a small “prize” each day.  Most offer a small piece of chocolate (usually of questionable quality…).  But all offer tradition.  A sense of holiday.  Something to look forward to.  A bit of routine.  And a of excitement for what is just around the corner – creeping closer, closer, closer day by day – Christmas. But one thing they do not have is a “sound”. Unless ..read more

I had a reminder one recent afternoon that life is short.  And that people are experiencing things that we cannot see from the outside, and we should treat everyone with kindness and respect. I was in the dining room and heard my partner David talking to someone on the front porch.  That is not unusual – we have people drop by often to bring items for the Little Yellow Free Pantry or to pick up something we are giving away or just to stop and chat.  I peeked outside to see who he was talking to, and saw it was a woman with a large bag at her feet. I popped outside to join them ..read more

Who would think that unpacking boxes of donated food could make a person cry… And yet this evening, it has. I was out of town over the weekend and the Pantry Crew took over pantry duty for me.  They are a crack bunch of humans who bring in donations and fill the pantry.  You see, since the LYFP has been in existence for 2 ½ years now, people have come to rely on it and know that if they need something, it is a resource.  So, when we are not here to take care of it, the Pantry Crew takes over. As I was waiting for my Lyft to take me to the airport on Thursday, the Amazon drive ..read more

Kindness Activist learned of a death in the “family” today.  I am sorry to share that the beloved, magical, and mysterious E.A. Raven has died. E.A. Raven was what could be called the “patron saint” of Kindness Activist.  She contributed so much over the last 10 months. And yet – she remained a mystery.  We never met.  I was never sure how she had found out about our work.  But she was one of the most enthusiastic supporters ever. I think it all started in December of 2022.  The annual Santa Project was underway – an event that invites children to write and ..read more

Our Delegate to the Virginia Assembly, Alfonso Lopez, stopped by this evening.  His mission was to put up a yard sign on our busy corner (we are squarely in his team so he knows that ask gets a “yes”).  But while he was here, we took time to chat.  Talked about the upcoming elections.  Talked about the repair to the porch David is working on.  Talked about the family arriving in America soon that needs temporary housing.  What an honor to have direct access to someone who represents us in government.  Not all Americans have that privilege, and I am thankful ..read more

I put out a call recently asking for donations for the Little Yellow Free Pantry that we have outside our home, a pantry that feeds so many people in the community.  And many, many people heard the call and responded.  Thank you.  The donations have been coming in, making me smile each and every time.  The shelves in our basement that hold pantry supplies are no longer bare.  My wish was that we could stock up really good NOW, in October and November.  Because once the “busy season” starts (the annual Santa Project, where kids come to our home and write and mail ..read more

Here’s the thing; I believe that people really WANT to be kind. I think it is an inherent thing, maybe baked into our DNA. We want to be kind.  But sometimes, we don’t know how.  We don’t see the opportunities.  We feel there is nothing WE can do.  We are too busy, too tired, too overworked, too OVERWHELMED with life to seek out ways to be kind. But when presented with opportunity, many, many people jump at the chance to be kind. And that fact warms my heart and keeps my work as a Kindness Activist going. Case in point: over the last 18 or so months I have been working ..read more