Kindness Bandit

 


If you are just joining us let me catch you up to speed. My dear friend Emily recently sent me an email with an invitation to join her in a month of Random Acts of Kindness. She sent me the list you see below and asked me to join her. How could I possibly deny? She is posting about her adventures on a daily basis. Click here to read along with her ( I just linked to the first day, click on her header to get the most recent posts).
I am making adjustments along the way to make things vegan friendly or to add a personal touch or to make it less expensive as giving doesn't always have to be money related! I have been posting weekly updates as I work my way through this list! Please join me and let me know if you do/ post about it and I will link to your blog!

1. Go to the library and pay a random person's library fine
2. Leave a dollar in five (I left encouraging notes instead of cash) of your favorite library books
3. Bring treats to the local fire station
4. Tape quarters on the washers/dryers at a laundry mat.
5. Take vegan hot chocolate/cider to a Bell RingerI brought water as it was unseasonably warm.
6. Write a thank you note to a teacher or friend. Did this with Cordelia.
7. Plug a few parking meters downtown (we don't have them here so I will think of something else). I put change into a donation jar.
8. Hand out flowers to random people at the mall
9. Bring a gas station attendant a treat on Christmas Eve
10. Donate to or volunteer time at a local animal shelter. Donation! Unfortunately I have no time to volunteer.
11. Leave an encouraging Christmas card on a park bench. Left it indoors at the mall as it is crazy windy here.
12. Make and send a get well card to someone who is ill. We happen to know several people who have been under the weather.
13. Bring a poinsettia to a nurses station at a hospital or the secretaries in the office at school
14. Leave a treat for the mailman. Candy can and a thank you note.
15. Bake cookies and take them to a neighbor
16. Deliver canned goods to a food pantry
17. Pay for someone's drink at a local coffee shop (will pay for straight coffee, tea or soy based drinks)
18. Make a special card for grandparents telling them how much they are loved
19. Anonymously pay for a family's meal at a restaurant (since there are no vegan restaurants here I will instead donate vegan food to the local food bank)
20. Bring treats to the workers at the post office
21. Give a small gift to your grocery clerk when you check out.
22. Leave candy canes with an encouraging note attached on 10 cars in a parking lot
23. Leave a candy-cane and Christmas note on an ATM machine
24. Bring flowers to the librarians' desk at the library
25. Bring treats (or blankets or scarfs...) to the nursing home
26. Bring magazines, crayons and coloring books to a hospital waiting room
27. Pick up litter on your street or at a park
28. Bring up a neighbor's trash can. Our neighbors are quick to grab their cans (ha, that sounds funny) and they just had  baby so instead we brought them gifts for the new arrival and big brother.

Kindness Bandit: Season's Giving

 

I started off this holiday season of Kindness Bandit acts at the local library book sale. When we checked out with a bag full of books ($3 for an entire bag full) I handed the cashier an additional $3 to pay for the next person who came through the line. Yay. Who knows, maybe they paid for the person behind them and so on...wouldn't that be great?!

Also.....

My dear friend Emily recently sent me an email with an invitation to join her in a month of Random Acts of Kindness. She sent me the list you see below and asked me to join her. How could I possibly deny? She is posting about her adventures on a daily basis. Click here to read along with her ( I just linked to the first day, click on her header to get the most recent posts).

I am making adjustments along the way to make things vegan friendly or to add a personal touch or to make it less expensive as giving doesn't always have to be money related! I will post weekly updates as I work my way through this list! Please join me and let me know if you do/ post about it and I will link to your blog!

1. Go to the library and pay a random person's library fine
2. Leave a dollar in five (or four or two or whatever amount) of your favorite library books
3. Bring treats to the local fire station
4. Tape quarters on the washers/dryers at a laundry mat
5. Take vegan hot chocolate/cider to a Bell Ringer
6. Write a thank you note to a teacher or friend
7. Plug a few parking meters downtown (we don't have them here so I will think of something else)
8. Hand out flowers to random people at the mall
9. Bring a gas station attendant a treat on Christmas Eve
10. Donate to or volunteer time at a local animal shelter
11. Leave an encouraging Christmas card on a park bench
12. Make and send a get well card to someone who is ill
13. Bring a poinsettia to a nurses station at a hospital or the secretaries in the office at school
14. Leave a treat for the mailman
15. Bake cookies and take them to a neighbor
16. Deliver canned goods to a food pantry
17. Pay for someone's drink at a local coffee shop (will pay for straight coffee, tea or soy based drinks)
18. Make a special card for grandparents telling them how much they are loved
19. Anonymously pay for a family's meal at a restaurant (since there are no vegan restaurants here I will instead donate vegan food to the local food bank)
20. Bring treats to the workers at the post office
21. Give a small gift to your grocery clerk when you check out.
22. Leave candy canes with an encouraging note attached on 10 cars in a parking lot
23. Leave a candy-cane and Christmas note on an ATM machine
24. Bring flowers to the librarians' desk at the library
25. Bring treats (or blankets or scarfs...) to the nursing home
26. Bring magazines, crayons and coloring books to a hospital waiting room
27. Pick up litter on your street or at a park
28. Bring up a neighbor's trash can

Kindness Bandit: Nice to be Nice

Have you ever been complimented by a total stranger?Isn't it strange how that compliment can linger? I am not sure why compliments from strangers sometimes have more weight than compliments from those who know and love us. Perhaps it because the total stranger has no real reason for complimenting or perhaps it makes the compliment more powerful when someone overcomes social boundaries just to give the compliment. Who knows?

I try to give genuine compliments regularly, but this week I am stepping it up and I invite you to join me. I had my first outing of the day and compliments were given. I plan keep a lookout for opportunities to give sincere compliments freely all week and hopefully on into the future!

Kindness Bandit: For the Newly Born

I know it has been a while since I have done a Kindness Bandit post, but I am back in action with a big effort, a joint effort. My mother and I have been collecting baby clothes that go on the clearance racks. We have had some amazing finds and have gotten together quite a stash in each of our homes. Yesterday it was time to rid ourselves of the mountains of baby clothes that we've hoarded over the last 6 months or so.

My mother brought her stash over to my house and together, with Cordelia, we put together 16 bags full of baby gifts!! The packages included onesies, winter clothes, crocheted hats (made by me), blankets and more. We did the same thing after Cordelia was born, sort of a thank you to the world.



Packing our bags



We loaded up the truck and drove to the hospital to make our delivery. Along the way we explained to Cordelia what we were doing and why, sort of planting the seed. We all marched into the hospital, made a quick drop and were on our merry way, Kindness Bandit style.

Kindness Bandit: Winter Gear Stockpiling

So the seasonal change is upon us and that means that the big box stores around town are having major sales on their winter gear. Normally this is just a good time to stock up on items in the right size for next year, but my mother had a much better idea---she decided to buy a bunch of baby winter clothes to drop off at the hospital this fall for new mothers who might be in need.

I was completely inspired and went to grab some more, only to find that the winter gear (originally priced at almost $20) was now $1! So I grabbed a ton of them.



My mother and I will continue to add to our stock pile when we happen to find these kinds of bargains in the following weeks and I have no doubt that many a crocheted cap and blanket will be in the pile before we make our delivery. I will report on our final stockpile when we make the drop off at the hospital later in the year.



I would love it if you joined me in copying my mother's great idea. Mittens, hats, etc. They needn't be exclusively for babies, maybe you can drop them off with a local charity, at a homeless shelter, church, soup kitchen, etc.

Kindness Bandit: Mystery Mailer

Earlier this week I was invited to partake in a worldwide event wherein participants left encouraging (and anonymous) notes for strangers to stumble upon. I decided to join in and instead of leaving a note around town I chose to spread the news across the country.



I selected 4 envelopes and cards. I also found 4 encouraging quotes and wrote one of them on each card. I chose some random residential addresses. I do not know who will be receiving the notes, but hopefully they will feel inspired or touched. I addressed the letter to "you" so whomever gets the letter will open it. I only left the initials KB in the return address, no address.

Who knows, maybe someone somewhere will be inspired. Care to try it with me?

Kindness Bandit: Holiday Edition

I haven't posted a Kindness Bandit post in quite some time, but 'tis the season for a little Kindness Bandit action. Plus I could use your help with this one. You see the other day I grabbed a couple of Angel Tree tags off of their Christmas tree. If you aren't familiar with Angel Tree they are a group that helps make Christmas special for children whose parents are in prison. The parent fills out an Angel Tree card with a Christmas gift for their child and whoever grabs the card gets the present on behalf of the parent. Eric and I grabbed a couple of tags. One is for a 16 year old girl who is to receive a CD and another is for an 18 year old girl who is to receive hair accessories.



We gathered the items requested, but I feel like there is something missing. Have you got any ideas? I just want to make the gifts a bit more exciting to open on Christmas day, you know really make their day a little better. I am not looking to go crazy. I still want to stick to what the parents requested I just want to make this something a bit more memorable. Your ideas would be most welcome!

The Kindness Bandit: I Need Your Help!

About two years ago I met a mother and her two kids. The mother is very sweet and quiet. When Cordelia was born she gave us a small gift in celebration, true generosity from a family that does not have much. I have seen this woman donate her time to various efforts. She is quiet, she is kind.

When I see this woman and her children it has become increasingly clear that this is a family with real need. They wear the same clothes all the time, in fact I have only seen them all wear one outfit, and the kid's clothes are way too small.

Today I am hoping to enlist your help! Would you be willing to donate a gently used item or two to this family? I would like to just send them a bag of goodies anonymously. Are you game?
If so please email me at maria @ planetwimmer . com and I will give you more info.

The family is comprised of a mother I'd guess her to be about a size 10, but she would probably be well served by dresses, cardigans, jackets or even jewelry. She has an 8 year old son and a 10 year old girl (the girl is at that soft pre-adolescent phase and would most likely prefer very loose fitting clothes). The father is probably an XL. If you have some hand-me downs or just want to donate a pair of socks I am sure they would be well received! Thanks for helping me with this big Kindness Bandit Project!!!

Kindness Bandit: Anonymous Words of Encouragement

I know a man who has had a very difficult year. He has had a year filled with unimaginable hurt and in spite of it all he is one of the most kind and generous people I know of. He always has a smile, a hug, a handshake, a kind word. He is known for how much he has given to others over his life, not that he ever speaks of it, and you'd never guess it to look at him.

Today I sent him an anonymous letter, telling him that so very many people have been touched by his kindness. I wished him a speedy recovery and thanked him for being such a kind person. Hopefully it will brighten his day and make him feel cared for.

Kindness Bandit: Introduction to the Neighbors

You know I've lived here for over a month and the Kindness Bandit hasn't even made an appearance with the neighbors. I have been doing stuff around town, but not right here in my neighborhood. I don't really know any of the neighbors yet, but they all seem friendly enough. We're on waving and nodding terms right now. Well, and our next door neighbor weed whacked our back fence for us because he saw that it needed it (and it definitely did), wasn't that so nice?!

Anyway I decided that the Kindness Bandit needs to start making rounds throughout the neighborhood. Today is my first attempt.


I thought I would start out with my tried and true method, sending anonymous cards wishing well. I made the cards this morning. Yes, I have already been productive and I am still in my pajamas. I feel like this day is off to a good start.


I cut out some umbrella shapes and stamped "hello!" onto the cards I made. I chose orange because it seemed like a good color for today. Inside of the cards I just wrote a simple message wishing the recipient a wonderful day. I signed the cards "K.B.", addressed them to some neighbors (I don't know names so I just addressed it to "The Family" at that address) and popped them into the mail. Of course I did not leave my return address.

Now I am feeling more at home.

The Kindness Bandit: Sweet Peanut Butter

I have been trying to find a good way (or good ways) to extend the Kindness Bandit into my community. The local homeless shelter here serves many individuals each night. I have volunteered with them in the past, but I feel a bit conflicted as a vegan. Clearly they do not have an exclusively vegan meal plan. Anyway, I heard that they have need for peanut butter.


Peanut butter is something I can get on board with. I have decided that the best way to support this shelter is to donate vegan items that they will use (probably they don't have a need for tofu). So, I am going to drop off some peanut butter for their use. Well, let's hope the peanut butter makes it there as I have been greedily eating peanut butter lately (it's a pregnancy thing). I don't have the car today, so it will have to get done later this week, but that is what is on the agenda for the Kindness Bandit in the coming days.

Also, I wanted to update you on my volunteering with the local shelter. I have been in contact with them and they are currently trying to find the best way to put me to use! I can't wait to start.

Photo from here.

The Kindness Bandit: Picking Up Garbage

Today for the Kindness Bandit I decided to get out with Miss Bumblebee and pick up trash at the local park. When we first arrived I put Bumblebee on her leash, grabbed some gloves and my trash bag. I looked around and didn't see much trash. I wondered if I'd be able to fill up a trash bag. Then I magically acquired my garbage vision. Apparently I just block out garbage on a normal day, once I got to looking it was everywhere.

I started wandering around picking up everything and let me tell you there is some weird stuff. Bumblebee enjoyed the wandering pace. I think she'd appreciate it if we took a leisurely trash pick up stroll every day.

Strangely I was a bit insecure when I noticed people were staring at me, not sure why. Then I got over it and just got to work. Within about 30 minutes I had a trash bag full of garbage.


So, Bumblebee and I sat in the grass and enjoyed the Wyoming breeze for a bit.


I have been procrastinating about this Kindness Bandit activity for a while now, but it was actually really fun. I think I might just do it from time to time.

The Kindness Bandit: Coffee and a Bonus

So it occurred to me that I completely forgot the Kindness Bandit last week. I was all caught up in the business of moving in. Last Thursday or Friday I was feeling a bit off and it struck me that I had missed my Kindness Bandit mission. Not to worry I have a Kindness Bandit moment for this week.


I have a punch card for a free coffee at a local coffee shop. I have been working on it for probably a year or more. Each time we came to town to visit family my brother Sam and I would go out for coffee and I would dutifully have the card punched.

I have had a full card since we visited in February. No I haven't been drinking caffeinated coffee (not good for pregnant ladies). It dawned on me that I should just pass the free drink along. So, I am on my way to drop the card off at the coffee shop and ask them to pass it along to their next customer. These bad boys are the jackpot too, because you can really get the works...any drink for free. If you live in the same town as me you just may want to hustle to the Blue Heron. I am on my way....now.

Also, if this is not enough Kindness Bandit for you, click here and visit my friend and sort of family (by way of a couple of marriages) Melissa over at Dwelling in the Details. She was the recipient of a Kindness Bandit moment herself. Read her wonderful story.

The Kindness Bandit: My Mom

This week the Kindness Bandit was not me. I have been so busy with the move that I haven't been able to get to normal business. However, the Kindness Bandit still made an appearance via my Mom! She was something of a Kindness Bandit to Eric and I as we prepare for this big move.

Here she is taking a moment between her rampant random acts of kindness to snuggle with Miss Bumblebee over the weekend. So, you may be wondering what she has done to earn today's Kindness Bandit?
Let me tell you:

• She went apartment/house hunting for Eric and I. She went to many many places. My Dad helped with that too.
• When she found us a place she rearranged her schedule to take care of the lease agreements. Thanks to her co-workers who helped her rearrange her schedule a bit!
• When we went to visit our place for the first time she was prepared with a scented candle to make the place smell like home and she had a little outfit (for the baby of course) to hang in the closet so we already have some stuff moved in. How thoughtful is that?
• While we looked around the house for the first time she made sure to pet and cuddle Miss Bumblebee who was so happy about the whole experience.
  
• In case that wasn't enough she went to the house and cleaned for us! The house was already pretty clean. I don't know about you, but I feel that it is always necessary to do my own cleaning before moving into a place. She already took care of that! On her day off no less!

She and my Dad (who is also the Kindness Bandit today) were so helpful as we prepare to make this move. I haven't even scratched the surface of all that they have done for us. My Dad is driving down this weekend and he will help us load the moving truck because the doctor has given me a 10lb. lifting limit due to the pregnancy! My parents and youngest brother will certainly be helping us unload when we arrive in Wyoming.

Hopefully I will be able to start up the Kindness Bandit in Wyoming next week!


I invite you to submit your Kindness Bandit deeds (with photos if at all possible) and I will feature them on an upcoming posting of the Kindness Bandit. Just remember to be creative and to be kind! Additionally, I will link to your blog or website.Please submit your Kindness Bandit activities to maria @ planetwimmer.com
In the mean time I will continue on with the Kindness Bandit as always!!!

The Kindness Bandit: Yo Mama

This week the Kindness Bandit is actually Shellyfish from the blog Musings From the Fishbowl. She has orchestrated quite a thoughtful birthday surprise for her mother. She put out a call to her blog friends to shower her mother with little birthday gifts from all around the world. You can read more about it here. The response has been amazing! You know I had to get in on it as well. The gift giving has been staggered so that her mother will get a continuous flow of gifts for nearly two months!


For my gift I decided to make a little stationery set. You'll recall that I have recently been making cards (read here) by recycling old Christmas cards. I made a matching set of five cards with blue birds on silver trees.


I wrapped them up and they'll go into the mail tomorrow as I am scheduled. Wasn't her idea wonderful?

Kindness Bandit: A Long Overdue Thank You Note

This week as I was thinking about the Kindness Bandit I tried to think of kind people with whom I've had some contact. I was ticking off a mental list and went through the usual kindness suspects when I thought of an old neighbor. She was a widow and had a gentle spirit and a kind heart.



She was always chatting over the fence and just being connected with her neighborhood. When I got married she gave us a beautiful gift. Of course I thanked her for the gift, but I haven't really thanked her for just being a good neighbor over the years. So, I sent her an anonymous thank you note.

I thanked her for being such a kind and generous person. Hopefully she will be happy to know that mysterious strangers still think of her kindness.

Kindness Bandit: Dog Tags

While walking Miss Bumblebee, my basset hound, I stumbled upon a dog ID tag. It seemed to have fallen off of a collar and it was laying in the grass. I picked it up and noticed that it had a complete out of state address. I put the tag in my pocket and completed my walk.

When I got home I put the tag in an envelope addressed with the information. I didn't leave my return address or even a note. I slapped on a stamp and tossed it in the mail. I have no idea how long the tag had been laying there, maybe 2 years, maybe 2 days. Either way I think the recipient of the tag was surprised and pleased to receive it in the mail.

I absolutely love doing the Kindness Bandit! I would be so happy to share that joy with my readers. I invite you to submit your Kindness Bandit deeds (with photos if at all possible) and I will feature them on an upcoming posting of the Kindness Bandit. Just remember to be creative and to be kind! Additionally, I will link to your blog or website.Please submit your Kindness Bandit activities to maria @ planetwimmer.com
In the mean time I will continue on with the Kindness Bandit as always!!!

The Kindness Bandit: Welcome to the Neighborhood

Last week I met a new neighbor. She seemed nice and I thought maybe the Kindness Bandit could anonymously welcome her to the neighborhood.

First I made her a card welcoming her to the area.

Next I gave her a soup mix. My Mom and Dad actually introduced me to the Women's Bean Project. They gave me two of the Women's Bean Project soup mixes for my birthday a year or two ago, they just happened to be vegan (I am not sure if all of their soup mixes are vegan, be sure to check if you buy)! I thought the soups were delicious and they're for a good cause so they're the new "it" gift in my book.

Finally, I wrapped the soup, attached the card and left the gift on my neighbor's door. Hopefully she will enjoy the soup and feel welcomed into the neighborhood.

I absolutely love doing the Kindness Bandit! I would be so happy to share that joy with my readers. I invite you to submit your Kindness Bandit deeds (with photos if at all possible) and I will feature them on an upcoming posting of the Kindness Bandit. Just remember to be creative and to be kind! Additionally, I will link to your blog or website.Please submit your Kindness Bandit activities to maria @ planetwimmer.com
In the mean time I will continue on with the Kindness Bandit as always!!!

Kindness Bandit Chronicles: Giving Stuff Away

This week I decided to take the Kindness Bandit into the realm of donations. The New Year makes me want to clean out the house and get rid of things that I am not attached to or which have no function in my life. While going through the stuff that has accumulated over the past year I noticed that much of it is in good shape and could be quite useful to someone else. Instead of selling the items I decided to donate them to a local charity.

You can see that we ended up with mountains of extra stuff.

The donation is something that I practice several times throughout the year. It is a good deed to myself and to others who might find my items useful. Which charities do you like to donate used items to?

I absolutely love doing the Kindness Bandit! I would be so happy to share that joy with my readers. I invite you to submit your Kindness Bandit deeds (with photos if at all possible) and I will feature them on an upcoming posting of the Kindness Bandit. Just remember to be creative and to be kind! Additionally, I will link to your blog or website.Please submit your Kindness Bandit activities to maria @ planetwimmer.com
In the mean time I will continue on with the Kindness Bandit as always!!!

The Kindness Bandit: Christmas Eve Mission

My friend Robin recently suggested that the Kindness Bandit make a visit to a nursing home. I had been thinking about this myself, so I figured that Christmas Eve was a great day to put my plan into action. I used my brother Sam as an accomplice and we went out to purchase some lap blankets. Why on earth did I choose lap blankets you may be asking? Well, let me tell you why. I asked my parents what they would recommend as a gift that most nursing home residents could use and appreciate. My parents both have lots of experience with nursing home residents and it was through their expert insight that I settled on lap blankets (see below).

I made some nice cards to go with the blankets because the gift is also about the words, not just the thing.

I placed the cards into a ribbon around the blankets. I didn't wrap them because I wanted to make it easy for any nursing home attendee who may need to inspect the gifts.

Sam and I took them to the nearest nursing home and asked the front desk attendant to give the blankets to whomever she felt would enjoy them the most. Then I hit the road, Kindness Bandit style.