The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation: We Can ALL Make a Difference!
Mar 16 '09
The Bottom Line There are so many great causes out there to support; the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation is definitely one worth considering.
Note: This review is NOT eligible for the Charity Write-off 2009, as this organization does not accept donations; however, I still wanted to share information about the foundation with others.
The review below is a speech that I submitted for a Leadership Development course this semester. Our assignment was to choose a charity or cause that we were passionate about, then write a 2-3 page speech about why others should support it.
Some background about the organization: The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation (http://www.actsofkindness.org/) is a nonprofit organization that was established in 1995. Its mission is simple: help people around the world spread kindness. Donations, grants, and membership dues are not accepted; the site offers all the resources you need for free. You can send e-cards, create your own site, and discuss acts of kindness with other members on the message boards. There are tools for teachers as well as individuals (located at the top of the page under "In Your Classroom" and "In Your Community"), and they are filled with great ideas for ways you can make a difference. The tools include personal stories pertaining to random acts of kindness that people have performed; these stories are a nice reminder that the world is full of kind-hearted people. I strongly recommend reading them; they remind me of mini Chicken Soup for the Soul reflections.
I like the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation because it's a cause that ANYBODY can easily support, regardless of age, income, or time constraints. Often, we use excuses to explain the reasons we can't get involved with other charities: "I'm too busy", "I can barely support MYSELF, let alone give money to somebody else", or "How do I know that they're actually giving money to the people they claim to be helping?". When you support this foundation, YOU control the outcome. You are donating time, not money; if you fail to perform a random act of kindness that week, you can only be mad at yourself. I have always believed that small actions can have a big impact; this is a nice excuse to test this theory for yourself.
Picture this: you're stuck working late, AGAIN, because your boss needs you to pick up the slack for your coworker-the same coworker who takes 3 hour lunch breaks. When you finally leave the office, you're tired, cranky, and hungry. You stop by your favorite fast food restaurant on the way home...and when the girl in the drive thru window hands you your bag, you snatch it away and yell at her for taking too long. She's so upset by your behavior that she snaps at the next customer. The next customer is already stressed out, and dealing with a rude employee is more than he can handle. He goes home and yells at his wife, who has been looking forward to seeing him since he left for work that morning. Feeling hurt and angry, she takes her frustration out on her son when he asks her to read him a bedtime story. When her son goes to school the next day, he is disrespectful to his teacher because he doesn't care how he behaves anymore; his mom is mean to him even when he's good.
Heartbreaking, isn't it? But imagine if the situation had played out like this instead: you have to work late, and you're starving. Taking a stroll around the office, you realize that Jim in Accounting is also working late. Jim loves pizza just as much as you do, so you decide to order one big enough to feed both of you. When the pizza arrives, you grab a plate from the lunchroom and bring him a few pieces. Jim is shocked, and he thanks you for thinking of him. When Jim finishes his expense reports, he realizes that his wife and children probably haven't eaten dinner yet. Stopping by his family's favorite sandwich shop, he picks up some food for his loved ones. He figures that even if they've already eaten, they can take the sandwiches for lunch the next day. Impressed by the cashier's friendly attitude, Jim mentions that she is doing an excellent job. The cashier, who has secretly been thinking all day that she is completely unappreciated, smiles and wishes Jim a good night. When she leaves work that evening, she decides to surprise her best friend with a bouquet of flowers.
Sound farfetched? It isn't; they don't say that "kindness is contagious" for no reason! Think about it: when people are mean to you, you often react in a manner that is hardly ideal. Even if you don't snap back at them, you often take your frustrations out on friends, family, or anybody else who happens to cross your path. If you aren't the type to act this way, then you probably beat YOURSELF up emotionally, which is no better than yelling at another person! Regardless of how you handle the situation, the outcome is rarely favorable.
Unemployment rates in the United States are at an all-time high. Stress levels are elevated; morale is decreasing daily. Although kindness should not just be practiced during tough times, it is extremely important right now. Your family needs you. Your friends need you. Your coworkers need you. Your nation needs you. Your WORLD needs you.
You might be thinking "But I'm just one person, what can I do to help these people?!". The answer is simple: be nice. An act of kindness does not have to be elaborate; I'm not asking you to hand $10,000 to the next homeless person you see. In fact, practicing kindness does not have to cost you a dime...unless you want it to. Start small: hold a door open for somebody. Pay the bus fare for the person in line behind you. Leave a brief note on a friend's car letting them know that you care. Smile at a stranger.
Still not convinced? Then support the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation to benefit YOURSELF; practicing kindness has been proven to have numerous health benefits. Helping others reduces your stress level, and is beneficial to both your physical and mental health. Sure beats taking those expensive vitamins each morning, doesn't it?
While we're talking about things that cost money, the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation does not want or need yours; they do not accept any form of monetary assistance. All they want is your time; performing an act of kindness only takes a few extra minutes. We are busy people in a fast-paced world, but we can still spare a moment out of our hectic day to show others that we care.
Please, I urge you to support this foundation. We are good people with good hearts, and through small acts of kindness, we can impact the world in a major way. Abuse is a vicious cycle, but kindness can start a chain reaction as well. What will YOU do today to make a difference?
Here is the link again if you need it: www.actsofkindness.org. Make it your goal to perform at least one act of kindness this week; feel free to come back and mention what it is here. I'd definitely love to hear about it. :)
Thanks for taking the time to read my review, and take care!
Missy
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Epinions.com ID:
sunnyglitter
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Member: Missy Nolan
Location: Missouri
Reviews written: 73
Trusted by: 27 members
About Me:
Taking life one day at a time.
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