#26 Acts Of Kindness - Ann Curry Style
Where It Began
#26 Acts of Kindness
Like many of us, Ann Curry asked herself, “What can I do?” after the tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut. Unlike many of us, she decided to put action to her thoughts. She suggested that each of us do 26 acts of kindness – one for each victim.
I really like this idea. This is an idea that I want to run with. When school returns in session in the new year, I am going to encourage each of my kindergarten and first grade students to do 26 acts of kindness. I probably will not explain to them the significance of the 26 acts. So far they haven’t brought up the tragedy, and I am not ready to share it with them. They are still too young. They don’t need to know. They just need to know that they can help others and that it makes us feel good to help other people.
In the meantime, during our Christmas break, I will begin my own 26 acts of kindness. I’m not sure about all of the things I will do, but I will present a list of 26 ideas. I may do these, I may do others. I may do something else entirely, but at least this will be a start.
1. Bake cookies for a neighbor.
2. Bring books to the Children’s Home.
3. Bring old towels and blankets to the Humane Society.
4. Pay for someone’s bill at the drive-thru.
5. Bake cookies for the nursing home across the street.
6. Read books to the kids at a daycare.
7. Bring canned goods to the food bank.
8. Give blood.
9. Donate teddy bears to the police department to use for children in need.
10. Hold a car wash – donate proceeds to a worthy charity.
11. Shovel snow from the neighbor’s walk.
12. Bring lunch to a homeless person.
13. Take blankets, socks and warm clothes to the homeless shelter.
14. Hand out roses or other flowers to women in the maternity ward at the hospital.
15. Sit with someone in a hospice.
16. Help an elderly person clean their home.
17. Donate toys to Toys for Tots.
18. Buy dollar lottery tickets and give them to random strangers.
19. Make Christmas cards for those will be hospitalized on Christmas day.
20. Adopt a family for Christmas – provide gifts and dinner.
21. Pick an Angel from the Angel Tree and buy a gift.
22. Donate toiletries to the Women’s Shelter.
23. Make sure kids get return letters from Santa.
24. Provide games to the Ronald McDonald house.
25. Take cookies or pies to the police station.
26. Take cookies or pies to the fire station.
This is just a list of ideas to get me started. I may do each one of these, but I might do a few and be inspired to do something different. It doesn’t really make any difference – as long as at least 26 acts of kindness are done, I’ll be happy.
And if I could encourage at least 26 others to do the same – well – what a wonderful holiday I will have!
Just remember what Ann Curry said, “'If you do good, you'll feel good!”
