Feel Good Friday - The Valentine Project

Valentine’s Day is next week and if you’re looking for a unique way to celebrate the holiday, consider The Valentine Project.

Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Danville, Kentucky, the goal of The Valentine project is “for all children whose lives are affected by cancer or a chronic illness to feel special and loved each Valentine’s Day, and to cultivate compassion year-round through offering volunteer opportunities that bring out the love and kindness in us all.”

Founders, and siblings, Gregory and Michaela Margida started The Valentine Project because they knew families dealing with cancer or chronic illness can often feel isolated and stigmatized. They wanted to “spread love, hope, and joy by sending packages brimming with loads of love and smiles, zero stigma attached.”

Children up to 21 years old are eligible to participate in the program and can register to receive a personalized package on Valentine’s Day. Siblings are also included in the outreach! Currently, packages are being sent to eligible children in Kentucky, Ohio and California.

In addition to the packages, The Valentine Project runs a program called Kindness Cards. Created by volunteers like you, Kindness Cards are meant to serve as a break from health concerns and their main purpose is to add an unexpected burst of love when least expected. It starts with you making or buying some cards, writing a fun message or joke, and sending them to The Valentine Project. They’ll take care of personalizing, addressing and mailing the cards to kids throughout the United States. Unlike the packages, Kindness Cards are sent out all year long. If you know a child who would like to receive a Kindness Card, you can sign them up here. 

Since they began, The Valentine Project has worked with over 9,000 volunteers to send 7,187 Valentine’s packages and 721 Kindness Cards. That’s a lot to love!

If you’re ready to become someone’s Valentine this year, you can use the Valentine Matching System to find a child to support. You can also make some Kindness Cards, visit The Valentine Project’s Amazon Wish List to buy supplies for their packages or make a donation.

As always, help get the word out about The Valentine Project on social media. Follow them on Facebook and on Instagram @the_valentine_project. Happy Valentine’s Day!

 

Feel Good Friday - Doing Good Together

Many people spend their time off during the holiday season doing volunteer work. If you’ve been looking for a way get your family involved in an activity, look no further than Doing Good Together.

Founded in 2004, Doing Good Together (DGT) is a national nonprofit based in Minnesota “that works to make volunteering and service, along with daily kindness, easy for every family.” Their mission is “empowering families to raise children who care and contribute.” 

Studies show that, while parents want their children to be kind and compassionate, children aren’t getting the message and there has been a 40% decline in empathy among college students compared with peers from 10 years ago. The good news is that empathy is like a muscle you can build and DGT is here to help. Learn more about their programs in this short video or keep reading.

A great place to start your involvement is with the Big-Hearted Families Toolkit. This toolkit has ideas for service projects, kindness activities, empathy building book lists and talking tips and tools. Visit the printables page for free resources such as activity books, kindness challenges and ideas of how to add kindness to family routines. If you need to do some last minute shopping, you can view this page to get ideas for gifts that support DGT’s mission.

When you and your family are ready to volunteer together, you can pick a project by the topic of focus, such as fighting poverty, caring for animals or healing the Earth. Check out this list of 12 Holiday Volunteering Tips if you’re looking for something to do now. DGT also shares monthly, family-friendly volunteer opportunities in 10 metro areas around the United States including Silicon Valley, California, Twin Cities, Minnesota, and New York City. See the full list here.

If you’re ready to help Doing Good Together instill the spirit of giving in a new generation, there are many ways to do so. Become a member of the DGT family, make a donation, and amplify their message on social media. Follow Doing Good Together on Facebook and Instagram, and subscribe to their YouTube Channel and blog. You’ll never run out of ideas on how you can do something good together!

Feel Good Friday - Harvey Ball World Smile Foundation

Happy World Smile Day! If you’re asking yourself, “world what now?” keep reading to learn all about the Harvey Ball World Smile Foundation.

Founded in 2001, the tag line for the Harvey Ball World Smile Foundation is, “improving our world one smile at a time.” Why the focus on smiling? Harvey Ball was a commercial artist from Massachusetts who created the first ever smiley face in 1963. As this symbol became more popular and commercialized, he grew concerned that its original meaning of good will and good cheer had become lost. That gave him the idea to make the first Friday of every October World Smile Day.

World Smile Day was first held in Harvey’s hometown of Worcester, Massachusetts in 1999. That year the U.S. Post Office released a smiley face postage stamp. You can watch this 6-minute video to hear from Harvey Ball and see the stamp being unveiled. The theme of World Smile Day that year, and every year, is for people to do an act of kindness and help one person smile. 

After Harvey died in 2001, the Harvey Ball World Smile Foundation was founded to honor his name and memory and to ensure World Smile Day continues. Every year, the Foundation sponsors activities in Worcester, MA while also encouraging people and organizations worldwide to join in. If you want to support the Harvey Ball World Smile Foundation in this work, consider a sponsorship. 

If you’re looking for a way to celebrate World Smile Day you have lots of options. Join an event, organize your own, or download and print out a poster, a sticker or pages to color. Do an act of kindness (random or not) and talk about it on social media using the hashtag #WorldSmileDay. You can also like Foundation’s Facebook page and check out their YouTube videos to help spread the word. 🙂 

Feel Good Friday - Random Acts

Usually, I try to tie my Feel Good Friday posts to current events or holidays but sometimes the connection is random. That thought is what led me to today’s organization, Random Acts. 

Random Acts is “conquering the world one random act of kindness at a time”. Founded in 2010 by actor Misha Collins, the first random act was raising over $30,000 for the UNICEF disaster relief program in response to an earthquake in Haiti.

 

From those beginnings, Random Acts has grown into an organization with offices in 18 countries and an all-volunteer staff of over 150 people. Together, they encourage and fund people of all ages to “perform their own acts of kindness wherever, and whenever, possible.” 

 

Big projects completed by Random Acts include the 2013 construction of an orphanage in Jacmel, Haiti that houses 80 children and the 2015 construction of an unconventional high school in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua. Designed for people not able to attend a traditional school, like those over 18 or women with children, the high school is free and includes an onsite daycare center. A current project, Change a Life, is a partnership with a scavenger hunt organization that identifies individuals, families and communities where a substantial positive impact can be made.

 

Random Acts is now focusing on food equity, “the concept that all people have the right to equal access to or the ability to grow and consume healthful, affordable, and culturally significant foods.” They are funding initiatives such as urban farming operations, community gardens and food redistribution projects.

 

What has the impact been? Since their founding, Random Acts has raised over $5,300,000 for acts across the globe. You can read their kindness stories here or watch this 2-min video. 

 

Inspired to get involved? Why not start by performing an act of kindness? First time applicants can request up to $499 to fund their idea and you can find details and an application form here. You can also support Random Acts with a traditional donation and by amplifying their message on social media. Like their Facebook page and follow them on Twitter @RandomActsOrg and

Instagram @randomactsorg. #GetKind

Feel Good Friday - Kindness for Cats, Inc.

Happy Feel Good Friday the 13th! On this superstitious day, let's talk about black cats and the people who are helping them find forever homes, Kindness for Cats, Inc (KFCI).

You may not know this, but black cats have the lowest adoption and highest euthanasia rates among felines. That's why Kindness for Cats, Inc. works with Orange County Animal Services in Orlando, Florida to foster cats in their program.

Founded in 2008 by Cindy Patton, KFCI's mission is "to provide temporary nurturing homes for homeless kittens and cats and to find them loving forever homes." They also educate the public about the abandon pet overpopulation, the high rate of euthanasia at local animal shelters and promote spaying and neutering.

KFCI places cats and kittens from OCAS with foster parents to spare them from euthanasia while they wait to be adopted. Those most likely to need extra time and attention are cats that are too young to be adopted, have special needs or are sick or injured. A typical foster placement is for one month and OCAS provides assistance with food, bedding, crates and bowls.

If you live in Orlando and are in the market for a kitty, the KFCI website is a great place to look. This link lists cats and kittens currently available for adoption. Once you bring a cat into your home, their website has tons of resources on topics such as introducing a new cat to your home, whether or not to declaw your cat and what to do about feral cats in the neighborhood.

But what about all those black cats you ask? KFCI promotes their adoption with fun links like Top 10 Reasons to Adopt a Black Cat. While reasons 9 and 10 might be a stretch ("black goes with everything" and "you can always find your black cat in the snow") the number one reason is why KFCI focuses on black cats, they are "least likely to get adopted".

Depending on where you live, there are many ways you can support this work. Floridians can foster or adopt cats from KFCI. All of us can make a traditional donation, automatically donate a portion of our online shopping purchases, and share the social media love by liking the KFCI Facebook page and subscribing to their YouTube channel. Cat videos anyone?

Feel Good Friday - 21 Day Kindness Challenge

Happy New Year!

Many of us use the beginning of the year to set goals, resolutions and intentions for the upcoming year. On this Feel Good Friday, as you consider your options, I wanted you to know about KindSpring's series of 21-Day Challenges.

First, a little about KindSpring from their website, "KindSpring is a place to practice small acts of kindness. For over a decade the KindSpring user community has focused on inner transformation, while collectively changing the world with generosity, gratitude, and trust. The site is 100% volunteer-run and totally non-commercial. It is a shared labor of love."

The 21-day challenges focus on kindness, mindfulness and gratitude. To get started, "you can join an existing challenge, or you can host your own challenge and invite your friends, organization or school to be a part of it. Each person gets a daily email with a suggestion for a small act for the day. You can share your reflections online with others and where possible, meet in-person with your group."

You can go here to join an upcoming challenge. For those of you who want some scientific support on how a challenge like this can be beneficial, there are tons of articles and videos at this link.

To stay in the loop all year long, follow KindSpring on Twitter @Kind_Spring and like their Facebook page. Here's to a new year filled with kindness, mindfulness and gratitude!

Feel Good Friday - Karma Kitchen

Perhaps it's time to change the name of this blog to Food Good Friday because here comes another story of people making a positive impact with food.

We've talked about programs that feed the hungry - from young kids starting gardens and growing food to college kids redirecting excess food from the dining commons. Well, now here's something wonderful you can do that feeds YOU!

Karma Kitchen is a monthly Sunday brunch that has been taking place at Taste of the Himalayas in Berkeley, California since 2007. What's the big deal about brunch, you ask? There are no prices on the menu and, save for the cooks, the restaurant is staffed by volunteers.

At the end of the meal, your check arrives with a zero balance and the following footnote: "Your meal was a gift from someone who came before you. To keep the chain of gifts alive, we invite you to pay it forward for those who dine after you."

To date Karma Kitchen has served 38703 meals and their self described "volunteer-driven experiment in generosity" shows no sign of stopping. Not only is there a Karma Kitchen in Berkeley, there are also kitchens in Hayward, CA, Washington DC and Chicago!

You can get more background on how it all got started by reading this article from the San Francisco Chronicle or watch a short video from Go Project Films.

Join Inspiration Safari in liking their Facebook page and if you want to go to brunch on Sunday, leave a comment and let's make a date!

Feel Good Friday - Estonia's Bank of Happiness

Yesterday, I heard a story on NPR that screamed Feel Good Friday. Well, given that it was NPR it was more of a polite assertion rather than a scream.

Estonia is near the top.

It was about the Bank of Happiness, founded five years ago in the Estonian capital Tallinn. The great news is that you don't have to live in Estonia to participate. In fact, people connecting through this forum live in countries around the world.

In the words of their founder, Airi Kivi, "We were inspired by the clear understanding that there is a gap in the society between humane caring and economic well-being. We were then and are today convinced that the formula of happiness lies in noticing others. We feel that people want to help others, but often don't know how. On the other hand, we know that there are people who need help in solving their daily problems but don't know whom to address. This led to the idea to bring these two parties together and create a website for it.

Founder, Airi Kivi

The name "The Bank of Happiness" gave the structure to the idea. In our eyes, all people can be the clients of the Bank. Everyone could think a little and find something that he or she can do well or is fond of doing. We believe that by dedicating one's personal time it is possible to experience positive emotions. It can be advice on a computer issue, lawn mowing or teaching German. In the Bank of Happiness every good deed is worth one Star of Gratitude or a friendly smile!"

Whether or not you ever participate in the Bank of Happiness, you can certainly take inspiration from their values and try to apply them to your daily activities.

• We notice others around us.
• We believe that every person has something to give.
• We know that every person is valuable and can do good.
• We acknowledge and respect all who contribute to other people's well-being.
• We care about each other and about the world around us.
• We give special attention to the weak ones and help them.
• We take part in life actively and encounter other people.
• We have an open heart and positive thinking.
• We create and develop the gratitude economy.
• We smile and we are happy.

You can click on the link to listen to the original NPR story and stay connected with them by liking their Facebook page!

Feel Good Friday - Help Others

In the last 6 months of Feel Good Fridays we've been all around the San Francisco Bay Area, to New York, South Carolina, India, Uganda, Kenya, Paraguay, Brazil, Israel - you get the idea.

Today we're going to talk about a group that exists only online but whose influence can be felt world wide. Help Others is an organization founded by a group of anonymous college students 10 years ago. When thinking about how much fun they had planning pranks, they came up with the idea of making a game out of doing anonymous acts of kindness and leaving behind a "smile card" to encourage others to keep the ripple going.

The idea is you do a random act of kindness and you leave a card that tags someone as being "it" in the hope they pass on a random act of kindness to someone else.

Can't think of anything to do? Visit their website for ideas like play the role of doorman for 15 minutes, write a note to a teacher who inspired you or clean up litter on your block.

Don't have a smile card? You can download them here in a variety of languages or place an order to have some sent to you. Can't afford them? Someone has already paid for your cards, because that's the way this site works.

Last but not least, like them on Facebook so you can stay in the loop with what's going on.

Tag - you're it!

Feel Good Friday - Tony Tolbert

Tony who?

Tony Tolbert is a 51-year-old attorney in Los Angeles who moved in with his parents so that a homeless family could live in his house. For a year!

I'm a bit short on time this Feel Good Friday so I'm using this blog to point you in the direction of the full article and video I found on the Huffington Post earlier this year.

If you didn't see the story then, I'd encourage you to take a look. It certainly points out that we can all do something to spread a little more generosity, love and joy in this world.

Anyone else feel a random act of kindness coming on?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/02/tony-tolbert-offers-his-l_n_2397283.html