The "Random Act of Kindness Day" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Talking with my wife's friend Marg on the phone about something really neat that her daughter and grandkids did the other day.  Marg's daughter's name is Alice and she has to children, one boy and one girl.  Both are in elementary school and both children, along with their mother participated in a "Random Acts of Kindness" day that took them from a nursing home to a free medical clinic, all in one day.  Alice wanted her children to know how fortunate they are to have everything they have, and that there are less fortunate people who could benefit from a "Random Act of Kindness."  Alice works for the Berks County, PA Intermediate Unit program as an elementary teacher of children with disabilities, so she first had to coordinate the day that she had planned for her and her children.  She first went to her children's elementary school principal and explained what she wanted to do and the principal thought it was a great idea.  The night before the family's special day, they baked cookies that would be used for the first two stops the following day.  First stop on the "Random Act of Kindness" tour was at a nursing home near their house.  They presented the residents with some cookies and conversation.  Later they would receive a note of thanks from the nursing home for their "Random Act of Kindness".  Next stop was at the Denver Elementary School where the children were students.  Dropped off some cookies in the faculty room with a note to tell the teachers how special they really were.  I'm sure some teachers saw them and told them how special they were.  Next stop was a laundromat in Ephrata, PA to leave bags with quarters in them so the patrons of the laundromat could have their clothes washed for free that day.  A note was included in the bags to tell them about their "Random Act of Kindness" day.  The Dollar Store was next on the agenda where they left small bags with a dollar in them and a note telling the finder to use the $1 to buy something that would brighten their day.  Can you imagine by now the excitement and good feelings that the children as well as Alice must have felt by creating all the "Random Act of Kindness".  Next stop was at an animal shelter where they dropped off kitty litter and food for the animals.  I can just imagine how thrilled the workers in the shelter must have been with the donation and their "Random Act of Kindness".  I know the high that I feel when Carol and I drop off bags of cat food to a very kind lady on the island of St. Martin who cares for the stray cats on the island.  In Hershey, PA is located the Penn State Hershey Medical Center where children with cancer are treated and a Ronald McDonald House is nearby for the families of those children to stay.  The next "Random Act of Kindness" was dropping off toys for the sick children at the Ronald McDonald House.  Not just any toys, but Margaret's children's own toys that were still in great shape and would be better used by the children with an illness.  The next stop during their busy day was to the Ephrata Library to donate still usable books to the children's room in the library.  For the final stop of the day Alice did some previous research online to see what the Lebanon, PA medical clinic could make use of in their care for the less fortunate.  Aspirin was one of the top items on the list so the three good Samaritans made their last donation of Aspirin to the Lebanon Free Clinic.  What a great "Random Act of Kindness" day this family experienced.  I'm sure that not only the two children, but their mother learned more today than they would have at work or at school.  What a neat idea, Alice.  I'm impressed with your parenting.  Bravo, job well done!!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.