My friend, Ada, shared how while at the gym she observed a young woman who runs very fast. In a brief conversation, Ada learned that running in the upcoming marathon was something this woman really wanted to do, but simply couldn’t afford it.  A quick call to the owner of a running store resulted in a free marathon entrance.  For Ada, she “liked the hurrah feeling.”

New findings published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology confirm the power of being kind. Researchers found that people who perform a random act of kindness tend to underestimate how much the recipient will appreciate it.  And they believe that may hold many of us back from doing nice things for others more often. One of the study’s authors, Amit Kumar, commented “People tend to think that what they are giving is relatively inconsequential. But recipients are less likely to think along those lines.”…
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As prices for basic school supplies have greatly increased, we can only imagine the challenge faced by families with many children who all need supplies.  This presents a simple and easy opportunity for us to come to the aid of our neighbors.

Teachers often choose to purchase extra supplies rather than to see a child go without. If asked what is needed, they will quickly provide a short list of things like crayons, pencils, markers, folders, or backpacks which can all be purchased either in-store or online and delivered to a home or school.

Each year I enjoy bringing an assortment of school supplies to Partnership Academy in Richfield, Minnesota where I volunteer to assist a Kindergarten teacher.  The response always makes me smile!

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A helpful husband and good friend joined me in a fun and easy volunteer activity to prepare 200 sandwiches for urban American Indians in Minneapolis.

The Sandwich Project exists to serve those with food insecurity. Their efforts result in creating healthy and nurturing experiences by providing a basic need — a sandwich for lunch!

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One of the organizations my family likes to support with our time and funds is Feed My Starving Children (FMSC). This unique charity believes that hope starts with food. Their process is simple. Donations fund the meal ingredients.  Volunteers hand-pack the nutritious meals which are shipped to food partners across the globe.

In 1993, a team of Cargill food scientists and colleagues from General Mills and Pillsbury created a vitamin-and-mineral fortified rice meal specifically for malnourished children. This is what is now called MannaPack Rice™.  As FMSC’s first and original food formula, it is an excellent source of protein, carbohydrates and key nutrients culturally acceptable worldwide for anyone over the age of one.

Every day FMSC food packs are distributed in schools, orphanages, medical clinics and feeding programs in 70 countries around the world. More than 99% of FMSC meals have safely reached their intended destination.

Aracely and her 4-year-old …
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I’ll probably never meet some kids I consider to be part of my family.  Two live in Kenya, three in Paraguay, one in Haiti, another in Argentina, and my newest teenager is in Ghana.

Twenty-six years ago, I became “Godmother” to Brenda through the Kenya Children’s fund. I’ve saved many of her letters, such as this one, to read on rainy days.

“You make me feel loved and lucky. I can’t help but feel great being your sponsored child. You are one of the few people who make my life worth living in this earth. You helped me through – I finished high school!”

With a small donation sent to my “Godson” William, on his 8th birthday, he purchased soap, cake, shoe polish and juice. He wants to join the army when he grows up “so that I can protect those I love.”

Mackendy’s father abandoned him, and he …
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