Kernels of Kindness: Teachers Make a Difference

I put together a little gift bag for a teacher...

A Pin, Water Tumbler, $25 Lakeshore gift card, Apple air freshener from Bath and Body Works and a Thank You note for making a difference.

This gift was given to Emmas preschool teacher.

When I got the picture, it brought tears to my eyes.

Im so glad it went to her.

#KernelsOfKindness

Kernels of Kindness: NEGU Jessie Rees Foundation

I have followed the Jessie Rees Foundation Facebook page for some time now, and what they are doing is WONDERFUL.

www.jessie.org

https://www.facebook.com/JessieReesFoundation?ref=br_tf

I bought some items off of their list of hospital approved items for their Joy Jars, and I contacted Kristy and decided to drop the items off tonight, and I saw the toy factory.  I met Diana and she took me around and showed me everything. 

This place is AMAZING.  It made me overwhelmingly happy and sad at the same time.  It made me so happy because a 12 year old girl with a dream is still, in her memory, sending SO many children with cancer so much support with her Joy Jars.  It made me so sad, because... there are so many children with cancer.  There are so many pictures on the wall that just made my heart sad.  I cant get the picture of the child asleep in their hospital bed with their arm around their Joy Jar out of my head.  This organization is INCREDIBLE and I am so thankful I got to do a little tiny bit to help them out and it makes my heart smile to know I was able to shop and donate items that will make a child with cancer smile one day soon.

#KernelsOfKindness

Kernels of Kindness: Fullerton Police Department

I hung out with my mentee today, and our first stop was the Fullerton Police Department.  She wants to be a police officer when she is older, so this was awesome for her.

We dropped off a bag of stuffed animals, and a goody bag for an officer with a "We Thank You" coffee tumbler, $25 Starbucks gift card, Police rubber duckies and a note saying Thank You for all you do, and Thank You for making a difference.

#KernelsOfKindness

Kernels of Kindness: Local Fire Station

As we were driving to the fire station yesterday, an engine left with its lights and siren going...

And my friend and I looked at each other, and just laughed.

It seems a lot of times when we are headed to a fire house to do a RAOK, they leave on a call. We got lucky yesterday and the garage was still open, and there were some firemen outside.  I prefer that, I dont like to ring the doorbell and disturb them, so it worked out perfectly.

One fireman was cleaning the tires on one of the fire engines, so I just sort of stuck my head in, I didnt want to walk into the garage, and said I just wanted to thank you for all you do... and I left the little goodie bag with some fire related candies, firemen rubber duckies, a $25 Starbucks gift card and a note saying Thank You for all you do and went on my way.  :)

#KernelsOfKindness

Kernels of Kindness: Hoag Hospital Irvine - Emergency Room

I asked around a few months ago for some recommendations of great local nurses, that really make a difference.

I was given the name of a nurse at Hoag Hospital Irvine, named Nikki, and the whole ER Department.

I stopped by yesterday with a cookie tray for the ER department and a little Thank You for Nikki that included a note thanking her for making a difference, some nurse rubber duckies, a Hero in Scrubs pin, Nurses water tumbler and a $25 Starbucks gift card.

The ER was actually empty when we arrived, which I have never seen in an ER anywhere.  As we were walking up, there was a cab waiting outside, and I said, how sad would it be to have to take a cab to or from the hospital.  A male nurse walked out with a patient, who was leaving in the cab.  It actually made me feel really sad.  I just cant imagine.

When I told him the cookies were for the ER just to say thanks, and the bag was for Nikki, he said oh let me go get her!  My heart started racing, because I like to just leave my RAOKs and go, I prefer to be anonymous most of the time...

Another nurse came out and stated she was in a meeting, and I said no problem, and I explained that she didnt know me anyway, and this was just a thank you for everything they do, and I was on my way :)

#KernelsOfKindness

Kernels Of Kindness: Saddleback Memorial Hospital Volunteer

This RAOK was a bit challenging...

I thought it would be easier...

Head to a hospital, find a volunteer, and done.

Nope!

Hoag Hospital in Irvine, didnt have any volunteers today.

We headed to Saddleback Memorial Hospital.

The Womens Center did not have anyone at the desk, and the Volunteer Room was closed, and dark.  We walked through the main hospital, no one.  I was really bummed, and we were on our way out... and we saw a gentleman we had seen when we first walked in....

I stopped him and asked if he was a volunteer.  Sure enough, he was.  His name, is Gary.

This man was so sweet.  He is older, and was telling us he volunteers in the Emergency Room and was going on hour NINE of volunteering.  I gave him the goodie bag, and thanked him for what he does. His face lit up.

He thanked me, and said I made his day.

Really, Gary, YOU made MY day!

In the bag was a Thank You note for making a difference, a water tumbler and pin for Volunteers and a $25 Starbucks card.

#KernelsOfKindness 

Kernels of Kindness: Fountain Valley Police Department

Today I dropped off some stuffed animals and a small package at Fountain Valley Police Department.

The stuffed animals will be used in "Crime Prevention" and Sgt Jose Maldanado will receive a little Thank You when he works next.  The package has a "We Thank You" coffee tumbler, $25 Starbucks gift card, Police related rubber duckies and a card that says Thank You for all you do, and Thank You for making a difference.

The wind wasnt cooperating today, so excuse my hair :)

#KernelsOfKindness

Kernels of Kindness - Breathing For Laura

I have been following a website for a while, and I truly feel for this family.

https://www.facebook.com/BreathingforLaura?ref=br_tf

I reached out and sent Johnny a message, almost not expecting to hear back.  People are busy, and when going through grief, sometimes it takes all you have to just make a post in a day.

I heard back pretty quickly, which was awesome.  I had asked him if he had a PO box, and he does.

I have seen him post a lot of pictures of his daughters at Yogurtland, so I sent a $50 gift card to Yogurtland for them to enjoy.

#kernelsofkindness

Kernels of Kindness: Make me something...

I reached out to my friend Erin, who sells her art on Etsy, and I asked her to make me something.

I love supporting friends.

I left it up to her, what she made...

She sent me a portrait of me and Bandit.

Thank you, Erin!  Bandit and I love it... and it sits proudly on my entertainment unit in the living room!

#kernelsofkindness

Kernels of Kindness... Flowers

It is time to start my Kernels of Kindness RAOKS!

#kernelsofkindness

I figured it was appropriate to start with a RAOK for my friend Angie, who nominated me for this amazing prize!

I sent her flowers...

Online picture:

The actual flowers: (Plus a balloon)

I think they are much prettier in "real life".

I hope you enjoy them, and thank you again for this awesome opportunity and for thinking of me, and nominating me.

It means the world to me!

Random Acts of Kindness Sunday...

Today, I got an itch to do some RAOKs...

I gave my friend a little treat at breakfast...

Trick or Treat...Smell my feet....

With some soft cozy socks.

Then I left a RAOK for our waitress...

I hope you have a BEARY great day... with some gummy bears.

On the way out, I gave a smilie balloon to a little boy...

This last one was not received well, and sort of put a damper on my morning.  I know better than to take it personally, but I did.

The boy was with who I would guess were his grandparents.

The grandmother was so incredibly rude to me, gave me the dirtiest look and shoved the balloon away.

It honestly hurt my feelings, and sort of reminded me that I love to do these anonymously... But I also need to remember I should continue to do them because there are just some people out there who still dont understand random kindness... and they need to.

People need more of it in their lives.