Recently we shared some of the awesome acts carried out by Random Acts staff throughout December 2017, thanks to funding provided by our incredible supporters. In fact, our staffers managed to do so many different acts that one post wasn’t enough! Now it’s time for Part 2 of our #HolidayKindness roundup:
Supplies for a community shelter
HR Manager Jo-An Morin decided to share some #HolidayKindness with the Upper Valley Haven in White River Junction, VT. According to its official website, “The Upper Valley Haven is a non-profit, private organization that serves people struggling with poverty by providing food, shelter, education, service coordination, and other support.” Open since 1980, it helps over 14,000 people every year, providing “temporary shelter and educational programming for homeless families and adults, as well as food and clothing to anyone in need.”
Jo-An found out that the organization’s emergency shelter was in need of extra supplies during the cold winter months. She used Random Acts funding to provide gift cards, allowing the Upper Valley Haven to buy much-needed groceries and additional cots.
New Year’s Eve dinner at a children’s hospital
IT Manager Juliana Su recruited her sister and a friend to help make New Year’s extra special for families at The Children’s Inn in Bethesda, MD. The Inn is a residential home-from-home for families of children being treated at the the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the nation’s leading biomedical research agency. Its official website states that “while the NIH takes care of the child’s medical needs, The Inn tends to the child’s heart, soul and spirit.”
On December 31st, Juliana and her helpers prepared the dining room and set out party favors for guests, including hats, tiaras, and leis. Caterer Oneil Batchelor gave up his New Year’s Eve plans to put on a feast of delicious Jamaican food, while Juliana’s sister and friend chipped in with homemade toffee cookies and madeleines for dessert.
Adopting a family for the holidays
When Events Manager Amanda Tucker saw a ‘giving tree’ at her local daycare in Acworth, GA, she knew it was an opportunity to share some Random Acts #HolidayKindness. She selected a bauble from the tree, which put her in touch with a family in need of a helping hand.
Thanks to Random Acts funding, Amanda was able to provide gifts for the whole family, including their two young children. She purchased and wrapped toys and clothing for the little ones, as well as buying gift cards for the parents, and the gifts were delivered to the family courtesy of the daycare.
Purchasing supplies for children’s homes
Staff Writer Lauren Mannion heard about the great work done by
Hogares Providencia while living in Mexico. Established in 1979, this non-profit cares for over 150 children in its four dedicated homes across Mexico City, and also offers vital support services to vulnerable families. Its open-door policy provides shelter to homeless and at-risk children, giving them medical care, an education, and the chance to enjoy sports, games, and cultural activities.
Lauren’s #HolidayKindness funding from Random Acts allowed her to purchase items from the organization’s wishlist, including bed linens, pillows, cleaning supplies, and staple foods for the children. After ordering them online, she had them delivered directly to the headquarters of Hogares Providencia, where they were gratefully received.
Bringing Christmas treats to critters
Executive Assistant Sara Carothers wanted to make sure that the animals at the East Bay SPCA didn’t go without this holiday season. Based in Oakland, CA, this local non-profit has been working since 1874 to “to eliminate animal cruelty, neglect and overpopulation by providing programs and education that support people and companion animals.”
As well as veterinary services, training and educational programs, the East Bay SPCA houses a large number of unwanted animals. Sara was able to use funding from Random Acts to treat these shelter critters to items from the SPCA’s wishlist, including cat toys, dog playpens and sun shades.
Helping put an end to ‘period poverty’
Bhumika Makwana is an Asst. Regional Representative in the UK, and decided to put some #HolidayKindness funding towards supporting a local non-profit called Bloody Good Period. According to the organization’s website, founder Gabby Edlin “decided something needed to be done about the fact that very few food banks and asylum seeker drop-in centers were providing feminine hygiene products – despite a desperate need.”
Today this British non-profit fights ‘period poverty’ by collecting toiletries and sanitary products to share with refugees, homeless people, and anyone else who otherwise couldn’t afford them. With the help of Random Acts funding, Bhumika was able to order many of the items from Bloody Good Period’s wishlist, ensuring they didn’t run out of supplies over Christmas and New Year.
January may already be coming to an end, but the #HolidayKindness keeps on going — stay tuned to our Kindness Stories for even more updates!
Feeling inspired to perform an act of kindness of your own? Random Acts provides support and funding to help get your idea off the ground!