Random Acts of Christmas Kindness

I am a creature that craves peace.

Despite the true meaning of Christmas, this season is not very peaceful. There is SO. MUCH. STUFF. Decorations, Christmas church clothes, family pictures, parties, shopping, wrapping, the ever constant anxiety that you have missed a great online sale for that one thing your teenage had to have because your toddlers stuck you to a chair for eight hours with the force of their clingy love and a giant helping of boogers...

Stuff like that.

Even if you know and understand and appreciate the reason for the season...it is so incredibly hard to carve out peace in the middle of all this STUFF.

So we started R.A.C.K. last year - Random Acts of Christmas Kindness. We put a giant, green, cardboard tree on our kitchen door with 24 'tags' and we did an act of kindness every day leading up to Christmas. Well, we did 24 acts. Some days were big-fat-zero days and some days were jolly-elves-on-a-mission days of multiple acts of kindness. We plotted on how to surprise people. We did secret acts and giggled between ourselves. We tried things that sounded corny and silly, but ended up being so sincere and heartfelt. We spent time as a family talking about those less fortunate and our role in our world to help them.

We gained perspective, we connected with people, and we found some peace.

We are doing it again. And we are ramping it up. Because that is how we roll. Bigger and better, onward and upward. How can we top ourselves from last year...we are a competitive folk.

We are asking for help from our friends and family with certain things that we want to collect and donate. Anyone that can help would be so appreciated. We plan on spending time running around as a family picking up donations so we will come get whatever you pull together or you can always drop items off on our front porch. I will try not to be overly obnoxious but plan on seeing this a lot in my Facebook feed. Not because we want the world to know, but because we hope you will join us. This year especially, our world needs a little peace.

These are a few of the Acts of Kindness we are preparing for and the items we need if you can help.

Filling Hope Totes for the homeless shelter:

Warm socks
Toothpaste/brushes
Body wash
Antibac liquid soap
Lip balm
Shaving cream/razors
Tampons
Shampoo and Conditioner
Brush/Comb
Deodorant
Tissues
Body Lotion
Antibacterial Wipes

Donating Food to the Food Pantry:

Any unperishable food items
Any paper products/personal hygiene items

Donating Winterwear:

Old coats, gloves, scarves, hats

Sending school supplies to the Homework House in Avalon Village, Detroit:

Unsharpened pencils, unused school supplies


THANK YOU.