Thursday, September 3, 2020

Noah’s Kindness Project Kindness Packs

A month from today will be Noah’s Kindness Project!  Just like everything that 2020 has brought, this year’s event will be different as well. While we would love to have everyone together, this year it just seems to be the wise decision to participate apart.


While our friends in other areas who have been participating in Noah’s Kindness Project from afar can share with us, the act of kindness you chose to do is really up to you.  Remember there is no act too small to make a difference.  Honestly, holding a door for another person, greeting someone with a smile and a hello on your morning walk, or even picking up litter in your neighborhood… all great acts and equally appreciated.

For those who are here locally with us and would like, we have put together kindness packs to share.  These kindness packs are designed with five different activities (one for each year Noah would have been today) for you to pick up, take home and do together with your family in the safe and comforts of your home.  Here is a run down of what’s included in each of the packs:


1)       Operation Christmas Cards: Each year United Soldiers and Sailors of American gather volunteers together to write personalized Christmas Cards for our military servicemen and women serving our country.  Included in your kindness pack will be several holiday cards and we invite you to spend some time writing a personal message to our brave men and women protecting our freedom.  For more information you can visit: https://www.usasoa.org/christmas-cards-for-our-deployed-troops

2)      Kindness Stones:  One of our kids’ favorite Noah’s Kindness Project activities is the Kindness stones.  Since we’ve been home on quarantine for what feels like the entire year, we have noticed a lot of kindness stones along our paths when we take our family walks.  Coming upon them makes us smile and brings joy into our hearts.  When we talked with the kids about what to include in the NKP Kindness Packs, one of the first things they kids said was the stones.  Our kids have enjoyed finding stones of various sizes and shapes along our walks and we hope you family can enjoy decorating them with inspirational messages, words of hope and encouragement and even pictures.  Have fun and be creative.  The stones will be painted white so you can make them your own.

3)      DIY Fleece Blankets: Included in your Kindness Pack you will find material and instructions for how to make a No-Sew blanket.  Together your family can create a blanket that will be in turn gifted to a local youth shelter that cares for some of Arizona’s most deserving children.  Before becoming a mom I volunteered at a local youth shelter. The loving children there forever left an imprint in my heart and I often think about and wonder about a few of them who I truly connected with.  I know for these kids having a blanket of their own would be a gift they would truly cherish.  We hope your family will find joy in knowing you personally help create a gift that will wrap a child in warmth and care. 

4)      Care kits:  As we’ve done in the past, included in your packs will be supplies and materials to assemble a care pack for someone in need. These care packs can be shared with someone who you see who is in need.  Feel free to personalize your packs with other items if you choose.  We will share water, snacks, hand sanitizer, wipes and other items that we hope can help those in need.  Once you’ve created your packs, feel free to hand them out yourself to someone in your community who could benefit from the kind act.

5)     Cards of thanks:  Finally included in your pack will be a pack of thank you cards.  In these last few months of having our world turned upside down, we have all faced many challenges.  As much as there have been challenges, there have been just as many people stepping up and helping.  Just like Mr. Rogers would say, in challenging times, look for the helpers for they will give you hope.  We invite you think about those people who have been the helpers for you in your lives and to take a few minutes to write a card of thanks.  Maybe it’s the check out person at the grocery store, or a nurse or doctor who has helped you through an illness, a friend who reaches out just to say hi and check in, a teacher helping you navigate virtual learning for you or your child, your postman/woman or even your Amazon delivery driver.  Yes when we think about it, our lives have definitely changed since the start of 2020 and while we have had to overcome new challenges, there have definitely been those who have made it easier.  Join us as we take a moment to say thank you. 

If you are local and would like a Noah’s Kindness Project Kindness Pack please visit this link so we can reserve one for you.  The packs will be available for pick up from our home on October 1 and 2nd.  We will communicate additional details directly. 

For those who may be celebrating with us from afar, we invite you to participate in these activities if you so choose as well. We are sorry we are unable to mail the packs at this time, but hope you will still choose to celebrate and share with us in your own special way. 

 These packs are our way of thanking you for supporting us these past five years.  Please know that losing Noah was one of the hardest things we’ve ever gone through in our lives but because of so many of you, we are able to celebrate him and his life and feel strong because of the love and kindness shared with us from you. 

While definitely not necessary or expected, if you would like to donate a preemie, newborn outfit or receiving blankets when you pick up the pack, we would gladly share it with the Banner Desert NICU as a part of the gifts shared in memory of Noah.  Again definitely not necessary. 

Finally, we want to again say thank you.  Thank you for all the ways you have helped us share kindness with others, kindness with us and love as we remember Noah.  We may never be able to fully convey how much this means to us.  We remain forever grateful.

Until next time,
Angie and Jarrett

 

1 comment:

  1. Today I have received one of these packs. I was sitting here crying because our miracle daughter, JanaMarie, who we’ve waited 10 years for is now in a crib and is 4lbs. She was born at 28 weeks 1 day and weighed 1lb 15oz. This gift caused my heart to overflow even more. The kindness and care we receive at Banner Desert is amazing. Thank you for showing kindness and love in Noah’s honor. We will do the same to spread his love. Thank you!

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