Random Acts of Kindness

NumboJumbo

Just wondering whether people had heard about Random Acts of Kindness cards, which are handed out to people to thank them for doing a kind act, whilst encouraging that person to pass the card on to another person who has done something kind.

Maybe charity shops could create such cards (which only have to be printed on paper) and give them out to thank those people who have personally come into their shop and performed an act of kindness by donating something. The cards could have the charities name on it and a message to pass it on to somebody else who performs an act of kindness. So the charities name could be spread out like a mini Mexican Wave as well as being associated with kindness.

Here's a few examples of the cards I'm talking about:

http://www.helpfromhome.org/dogoodcards.htm - this one lets you track and see where the card has travelled around the world. Cool, eh!
http://www.karmakrew.org/index_initiatives-dogoodthings.asp
http://www.payitforwardday.com/about_how.html
http://umademyday.com/

Anybody have any thoughts on this idea?

leylie

thanks for the links....I've passed them on to the Development Officer for the charity I work for as I think we might be able to adapt the idea.:beer:

yahoo_woo

Great find, I like the concept. Hmmm, going to sleep on this, I'm sure there's something quite cool that could be adapted.

Thanks for the heads up. I must admit, when I read the title, "Random Acts of Kindness", all I could think of was, "there's not enough".

NumboJumbo

Thanks for your kind comments and glad to see that the idea possibly could be used.

I know a charity is a charity and is probably strapped for cash, but maybe an incentive could be added to these cards insofar as a prize could be randomly awarded to any body who is associated with a card that has the most people asociated with it and therefore most travelled - assuming you go down the road of providing a tracking facility (just like the 'Do Good' cards from Help From Home). That way, people will be doing the publicity for your charity - assuming that you put your charity's message on the card.

You never know where the card will end up or how much publicity you might get in the process - especially if you announce it to the media, as I don't think any other charity organsiation is doing this.

yahoo_woo

NumboJumbo wrote: »

You never know where the card will end up or how much publicity you might get in the process - especially if you announce it to the media, as I don't think any other charity organsiation is doing this.

Not looked at how the site you mentioned 'tracks' yet, but the above quote reminded me of when I was in America last year and got a $1 with a stamp on it with a website URL; wheresgeorge.com - When I finally got around to looking at the website I then realised what it was! It uses the notes serial number and adds it to the website. When you get a note with it on, you then update its location.

I don't know, I just love that idea. And I like your idea of a 'prize'. Possibly the prize could be donated by a company... so what you in effect do, is the charity gives out these 'act of kindness cards' which all have a UIN and then something basic could be set up (website) to track how far and awide each card goes. Heck... maybe know incentive is required. I think watching acts of kindness spread across the globe and track it on a map, on the PC is preddy cool.

Wish I had time, I'd love to do this as a project acutally. hmm!

NumboJumbo

I was aware of Where's George and it really does seem to have taken off in a big way, spawning quite a few websites in other countries.

I'm also aware of this site that used bracelets and this forum which discusses ways of 'passing it on' using scrapbboks, matchboxes etc. I also found 2 other additional sites that use cards http://www.seedaneed.com/ + http://boomboomcards.com/ That's prolly enuf links for one day to get some inspiration juices flowing.

Some time later on in the year (and there's not much left of it now), I intend to do something similar with using origami as the medium to pass 'it' on. At the moment I've tentativly called it 'Unfolding Kindness'. Watch this space!!