Kindness: The Summer Edition 2.0

We talked about giving gifts of kindness last winter around the holidays, but kindness can and should be a year-round thing.  Not only do people need kindness all the time, the rewards always come back to us. So, here goes Kindness 2.0:

• Is someone in your neighborhood older, maybe ill, maybe injured, and can't mow his or her lawn? You can do it, using their mower or yours. This will lift his/her spirits plus make that yard look nice amongst the others.

• Do you have a bounty of vegetables from your garden? Sometimes we plant more than we could possibly use. Share with your neighbors.
• If you put up preserves or make jam or other goodies with your produce, give some to another person.
• When it's swelteringly hot, leave bowls of water out for animals, not only for the wild things but for dogs who might stop by as they go for walks. Note: Some dogs do not like ice cubes, some do.

• Take some time to water the flowers and plants outside. Pull off dead blooms, too.
• Remember to water the trees, too.
• Feed the birds: Here are simple bird feeders to make:

Here is a recipe to make your own bird food: https://www.savvyhomemade.com/making-homemade-bird-food/

• Food shelves operate year-round. Often, people donate around the fall/winter holidays but never again. You could make a donation a monthly thing. Some grocery stores have a bin for donations all the time. When there's an opportunity to simply leave a bag for the mail carrier to pick up, do it. 
• When you donate, don't forget kids having birthdays: Birthday cake mix, frosting, and candles may not seem essential, but a birthday cake means so much when you are a child.  
• Some police and fire stations appreciate donations of stuffed animals or little cars that they can give to frightened kids: if the police come to a house for a domestic violence incident, or people have a house fire, it's pretty stressful for the little ones. Ask at your local station about it. 

• Try to be more patient when you see (or hear) a crabby child. The parent is probably stressed out as it is, so having others judge and become exasperated doesn't help. If you've been there, a smile and a "hang in there" can be so supportive.  
• You can donate new or gently used bikes to kids in need here  http://fb4k.org/home/  

• Do you know how to fish? Lots of kids have never been fishing. You can teach a kid (or an adult) how, and have fun doing it. You might put this on your calendar for next May, the Kids Fishing Clinic at the Coon Rapids Dam park:  https://www.exploreminnesota.com/events/26474/kids-fishing-clinic  (explore all the other adventures available as well)
• Leave some change in a vending machine so the next person doesn't have to pay. 
• Help someone bag their groceries, or help get it into their car.
• Pick flowers from your garden and give them to random people.

• Write a thank you note to someone, not necessarily for a gift someone bought and gave you, but because this person means something to you. It doesn't have to be long or flowery. Send it in the mail or drop it off in person, or leave it tucked in the door.
• Donate some books to the nearest Little Free Library.  

• Go for a walk, or visit a park, lake, river, or creek, and clean up some garbage left by others.
• Is your hair long enough to donate to Locks of Love? They need 10" to make a wig for a child who's lost hair due to cancer treatment or alopecia: https://locksoflove.org/
• Everybody likes cookies and donuts. Make or buy some and give them out, somewhere random or in a business or care home.
• Participate in the annual Neighborhood Night Out, this year on August 6. Meet neighbors, enjoy great food you share, see if there are concerns you can all work on. It is kind to be friendly.