Two Cups of Kindness and a Pinch of Caring

We all know someone who is in their "golden years". It may be a neighbor ... a member of our church ... a friend ... a relative. Perhaps it is someone you don't know very well but know they don't get out much or have very many visitors. How many times do you think ... I should stop by to see how they are doing or just to say "hello"? If you are like most people, it happens alot but usually no time is taken to actually put the thought into action. We all have busy lives ... getting the kids off to school or to soccer practice ... fixing that leaking gutter on the house ... meeting up with friends for a bite to eat at the local restaurant. We accomplish many things on a daily basis in our lives at a fast pace yet sometimes we forget to slow down and look at the people who surround us who might not be as mobile as we are and would very much enjoy a kind word, a thoughtful wave, a caring gesture or a short visit. So, it was with this in mind that Therese and I put our baking abilities to work and made up a few muffin and brownie plates to take to some of her elderly neighbors.

Oddly, Therese and I did not plan to engage in this kind of activity this month for our blog. Instead, we had scheduled to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and "deconstruct" the Tomahawk Hills Country Club and salvage usable items for their ReStore store (http://www.restorekc.org/portal/page/portal/ReStore). Unfortunately, by the time it came around for us to go, they had enough volunteers to complete the task in a shorter time than expected. Because of this, we had Plan B, to volunteer in the Kansas City WildLands Ecological Restoration Workday through Bridging the Gap (http://www.bridgingthegap.org/). But, due to the snow we received during the week, this project fell through as well. So, perhaps it was meant to be that we ended up baking goodies for some elderly people who do not get out very much and do not have very many visitors.

We started out baking some delicious brownies that were cut into bite-size pieces. Then, it was on to the muffins ... Cranberry-Orange Nut muffins and Banana muffins. Needless to say, we "sampled" the muffins so that we would make sure that they were tasty enough for them to eat.


The time it took to make the muffins was minimal yet the rewards of making them and the reason for making them were far greater. Today, some unsuspecting elderly people were shown through a simple plate of brownies and muffins that someone was thinking about them and cared. We will probably never really know the impact it had on these individuals but we do have some idea even as we delivered the goodies to them in the pouring rain.

 

If you can read a book, you can read a recipe. If you can sit down to watch a half hour of tv, you can spend the time to sit down with an elderly person and have a thoughtful conversation with them. If you can pick up your newspaper in your driveway in the morning, perhaps you have time to pick up your elderly neighbors and place it on their porch. It is the little things that we can do that will make big differences in other people's lives.

So, what will you do this week? this weekend? this month? Why not stop by one of your elderly neighbors or relatives some time and show them that you care and are thinking of them?

And, for those of you who did not catch our posting at the beginning of the month, be sure to read "Warming the Hearts" our plea for collecting homemade hats, mittens, scarves and lap quilts to be given to organizations that provide the outreach to those in need.

What is your recipe for kindness and giving of your time?

Warming the Hearts

Shoveling the snow that has fallen this winter has made us even more aware of the gifts that we have to share with those who are not able to manage the piles of snow on their own. Many hours were spent clearing off drives and walks for our elderly neighbors this last month. It's fun to be outside in the cold crisp air getting our exercise while pushing the shovel! Right? Well I have to admit that much of it was done with the blower but none the less given the number of homes to take care of it was quite a chore. Even though some of the days were bitter cold we were able to deal with it by having the proper outside gear and a home to warm up in when it's too cold to bear.

Many are not as lucky to have the home or the proper gear and spend their days and nights outside. Imagine spending the night out in the weather we've had in the last month. That is why we are going to do a special drive this year to collect handmade items to be given to those in most need.

Here's how it will work. We are making a plea to be passed around the nation to knitting guilds, sewing circles and crochet enthusiasts. We are collecting homemade hats, mittens, scarves, and lap quilts to be given to organizations that provide the outreach to those in need. OK for you over achievers that might possibly have some afghans laying around because you've already given one to family and friends, feel free to pass them on as well.

I had someone from work on medical leave and she came back with a bag of scarves and hats she made during her recoup time. That was just through a casual conversation. Just think what you could do when you invite someone to participate.

Feel free to pass on this blog site to others to explain this drive or people can email Therese directly at n2nature@everestkc.net with the Warming the Hearts in the subject line. We would also love to hear your stories so pass them on.

Are you ready to warm the hearts of others?