Experts agree that doing something kind for others is a key to happiness. In fact, it’s suggested that every single day we should all try to do at least one kind thing for someone else. We love this. And, we love that Macaroni Kid has created MK AOK Day (Macaroni Kid Act of Kindness Day) on Sept 19th to encourage acts of kindness all over the country.
This is the perfect chance to model kindness for your kids. You can support a local non-profit, express appreciation, or give to those in need. Really the name says it all, MK Act of Kindness Day - big or small, grand or subtle.
This is the perfect chance to model kindness for your kids. You can support a local non-profit, express appreciation, or give to those in need. Really the name says it all, MK Act of Kindness Day - big or small, grand or subtle.
You're excited by this idea, right? Now, how about a little inspiration? {and these are just a few ideas}
Shop a Garage Sale to support Seattle Children's Hospital. You'll find the Mount Si Med Squad Guild at 6703 Azalea Way SE in Snoqualmie from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm on September 18-19.
Give blood in honor of Scout, the 4 year old local girl who battled and beat an E. coli infection. There will be two blood mobiles at Central Park in Issaquah Highlands from 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm on September 20. Appointments are recommended (but not required); use this link to register.
Set aside an hour on Friday evening or Saturday morning to go through closets and drawers. Donate clothing, diapers, formula, and other needed items to Eastside Baby Corner. Donations are accepted Saturday morning from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. Or you can drop off at Issaquah Highlands Self-Storage from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, seven days a week.
Go through your pantry to gather donations for Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank, Fall City Food Pantry, Mount Si Food Bank, or Snoqualmie Valley Food Bank. September is Month of Concern Food Drive, and volunteers will be at local supermarkets to collect donations on September 19 and 26, and October 10. Here's a link to the most needed items.
Prepare and deliver a meal or cookies to a local fire department. Have a card-making party and deliver them to those living in assisted living or recovering at the hospital. Ask a neighbor if you can help with yard work.
Find out more about Birthday Dreams and volunteer to deliver a cake or host a party supply drive.
Support the local families behind these wonderful non-profits - even a kind message on their Facebook page would mean a lot:
- RAREevents - organizing community events to benefit the Rare Disease Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome
- Pediatric Stroke Warriors - building community awareness for pediatric stroke and hope for impacted children and families in the Pacific Northwest
- Strollin' to Fight SIDS - raising money for the CJ Foundation for SIDS and SIDS research, to help prevent this tragedy from ever occurring to another mother.
- CDH Warriors of the Pacific Northwest - making donations to support CDH(Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia) Research.
- Project Grace Guild, Hope on the Hill Guild, Clare Beckett Guild, and others - raising money to help make a positive difference in the lives of children and their families treated at Seattle Children’s Hospital
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, which makes it the perfect time to support the Ben Towne Foundation with a garage sale or coin drive, host a Cookies for Kids Cancer bake sale or an Alex's Lemonade Stand. You could also participate in Alex's Million Mile Run.Walk.Ride.
You can also find a lot more ideas on our MK Act of Kindness Day Pinterest Board.
All that's left is the motivation! Talk to your spouse, your kids, their grandparents, your neighbors and friends to create a network of support. You can do this! We can do this! Let's make a difference all over Snoqualmie Valley!
Please share your AOK stories and photos with us! Use the hashtag #MKAOK and/or post to our Facebook Event Page. Together we can make a difference in our communities, and most importantly, we will impress upon our children the importance of kindness, compassion, and volunteering.
