The annual Macaroni Kid Act of Kindness projects are some of our favorite events as publishers each year! In 2019, Macaroni Kid Act of Kindness Week (#MKAOKWEEK) is Sept. 28 through Oct. 5.
Macaroni Kid publishers all over the country and in Canada will be participating, and we’re inviting you to join in the fun too! To help your family get started, we've put together a list of how 10 of our publishers made a big difference in their communities during Macaroni Kid Act of Kindness events in 2018:
1. A nursing home visit
Jennifer Ercoli, the Macaroni Kid publisher in Lafayette, La., visited her nursing home with friends and Macaroni Kid readers in 2018.
"Everyone either brought a treat, game, or craft to share with the nursing home residents. We found that the majority of the residents really loved to paint and painting with little kids made everyone smile. Almost no one said no to sweets with sweet tea! My husband began a game of Scrabble with my 10-year-old son and three residents and the competition that arose was hilarious. They all wanted to win badly," she said. "It was truly a rewarding afternoon. A lot of the residents do not have regular visitors and children can make anyone happy."
2. A neighborhood or park cleanup
Grab a trash bag and head out to play! On your way, send your kids on a scavenger hunt for trash. Who can find the most interesting object? How many cigarette butts did they collect?
3. Start a pay-it-forward chain at your local coffee shop
This one is extra easy! Get your morning coffee and pay for the person behind you. Win for everyone!
4. Donate new sheets or towels to a local homeless shelter
Cynthia Yapp, the publisher of Macaroni Kid SW Miami-Kendall & Miami East undertook this project in 2018.
"I’ve become aware of the incredible number of families in the community who are barely making ends meet. Some working 2 or 3 jobs and still not making it, some without jobs, and others homeless," she said. "A heartbreaking situation."
5. Hold the door for the person behind you and say hello
A simple but thoughtful gesture that lets the person behind you know that you see them.
6. Donate toys
This is a great way to get kids involved. Talk to them about how their unused toy can make a big difference in another child's life.
7. Make homemade cards and drop off treats to your local police and fire departments
This is the project I'm working on in my local Anne Arundel County, Maryland, community. This will be our fourth year of making cards for our local firefighters and police officers.I’m amazed by how touched our first responders are each year. I have big, burly officers who get down on the ground to receive cards and gifts from the little kids that look up to these heroes.
8. Create a birthday kit and take to a homeless shelter
Birthday parties can be a luxury many of us take for granted. Create a birthday kit bag with decorations, cake mix, icing, candles, and maybe even a little gift to drop off to a local homeless shelter to help make someone who is having a hard time have a memorable birthday.
9. Tell the principal how great your child's teacher is
Our teachers work hard day in and day out for our kids, often with little recognition. Make sure they -- and their superiors -- know how much you appreciate them.
10. Spread random acts of kindness throughout the day
Julie Dikken, the publisher of Macaroni Kid Evergreen, Bailey, and Conifer and Arvada-Wheat Ridge-Golden, Colo., says she scattered acts of kindness throughout her community to celebrate the Macaroni Kid Act of Kindness initiative in 2018.
"I did little things throughout the day. I bought several $5 Starbucks gift cards, then had the baristas hard them out randomly throughout the day," she says. "I also brought a small trash bag to pick up trash on a hike and brought home flowers for my daughter and beer for my husband. Just little random things throughout the day. It was fun!"
Whether you spread kindness in big ways or small, it makes a difference! Let us know how you spread kindness in your community during Macaroni Kid Act of Kindness week Sept. 28 to Oct. 5 by tagging #MKAOKWeek on social media.
Katy Agro Myers is the publisher of Macaroni Kid Pasadena-Severna Park, Md.
