2014 International Kindness Project Day

"To help one person is to help the world." -- Joanne Cacciatore

Today, July 27th is International Kindness Project Day started by the MISS Foundation. What is that...You ask? 

It's a Kindness Revolution! Everyone is invited to participate with us, doing simple acts of kindness in the memory of a loved one or if you're lucky enough not to have one, feel free to do it in Jack's name! This is something we as bereaved parents do often in memory of our kids who have died. 

JOIN the KINDNESS Revolution!
My very first Random Act of Kindness was very simple. I went through the Wendy's drive-thru expecting to buy a $5 gift card or certificate but they didn't have them anymore. I had several cars in front of me so I was near the ordering menu for about 15 minutes. I was feeling kind of silly, since this wasn't going as planned. While I sat there with my window down, there was delivery guy hauling food in and out of the back door. He had his son with him, he looked about 4 or 5 years old who was playing around the bushes. When the delivery guy was finished he grabbed his crates and said, "Come on Jack, time to go." I started crying, it was confirmation that Jack was with me and I would do this Act of Kindness no matter how silly or embarrassed I was. When I finally got to the window, I handed the girl a $5 bill and asked her to put my $5 towards the guy's order behind me. She looked at me funny and asked, "What?" I told her that I was doing a Random Act of Kindness in memory of my son Jack and I wanted to donate $5 to the order for the guy behind me in line. She still looked a little confused but took the $5 and the Kindness Card that said, "This Random Act of Kindness...Done in Loving Memory of Jack Kendrick Johnson. As I drove away I saw her hand the card to the man and "explain" what I had done. Driving through the parking lot my tears were blinding me and I had to pull over but I didn't want the guy to follow me so I wiped them away with my shirt and headed home. My heart was so heavy with love for Jack, my tears were full of pain and sorrow, but I felt so good because I knew Jack was with me at that moment. 

Three years ago I started donating "Jackpacks", backpacks filled with school supplies to children in need. The first year I donated 5 backpacks to 5 kindergartners who were living at one of A New Leaf's domestic abuse homeless shelters in Phoenix, AZ. Jack was turning 5 that August and would've started kindergarten.

2011 International Kindness Project Day

Last year to honor Jack's 6th birthday, I donated 6 backpacks filled with supplies to 6 homeless first graders at A New Leaf in Mesa.

2012 International Kindness Project Day

2013 International Kindness Project Day

I donated 7 Jackpacks to Sunset View Elementary school in Provo, UT 

(Jory's old elementary school) http://www.sunset.provo.edu/Site_Home/home.htm

I was only able to do this because of the kindness of our friends and family who made donations. We are still in the same predicament this year, I'm STILL unemployed or rather a Stay At Home Mom(currently) to Jack's little brother Jiraiya Dragon our New Zealand Miracle! I am determined to make this an annual donation for Jack's Birthday and Kindness Day regardless of our situation, we WILL make this work!

So here we go again peeps...

It's Jackpack Time!

So as I said, we can't afford 8 backpacks filled with supplies, but we can afford at least two. One will be picked out just as if it were for Jack and we will fill it with all the supplies and probably some extras. The second will be picked out by Jiraiya, via ME since he's only 8 months old.

The other 6 backpacks is where I NEED YOU! So my dearest Friends and Family....would you be willing to help me with this Kindness project for Kindness Day as well as Jack's 8th Birthday coming August 31? As I did last year I will photograph everything I purchase so you can see what your donations are going towards.

(This was our special Jackpack, picked out and bought as we would have if Jack were here)

Third Grade Supply List

1 Backpack (Found them for $12-$15 at Walmart, any cheaper and they don't last a year.)

12 #2 Pencils

1 Box of 64 Crayons

3 Glue Sticks

1 Box of Tissues

2 Pink Erasers

1 Box of 8-10 Broad Tip Markers 

1 Pair of Fiskar Scissors

1 Pencil Case

1 3 prong binder

1 Wide Ruled Spiral Bound Notebook

3 Pocket Folders

1 Bottle of White/Elmers Glue

1 Personal size Bottle of Hand Sanitizer

Classroom Extras:

PLAIN SPIRAL NOTEBOOK

PLAIN THREE PRONG POCKET FOLDER

LINED FILLER PAPER

BLACK EXPO MARKERS 

PENCIL SLIDER CASE

ZIPLOC BAGGIES (SNACK, SANDWICH, QUART, GALLON SIZES) 

PENCIL TOP ERASERS

CLOROX WIPES

REAM OF WHITE CARD STOCK

REAM OF COLORED CONSTRUCTION PAPER

Normally I'm done with my project on International Kindness Day, but because this year has been CRAZY for us as I'm chasing a mobile 8 month old around 24/7, I'm running behind. I'm starting my Kindness Project today and want to deliver the Jackpacks before school starts for these special 3rd graders which I've read is August 21st for Adams Elementary School in Logan,UT(the elementary school I went to). 

If you would like to DONATE my PayPal DONATE button is on the top right of my blog, another one directly above and below this blog post...just scroll UP or DOWN and click the DONATE button. Or now that we're back in UTAH, I can drive around collecting donations whether that's cash or supplies!

THANK YOU ALL in advance for whatever you are able to do to help me honor Jack for his 8th Birthday!

Thank You Juli and Tara for your donation!

Thank You Donnie and Grace Lyons for your donation!

Thank You Polli Schmutz for the donations your mailing!

Thank You Aunt Nora for the donation you are in the process of making! ;-)

Six months

Happy 6 months Jiraiya Dragon, my love, my heart, my soul. You are my dream come true little man! 
You want nothing more then to be walking, sitting unassisted is so 2 months ago. You tried avocados and hated it. You love to be tickled, anything to make you giggle and you love making us laugh. You cry when we leave the room and smile so big when we return. You love bubbles and how grass feels under your feet. Bath time and diaper changes are like wrestling an alligator! You still hate naps like you're going to miss out on the fun, but you always pass out in my arms as I sing to you. I hope to hold you while you nap as long as I can. Forever is not long enough. I'm so thankful to have you, my magical little #Dragon!