Adventures of Dragons and Elephants: 2011 My Kindness Project for the International Kindness Project Day

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

Wednesday, 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.

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.

When I found out the MISS Foundation was going to start the International Kindness Project Day for July 27th, I knew immediately what project I wanted to do. I've technically been planning this for years now. As a Bereaved Parent, we lost the future we saw with Jack. We pictured him starting Kindergarten, riding a bike, swimming, playing soccer or baseball or basketball or maybe even football, but definitely Frisbee golf! Starting Middle School, High School, first dates, falling in love, Graduation, College, getting Engaged and eventually Married. A few months after Jack died, I decided when he's 5th birthday arrives I wanted to donate 5 Backpacks filled with supplies to 5 kids starting kindergarten that might not be able to afford them.

Due to our current situation, we can't afford 5 backpacks filled with supplies, but we can afford One. That One will be picked out just as if it were for Jack and will will fill it with all the supplies and maybe some extras. I will photograph and Vlog the entire project to share with everyone!

The other 4 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 5th Birthday coming in August? If you don't want to buy the items and ship them to me because of the shipping cost, you can DONATE to my PayPal and I will photograph what your money purchased!

Kindergarten Supply List

1 Backpack, large enough to hold a 2 pocket folder, no wheels please!

12 #2 Pencils

1 Box of 8 Jumbo Crayons

1 Box of 64 Crayons

3 Glue Sticks

1 Box of Tissues

1 Pink Eraser

1 Box of 8-10 Broad Tip Markers (can be washable)

1 Pair of Fiskar Scissors

1 Pencil Case

1 Wide Ruled Spiral Bound Notebook

3 Pocket Folders

1 Bottle of White/Elmers Glue

1 Personal size Bottle of Hand Sanitizer

Extras:

Colored Tissue Paper

Cotton Balls

Craft Sticks

Paper Plates/Paper Cups

Paper Towels

Card Stock (any color)

Band-Aids

Scotch Tape

Play Doh

Play Ground Balls

Colored Paper

Puzzles

Package Zip Lock bags(snack, sandwich, quart or gallon size)

If you would like to ship supplies to me, email me joeycjohnson@gmail.com and I will provide you with my address and please have everything shipped no later then July 22nd so I receive it on time to deliver them on July 27th!. If you would like to DONATE money for me to purchase the supplies and backpacks, my PayPal DONATE button is on the right of the page and I'll see if I can post one right below or above this post. Or CLICK HERE!

THANK YOU ALL in advance for whatever you are able to do to help me honor Jack for his 5th Birthday!

7/13/11 UPDATE: I've already received 4 donations via PayPal and went on my first shopping trip a few days ago! I will post those photos soon! I've had a few people want to donate and asked how much it would cost for a filled backpack so I priced it out and it ranged between $35-$40. However, I will accept whatever you are willing to donate!

7/17/11 UPDATE: So I've been a little busy shopping for school supplies, here's a sneak peak of the backpacks and supplies I've bought with the donations so far! It's not too late to donate! But I am going on LIVE TV this Wednesday and need to have all 5 complete! So HURRY quick! Thanks again!