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Shauna Groenewold
After covering the tragedy in Newtown, Conn., NBC News’ Ann Curry wondered what could be done to ease the national suffering over the loss of 26 children and teachers at Sandy Hook Elementary. Why not, she tweeted, commit to doing one act of kindness for every child killed there? People responded – and wanted to up that to 26 acts of kindness for every child and adult lost at the school. Now people around the country are committing random acts of kindness – connected through the hashtag #26Acts (#20Acts and others are also trending). Get inspired: You can start your own acts of kindness right now.
Shauna Groenewold, the Web administrator for the state Department of Education in Lincoln, Neb., found out about #20 acts on Twitter, where she says she gets most of her news. Not knowing what she could do to help victims of Sandy Hook, it seemed like a great way to spread some good.
“I noticed that Ann Curry offered a challenge for these acts of kindness, and I think everybody feels helpless, and it feels like something you can actually do to make you feel not so helpless,” Groenewold said of wanting to participate in #20acts.
And the gesture Groenewold settled upon was a simple one: Attach a Post-it note with a victim’s name and #20acts to a one-dollar bill and distribute them to various charities.
“I could go around to my local community to the different buckets we have and give a dollar and it would make me think about that one person, even if just for a little bit. My goal is every place I see one, stop and put the dollar in, and focus on something good and not bad,” Groenewold explained.
And like so many people hoping to help any way they can, Groenewold didn’t set out to do her random acts of kindness in the hopes of getting any recognition. “I don’t know if the people who count the money will notice it (the Post-It) but it was kind of more for me. The money will help them some, but it was more for me to take a moment and think about every individual person that was a victim.”
Already, Groenewold’s kindness is paying off, and spreading smiles at a time when it’s been tough to find things to smile about.
“I put a dollar in a bucket last night, and I thought I’d be really sad, but I was happy,” she said. “The guy who was the ringer at the bucket said to me, ‘You have the most beautiful Christmas smile!’ I thought I could tell him what I was doing –I didn’t. But I’ve never had anyone react to me putting a dollar in a bucket before like that. So it’s already been a cool experience.”
Related stories:
#26Acts of kindness you can do right now
Inspired to act: #26Acts of kindness to honor those lost in Newtown, Conn.
There are many questions about Friday's shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, but one being asked by just about everyone is how to best honor the victims. In Newtown and across the country, random acts of kindness are being performed in the memory of each person lost. NBC's Andrea Canning reports.
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Leave a Comment:
One simple genuine act of kindness is worth more than all the countless good intentions which never bear fruit. From the terrible hatred and tragedy of Sandy Hook, is flowing the love of human kindness.
Bryncft is posting this message on all the boards. It's advertising.
I particularly like the post-it-note. Sort of a "message in a bottle" kind of thing. Pay it forward and pass it on. Have faith ya'll.
One more thought... The Salvation Army's kettles are a fine place to share this simple but wonderful idea. The kettles are everywhere and the bell-ringer's welcome a smile, a moment of your time and the token of goodwill that a dollar represents. They too are most often down on their luck and this is the equivalent of a holiday job for them. I slip a dollar in every kettle I pass, every day, no matter how I come across during the day. The brief human moment of "hello, thank you, and Merry Christmas" is as valuable as the money. And over the course of the holiday season, that fifty or one hundred dollars accompanies dozens of smiles.
My thanks to Shauna in Lincoln for a lovely idea. Merry Christmas Shauna, god bless.
Every bit helps, and it all adds up. I'll be doing my part. Thanks.
I hope that, at some point, I'll be able to contribute to a permanent memorial to the 26; I can't imagine that there wouldn't be one. Another thing I'm considering is giving books to the SHES library. Books are a big thing for me, but it's been awhile since I've read any K-4 books. So, I don't have any good ideas right now, but I've at least got the time to do the research. Anyway, I hope I can think things out as well as little Jessica Rekos.
Beginning research...
SHES does have a web site and they do have a library. FYI, there is a Sandy Hook Support Fund with a page available through a link on the SHES web site's News & Announcements page. Link: SHES News & Announcements
MelJM....this is a WONDERFUL idea!!!! I am a teacher and can tell you that there are many teachers (especially new teachers & K teachers) who do not have enough books for their classroom libraries. I know you meant for the school library and that is a wonderful idea too!! Some great book suggestions for you are: (1) The Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman; (2) I'll Love You Forever (I apologize for I cannot remember the author); (3) Where the Red Fern Grows, by Wilson Rawls; (3) Diffindorfer Day, by Dr. Seuss to name just a few. Again, this is a FABULOUS idea. I hope you and many other people do this!!! In kind regards.
drjill,
Thanks for the reply. It gives me some confidence that I'm on the rails and that something might come of this idea.
I found the SHES website, the pages for the library, and lthe library contact names. The library also handles a poetry magazine, "Eagles," for student submissions (K-4 poetry!). This evening, I sent an email to one of the contact people telling her what I had in mind and what topics I was qualified to research at amazon books. I said I'd also be happy to consider a money donation to the "Eagles" or...if they had a needs-list they'd prefer I select from, I would do that. The library also contains resource books for the teachers; that would be okay too, but I didn't specifically mention it.
I asked if what I was considering was feasible and, at the same time, not more trouble for them than it was worth. I should have mentioned that I would certainly ask for their approval before having any books shipped. If I hear from them, I'll mention that classroom libraries would be okay too.
I'll have to figure out just what these kids can handle. Some seem far more advanced than I was in the 1st grade. Little Jessica Rekos, in particular, caught my attention. Her parents said that "she carefully thought things out and planned everything." "She had an answer for everything, didn't miss a trick, and outsmarted us every time." They called her their "little CEO." I think she would have been a real leader and, no matter what field she entered, would have made the world a better place. I hold "thinking things out" as a moral virtue, so I'll never forget this remarkable child.
Thanks for the suggestions; I'll look into them. I'm far more qualified to select science and computing books though -- maybe big books of photos too. The library has a nice program for teaching kids how to do online searches. (I'm mulling the idea that picture books have gotten a bad rap; after all, firsthand concepts and knowledge begins with what we see.)
This is such a terrible tragedy! My heart breaks for all of those innocent victims and their families! We need to wake up as a country and take care of each other Pay it forward!
This is karma on so many levels. I will be getting started soon with this. Love the post it note idea too. The names do make it a more powerful message.
Acts of kindness should be done every day of the year, and not just after a horrific tragedy like Sandy Hook.
My family and I have tried to do little things when we can, from buying clothing and supplies for the victims of Superstorm Sandy who are living in the shelters, to paying a friend's outstanding bill, to giving money to people we hardly know so they can get back on their feet after a hardship. We know we have been blessed and are truly grateful. You never know when bad times are going to hit you, so you help when you can, year-round.
Good Grief 593798 I have been doing the same thing. I check out different states craigslist.org "general section" and respond to a need or make a suggestion of where to find help. Sometime you may run across a scam. I just don't give out any of my financial /personal info. I have sent toys to families in South Carolina, Illinois, W. Virginia. I also sent some hygiene items to a young lady in NY.
www.modestneeds.org
www.2hands.org
This is a fine idea, as is a memorial to those lost. However, it saddens me when I read all these stories about "the 26" lost. It seems his first victim is being forgotten. Let us remember.... he killed his own Mother first! I think we would do well to remember the "27".
These guys help people 24/7 365 days a year. Many who have nothing but the clothes on their back. They have helped countless mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, men and women get back on their feet.
This is truly an oasis in skid row. There is a new miracle every minute at this place.
http://www.midnightmission.org/frontstory1.asp
This place helps the people most in need in Los Angeles. It is a wonderful organization that houses and feeds and trains people to get back on their feet and become self supporting though their own contributions.
They do this 24/7 365 days a week. They could use your help.
http://www.midnightmission.org/frontstory1.asp
sorry i wish i could this year...but won't happen...i have been beaten down all year...got no help...so start new year on the street...
For other ideas a WONDERFUL site is They also have free things (like book marks, etc) for teachers and educators. Enjoy!!
Note how they leave the shooter's mom out of the count, as if she were not a victim. They hate anything to do with the mentally ill shooter.
I agree! It's made me cringe - like when those football players with the #26 jerseys came together before a game ... I keep thinking - there were 27 victims! I guess it's difficult to add the mother in to the number murdered that day, since we as a country aren't quite sure what to think about her role in the events? So sad ...
For years, I've been putting a dollar in every Salvation Army kettle or other charitable collection I've seen. Suddenly this kind of thing is news? Curious as to how you all found out about this -- a little self-promotion by Ms. Groenewald, perhaps? This is nice, but it beats me how it's news.
I was thinking along those lines myself. Just maybe though, this will carry on through the Holidays and become the norm rather than the exception. People thinking more about what they can do to give back rather than what they can get. We had a president who made a speech about this very thing. Remember? The " Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country" speech.
yesterday I sent flowers to Honan's Funeral Home in NewTown. I love the kettles. I was at Walmart and put $5 in the kettle and the guy wouldn't let me leave - kept singing Christmas carols to me. LOL Oh well. I wasn't in too much of a hurry. Don't go to Target during the Christmas season - they don't allow the bell ringers.
Its wonderful to do something for people when a tragedy happens. Its more difficult to be disciplined and give something to people every week during the year. I have a handicapped wife and a Blind son, I find joy in watching how they manage on a daily basis and continue to smile and laugh. So I look at every opportunity I get to dop something unexpected. If you tink this way those chances will present them selves every day. It doesnt have to be much just the act sometimes is enough. Dont wait for tragedy buy a new mother some diapers or forumla......get a kid a coat or glove when your out shopping. You dont have to be rich money wise, but you will be rich in the feelings this returns to you. This is not about politics its about humanity!
Things to do: Pay for someone's lunch without them knowing. Pay the toll for the car behind you. Write a note of kindness to anyone and stick it on their windshield. Send your dentist, doctor, (even a lawyer), a greeting card of some sort, and tell them how you have appreciated them. Hug your kids, spouse and/or parent. During the coming days, write down something good that has happened or you have done, just a note, and put it in a mason jar. At the end of the year, share the good news with your loved ones. Donate to a charity. Wrap a present to someone in a nursing home, vet's home, a children's hospital, etc. Sew a decorative pillow case(s) for children in a cancer ward. Donate to your school's library, scouts and/or 4-H. There's so much more to do, but we can make a difference.
Here's another one: Most of us have stacks of greetings cards around the house. You can only write so many thank you notes. I use up some of mine by writing a pleasant greeting to some/any person to the tune of "Hi, I'm having a very good day, and I'm happy. Let me spread some happiness and cheer to you, as well. Have a wonderful day. Zapper45701" (or something of the like.) Then, when I'm at the grocery store, when no one is looking, I drop one in the harried mother's cart, the busy teen mom's basket, the frugal college student's purchases, etc. Sometimes, I'll put a couple of bucks in one, just because I can, but it's not necessary. It's an act of kindness that might brighten someone just enough to make the difference for their whole day.
Not that I eat out that often, and since it's just me usually, I frequently overtip, even just for marginal service. (If it's bad service, I don't but that's a whole other ballgame.) Sometimes, I'll leave the waitperson one of my greeting cards, too. Again, it's not much, but it doesn't need to be. It really is the thought that counts.
The articles on this hit me hard as we had something similar happen to us here except one of the victims happened to be my exbf and best friend in the whole world. I just wanted to let y'all know the acts of kindness are even happening here in small towns in Wyoming. I feel like crying right now because a customer I helped with a place to stay warm in the lobby of our motel after his check out waiting for his car repairs, just gave me a $20.00 cash tip to "help with my Christmas car repairs" because i just had to get another vehicle as my previous one is going to cost more than another car to get fixed. Thank you and God Bless anyone and everyone helping people in honor of this horrible incident and so close to Christmas. I hope and pray that all of the victims may R.I.P. and all the injured ones and victims involved and their families may heal their physical and emotional injuries soon. May God bless you all!
My heart goes out to all the victims and their families, not only the ones that are now deceased far too soon before their time, because this is hard for the whole community. This happened to my best friend not long ago, here in my town and it hit the news for a couple days and it was over with. It hits hard. I just wanted to let y'all know the random acts of kindess are happening here in Wyoming also. I just got a $20 cash tip for just doing my job by a customer. God Bless you all and keep Paying it Forward. It truly does make our days and lives a little less painful.
On December 4th a powerful typhoon struck the island of Mindanao. The human toll has been unimaginable. I have friends in the town of Baganga that are in urgent need of help along with many others in this community. The hospital still has no roof two weeks after the storm with only one doctor on staff. I have been shuttling supplies to this town since the storm hit and will be making another trip this weekend. The situation is very dire. For more information, videos, and pictures please visit my Facebook page. If everyone reading this could send $1 it could go a very long way in rebuilding and saving lives. Thank you!
Never mind random acts of kindness, that make us feel like we're doing something, but we're doing very little to make a difference. We need to really work on funding mental health which has been defunded for 3 decades. Did we learn anything from all the mass shooting? Especially sandy hook? De-funding mental heath services certainly lowers taxes. Shame shame on us greedy people for lowering our taxes at the cost of many lives. Have we finally learned? Please stop wasting our time and money on random acts and work to refund mental health!!! Those kids and teachers didn't have it coming. Oh well our taxes were lowered by defunding mental health services.
We can really make a difference by funding mental health centers and community mental health..