Celebrate Summer with Guerilla Kindness!
Celebrate this almost-back-to-normal summer by savoring our togetherness and bringing a little joy to others. Choose one of the simple projects below to have some creative fun, while contributing to a community culture of encouragement and compassion. You never know how far these simple ripples of kindness will travel.
– Jenny Friedman, Executive Director
ACTION
Young artists will love the opportunity to share their creations – and spread cheer at the same time. Here’s how you can add a little fun to your community:
Envelopes of Fun. Fill an envelope with fun stuff (stickers, pressed flowers, a tiny homemade magazine, pieces of ribbon), and leave the treasures on a park bench or on a neighbor’s front porch.
Clothespin Art. Draw and cut out a fun shape (animal, peace symbol, etc.) from cardstock and glue it to a clothespin. Hook the clothespin somewhere for a stranger to find.
Origami Hearts. Fold origami hearts using this simple instructional video. Then leave them in public nooks and crannies.
Tear-Off Posters. Decorate one of these creative, free tear-off posters and place on a public message board.
Sidewalk Chalking. Grab some chalk and leave cheerful images, uplifting sayings, or poetry along a public walkway.
Painted Stones. Paint symbols of hope and inspiring words on smooth stones and leave them in a park for others to find.
Car Window Poetry. Print these simple cards and share messages of kindness in public parking lots.
Bookish Kindness. Leave homemade bookmarks or fun notes in the library books you return for the next patron to find. Or insert them into the books in your neighborhood Little Free Library.
Guerilla Gratitude. Sharing appreciation with community helpers is both fun and rewarding, whether it’s your delivery driver, garbage collector, mail carrier, store clerk, or bus driver. Consider adding notes of gratitude to packaged treats or homemade baked goods.
Shoe Stories. Write uplifting notes on paper strips and hide them in the shoes on display at your local Target, Walmart, or other store.
TALK
While you’re creating and spreading joy, have a conversation:
Have you ever found a message of kindness (like a kindness rock or sidewalk chalk drawing) in an unexpected spot? How did it make you feel?
Where in our community could people use some messages of good cheer?
Can you name other safe and simple ways we could share kindness with a stranger?
How would it change the world if everyone made a habit of sharing kindness messages?
READ
Choose a title from this growing list of picture books about everyday acts of kindness.
INSPIRATION
No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.
—Aesop