Establishing Your Kindness and Giving Circle

Your Kindness and Giving Circle can be organized with any or all of your existing affiliations:

1. Church, Synagogue, Place of Worship
2. School, College, University
3. Sports Associations
4. Youth Groups
5. Company / Employees
6. Business Partners, Clients, Colleagues and Suppliers
7. Friends and Family
8. Community Service Organizations (Rotary, Lions, Junior League …)
9. Business Networking Groups and Associations (Chambers of Commerce, Boards of Trade, BIA …)
10. Your neighbourhood

Choosing Your Focus

1. An organization or cause you currently support
2. A grassroots organization in your community that receives little support   
3. Adopt a special needs family or residents in a group home  

Taking Inventory

Source the “Decision Maker” of your chosen cause and share your desire to support. Request a Wish List of what they would value most and a guide of timelines. Upon review, prioritize each aspect of the Wish List and decide what is most realistic for your circle to embrace.                  

Once you have established the focus for your Kindness and Giving Circle and have been given direction from the “Decision Maker”, divide your sphere of influence into the following three categories and invite their participation to ensure success:  
 

1.Time

2.Talent

3.Tangible Goods

Helpful Hints

1. Visit www.actsofkindness.org  for an encyclopedia of ideas and a planning guide for your success, including lesson plans for children of all ages to understand the meaning and significance of kindness.
2. Organize - the distribution of flyers, collection, inventory and gifting of donations.
3. Simple projects with profound results are most gratifying when you involve your family, your friends, your neighbourhood, your company and employees … likeminded hearts and mind

Examples

1. Drives – food, household, personal care products, clothing, toys, magazines.
2. Collect - books, videos, audio tapes, CD’s and create an “Acts of Kindness” Library.
3. Fundraising Walks - for your organization or cause, or participate in currently organized events.
4. Neighbourhood - clean up, aid a neighbour, paint a fence, small repairs, lawn care or a engage your neighbours in a garage sale or fun-d-raising BBQ.
5. Organize events for “your organization” – movie day, ladies spa day, craft and games day, invite children to make cards and gifts for residents for special occasions and holidays. 
6. Bake Goods – as a family, or as a group and deliver to your organization, hospital patients …   

These are just a few simple examples of what a committed group of people can do.
Most importantly, you are leading by example, attracting likeminded hearts and minds to do the same and expanding your circle of friends and influence, which will truly have an impact on the community in which you live.