The RAKs described by some of you:

Helped elderly neighbor install window awnings.

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My mother is a member of your church, who spread the RAK idea to us on a recent visit, as we live in Chandler, Arizona. She asked me to share some of the RAKs that my husband and I have done since she spread this awesome concept on to us. Here in Arizona we are known for hot weather, ocassionally it does get a lil nippy. On a rainy afternoon in January my husband was stopped at a light getting onto the freeway, to go to work after being laid off for 7 months, there stood a man with a sleeveless shirt on and a backpack, his sign read "need help". Seeing that the man looked cold he emptied the pockets of his favorite flannel jacket and handed it to the man. The man said "God will bless you", to which my husband responded, "he already has". This is a great story even if it ended here, but it does not. After work my husband came home and we had to run to Target for some items with our two young sons. He then explained he needed to find another jacket, I of course a little annoyed at this as we were trying to catch up after his unemployed period, asked why. He explained his day and how it felt great to be able to help someone. I then, to say the least, was not so much annoyed after hearing what he had done. So we go to the mens section of the store and hit the all famous "red rack" as my 5 yr old calls them. Low and behold, there on the clearance rack was ONE flannel jacket marked down from 39.99 to 7.99!!! And yes it was his size and yes we were blessed! Thank you to your church for spreading this idea, not only to me but my children as well!

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A very helpful young lady at a local book store admired my necklace. I had some others I had made in the car and came back into the store and surprised her with one. She was speechless and it made my day - it's so easy to make someone happy.

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During my period of unemployment, I helped two friends move and paint and did yard work and dump runs. I donated items they needed--couch, chairs, dishes, etc. I offered my time and help to run errands for them. The joy I received was overwhelming. This inspired me to paint and clean and organize myself. I offered my time, which gave me a special awareness of how precious my time is. My time no job can re-pay.

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I decided to bring back "the wave," -- that little flutter of the hand that people used to give when someone extended them a driving courtesy. These days it doesn't seem to happen often. I make it a point to let a frantically signaling driver safely change lanes in front of me. I avoid blocking driveways near traffic signals so people can more easily pull out onto the street from gas stations or malls. It's always so nice when someone waves in appreciation but if they don't, I just do the waving myself.

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I am new to the city and although I do RAK's often, I thought I would share several of the RAK's that have been "given" me in the 1 week I have been here.

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1. I had the address of the apartment complex and was on the correct street but had not yet found the correct complex. At a stop light, I rolled down my window and asked the lady in the car next to me if she knew where the complex was. She told me I was close to it. She stayed in front of me and as she drove by she put her hand out the window and signaled to me where it was. This was my first experience with ABQ and I thought, "Wow people are so friendly here."

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2. The people at the apt. complex have been great. I've asked for directions to several places and recommendations and I've been given, willingly and pleasantly, some wonderful information to help me get started here.

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3. The first week at my new job I was having a very difficult time finding where I was assigned to park. The shuttle bus driver not only showed me where it was but insisted I follow her to it. She arranged the shuttle stops so that she could take the extra time for me but not put anyone else on delay. She also showed me where to exit the freeway to get to this parking lot. I was really impressed by the friendliness and "going the extra mile" for me, the new kid on the block

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4. Speaking of parking, I have a truck and didn't park it very well in a parking garage one day. I was very close to the driver's door of the car I was next to. I left him a not on his windshield apologizing for being so close. I was expecting a "nasty gram" when I returned to my car but that driver was able to get out of the space and didn't leave a nasty note for me. I was very worried that my car would be damaged by an angry motorist but it didn't happen.

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There are so many more and it is only my first week here. I am finding the people here to be so helpful, friendly, nice and KIND. This is a different expereince from the west coast where I am moving from. Keep it up people of ABQ!!!!! You are making a difference one person at a time.

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An older woman was standing at the light at Lomas & Moon with her cloth shopping bag and a sign that said “Juan Tabo.” It must have been 90 degrees. HOT!! We stopped and gave her a ride to the grocery store. She was grateful and so were we.

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Last night I was open to my step-son and he responded positively! I also spoke candidly to my step-grandson and he was open to it. Yeah!

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A family member pumped gas and cleaned the windshield for a widow lady neighbor of ours. He always does favors for people.

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Pygcastle Manor is a volunteer service organization that I have recently established. I visit senior citizens residences with my guinea pigs on a regular basis and am looking to expand.

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As I drove into the Wild Oats parking lot I saw a young woman (20’s) whose car was missing a wheel and had fallen off the jack. I was dressed up for a date but because she reminded me so much of my daughter, I stopped and helped. Fortunately, there was a tire store nearby so I drove her boy friend to the tire store.

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My son’s friend brought his 3 year old daughter over to my home. I searched through my own kids’ used stuffed animals and gave her a bear.

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A few days ago I was in a restaurant line to be seated—a knot of people were beside me. I let them precede me instead of forcing my way ahead of them.

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I stopped and gave an elderly out-of-town man who was lost a ride. I truly try to do 3 good deeds a day.

I cleaned and sorted my grandson’s clothing from his dresser drawers. I donated the clothing he had outgrown.

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I bought a beaded keychain from the sweetest mentally-challenged lady. She was selling her beaded projects for “1 dollar each or two for 5.” She’s using her proceeds to buy something at Raley’s.

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My co-workers have been having problems dealing with the heat and the stresses of the work place. This Wednesday I put peaches on 16 desks in my office with the following note: Hope your day is just peachy That of course is up to you It’s Wednesday, July 9th, 2003 You won’t get another one of these Make the most of this one.

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At the mall today I walked up to a teen and gave him $5.00.

RAKs from the kids in the youth program

I gave canned food to the homeless.

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I helped my friend clean her room and redecorate it too.

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I made my brother’s bed. Age 9

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I gave my brother a radio from a shipwreck. Age 10

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It would be kind if I were free and not pushed around.

I have been doing RAKs but haven't shared any yet. This one is about an act of kindness I gave to myself! I'm very busy with job, family, etc. and found myself getting irritable and very UNkind. So........I called in sick at work one morning, got a massage, went to a funny movie and finished the day at Marble Slab ice cream. It did wonders and now I'm all filled up again and able to be kind to others.

MAY 2003

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A young man was pulled over to the side of the road looking under the front of his car. I stopped to see if he needed help. He had recently been in an accident and was trying to get to the claims adjuster's office. However, his hood latch was broken and his tie down was not adequate to hold it in place, especially with wind gusts of 55 mph. He needed something to tie it securely. I went home and retrieved some string and went back to help him secure the hood. He was very thankful; I requested that he pay it forward when the situation arose.

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I cleaned, painted and set up an elderly neighbor’s swamp cooler; I changed out a dead bolt for the same neighbor.

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I helped a lady jump-start her dead battery.

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I keep dollar bills in my vehicle visor to give out to the less fortunate who ask for handouts at the interstate off ramps. Lately I’ve been giving them a RAK card along with the dollar bill. It’s interesting to see the looks on their faces as I drive away!

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I live on a busy street where it’s not wise to put your garbage container on the street until morning, just before pickup time. Several of us in the neighborhood put our containers on the curb the night before pickup, and then move them to the street in the morning just before pickup time. I regularly do this for a couple of my neighbors, one of whom hasn’t a clue as to who is doing this for him as I do it at 6:00 a.m., before he is up and about.

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Every day our family writes an e-mail to each branch of the military to let them know we hold them in our thoughts and prayers, and visualize that they are able to return safely, soon, to their loved ones here at home. Using the dearabby.com web site http://anyservicemember.navy.mil/About.html

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A RAK I perform all the time is picking up merchandise from the floor in stores while I'm shopping - particularly when it's in the middle of an isle and would be damaged by foot and cart traffic.

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These are from the kids

Babysitting.

We cleaned up the classroom for two teachers.

February 2003

RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS The Gathering was a wonderful opportunity to tell other churches about our RAK group as well as provide RAKs. The guy from San Diego who needed a ride to a grocery store.

The Rev from Washington who was suffering from indulgence in our good local food and needed something to settle is stomach.

The vegetarian who mentioned she was sick of green salad & the fruit plate, the only veggie items on the hotel menu, so when I packed my lunch the next day I packed her one too.

The woman from Alaska and another from Washington who mentioned they hadn't been out of the hotel or seen our mountains got a ride to Old Town for a walk about and a short drive about to see our mountains.

The guy who forgot his toothbrush and I had just come from my DDS who always gives me a new one so I could just reach into my bag and say "Here ya go."

The Rev. who mentioned she couldn't eat wheat so was being menu challenged and I who have a son who cannot eat wheat so was able to direct her where to go.

The group that wanted a ride to a Health Food store got a Wild Oats run.

Lots of good RAK opportunities!