Tales Of A Fourth Generation Textile Executive: The Beauty Of Random Acts Of Kindness
One of the companies (The Blank Quilting Corp.) under the Jaftex umbrella is having a challenge. Hopefully you know all about it already, but if not, please check out this link. Since the challenge relates to honoring troops that died in the line of duty, the America’s Mighty Warriors charity was selected as the recipient of all donations.
After contacting the charity, I learned that Marc Allen Lee was the first Navy SEAL killed in Iraq defending his teammates. He received several amazing awards for his heroism. Marc’s Mother, Debbie Lee, founded America’s Mighty Warriors to honor her son. Long story short, Marc wrote this amazing letter to his mom which I am going to quote below:
“Our country is a great country, don’t get me wrong on this, otherwise none of us would be living there. My point of this is how can we come over here and help a less than fortunate country without holding contempt or hate towards them if we can’t do it in our country. I try to do my part over here, but the truth is over there, United States, I do nothing but take.
Ask yourself when was the last time you donated clothes that you hadn’t worn out. When was the last time you paid for a random stranger’s cup of coffee, meal or maybe even a tank of gas? When was the last time you helped a person with the groceries into or out of their car? Think to yourself and wonder what it would feel like if when the bill for the meal came and you were told it was already paid for. More random acts of kindness like this would change our country and our reputation as a country.”
I love the idea of random acts of kindness (RAOK) and I can’t agree more with Marc’s amazing words. It reminds me of that movie Pay It Forward. So since my blog subjects have whittled down in to the summer, I am going to create my own random acts of kindness. You see this picture below? I need to make these disappear because they are cluttering up my office.
In my office is this pile of lovely precuts. In an effort to bless some people with some random acts of kindness, this is what I need you to do. First you need to comment on this blog and let me know that you will be emailing me a RAOK request. Next email me at scott@jaftex.com and give me the name, address (US only) and phone number of someone (no family members) that you think could use a random act of kindness of fabric. Finally, provide me with one or two sentences as to why they could use a random act of kindness. I will review all the submissions and start sending out precuts to those that I think deserve it. I will let them know that you chose them. Thank you. Let the randomness begin.
I am a pretty trusting guy (unfortunately), but I trust that you will be honest with yourself when selecting who should get the RAOK. In other words, please don’t submit your own name or try to be sneaky to get this for yourself or a family member. The beauty of this is the RAOK and you want the recipient to know that you are thinking of them and they could use a RAOK from me. We all could use a RAOK. With that, how about you performing some random act of kindness too? You will most likely make the recipients day and feel really good about yourself too!
Just a little something to think about!
Have a great week.
Signing Off,
RAOK Scott
12 Comments
Sheila Ivany
Wish this was available in Canada. I am from Fort McMurray where appropriately ninety thousand were evacuated due to a wild fire on May 3rd, 2016. You may have heard about it via TV or other social media. Many people have been affected by this . The generosity has been overwhelming. I do know many quilters across Canada have been making quilts. As a quilter, who is addicted to this hobby; I would some quilters like to return to this relaxing hobby to release stressful time. Some lost their stash & all other related quilting needs (sewing machine, rulers, rotary cutters etc.) . Do you know of quilting or textile companies doing this in Canada . What a great idea .
Sheryl
What a wonderful idea! I have the perfect recipient. Thank you for this opportunity to make my mom’s day.
Kelly Smith
I’ll be emailing you. Thanks to Pepper Cory for putting this on Facebook!
JoAn GODFREY
sending you an email…. WONDERFUL SURPRISE FOR THE LUCKY ONES!!
Jean Condon
Raok feels so good and a raofk (the f is for fabric of course) is the best of all. I’ll be sending you an email.
Mann Brown
What a great idea! I will be emailing you soon! I know just the person who would benefit from a RAOK right about now.
Helen
Hi Scott
What a kind idea to “pay it forward”. I will be emailing you with details of the person I think is deserving of a RAOK
Sue
This is lovely. I will be emailing you an ROAK request.
Penny Prichard
Scott, what a wonderful thing you are doing. I will be emailing you about the Quilt House in North Carolina. An amazing place.
Carol
What a lovely idea! I will be emailing you the name and address of a person that I feel could use a RAOK.
Sandy A
Hi Scott!
What a wonderful idea! I will be emailing you a RAOK!
Joanne Hubbard
What a wonderful idea! I LOVE doing things like this and have a few names I could give you. Thanks for continuing to write the blog even though your numbers have dropped lately. I look forward to these posts, even if I don’t comment. 🙂
Have a great week!