Acts of Kindness: A Wardrobe Full of Compassion

It’s fun to be fashionable, but clothes aren’t the only thing we wear.
Today is a Bloggers Unite day, and the focus is acts of kindness. Join me in adding compassion to our wardrobe this season!

Here’s a runway of model charities that I’ve donated to or volunteered with today or in the past. Try on one of these charities to see if it fits in with your personal wardrobe. Then make a donation and adapt it to your compassion couture!

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital - When kids have cancer or other serious diseases, treating them is very different than treating adults. You don’t simply cut doses in half. Childhood diseases manifest themselves in entirely different ways. Some diseases are specific to childhood. Help St. Jude as they research and treat kids - so that kids can just be - well - KIDS!

Make It Right - This is Brad Pitt’s organization to help rebuild the Lower 9th Ward in New Orleans, Louisiana. These houses come with solar panels for efficient energy and are also built with safety in mind as well. Brad Pitt has had a strong interest in architecture for many years, so this organization is a nice fit with his natural personality. Join Brad in giving people homes in 2008!

Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association (ThyCa) - I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in February of 2003. For the first few months, I felt dazed and confused. But when I joined a support group and started learning about my disease, I was able to make good choices about doctors and treatments. I am so grateful for the genuine support I received from the people I met through ThyCa.

Salvation Army - The Salvation Army serves a variety of needs. From homelessness to addiction to natural disasters, the Savlation Army is dedicated to being there for people in their utmost moment of need.

American Leprosy Mission - Whenever I talk to people about leprosy, I almost always hear, “Leprosy still exists?” Yes, it does and there is a cure! And the cure is so affordable that Warren Buffett or Bill Gates could wipe the disease from the planet if they so choose. Until then, it depends on the rest of us.

ICDI - Integrated Community Development International - ICDI works in the Central African Republic (CAR) taking care of orphans, conducting AIDS prevention programs, helping people start their own businesses and drilling wells so that villages have water.

Donating to charities are the garments in a compassion wardrobe. Now it’s time to accessorize. Let these baubles and bangles fab up your charitable garb.

• Let the other person have the good parking spot.
• When someone drops something, pick it up for them.
• Let others go first.
• Give out compliments generously and sincerely.
• If someone needs help with a heavy item or something out of their reach, lend them a hand.

Compassion and kindness are two things that look great on everybody. Become a trendsetter and wear them everywhere you go!