Guerrilla Kindness (Friends of Ms. Wyatt)
Today at 1:06am
Does $5 make or break you? 10? 20? To some people that amount of money can be food for days or a roof over their heads for the week. Simple, but true…
People still continue to amaze me. It seems that no matter where a person goes, you still can find good, heard working people. Kind people who are more than willing to lend a hand however the best they can. it renews faith in some ways. This is a note about one such person and a way that her legacy continues.
I was lucky enough to meet a very interesting elderly woman in Ohio, Barb Wyatt. Barb was one of these people. Living on a very meager income, she spent most of her life teaching, educating, and just plain lending aid to others in the ways that she was able. Late in her life, Barb was able to befriend a large group of truckers, and was able to educate us in her kind ways.
Barb was able to see nobleness in many people. She was able to explain her version of kindness. "Small things, unknown, can add up to a great deal to someone." She was the inspiration behind "Barb Wyatt Weekends." These events are plain and simple. If she or someone in a small group would learn of a person in immediate need, where a small amount of money would make a huge difference in their life…. a group would mobilize.
Mobilizing meant this. We would be given an address. Nothing more. To that address a group of people would anonymously grab a card, throw a bill in it (denomination was our choice and never disclosed) and mail it anonymously to that address.( Again, it was never anything huge. Maybe a 20. Something that wouldn’t hurt our financial situation. ) That was it. That simple. They never knew who was sending it… and it usually aided a great deal. This didn’t happen very frequently, only in urgent need. May I also add here that doing this really makes you feel that a small contribution is making a huge difference.
That said, Barb has passed some time ago. In honor of her, the "Friends of Barb Wyatt" continue this practice as needed to this day. Sometimes with huge events, but more often than not just doing a simple card and honoring this lady who inspired a great many people to do great things.
A need has been learned. The "Friends" have been called upon because there is an need that has been discovered. I say discovered as they did not ask…. it was found. A situation where a small amount of money or food can make a huge difference in someone’s life.
Please remember that this is done anonymously. No return addresses, just a card and a gift. Anonymous giving was always referred to as guerrilla kindness. Where nobody really knows if you did or didn’t, and no big thanks ever comes. You just trust that it helps. And, in my experience, it does.
I know with Haiti, with all of the worlds frustrations, that one more isn’t really needed. However, I will say this is a direct approach to making a difference.
If you care to send an envelope, please email me and I will gladly send you an address. Its really not too late for Christmas cards! You’ll be amazed at what can happen.
By the way, if mailing a card isn’t your thing… here’s a great way to turn a bad day around. Hit a drive through. When getting your food leave an extra five and tell the cashier to apply it to the next car. They wont know what hit them, but you will have made their day! Oh yeah, and guess what…. that bad day? Usually turns around on the spot.
Thanks for taking the time to read this! Again, if you care to send a card, or just to think about it, please send an email. I will be glad to get you an address of a family in severe need.
Chris
I took this with permission from Chris Thom’s face book page. For those interested in joining the Friends of Barb Wyatt, you can contact him there, or even email me. If you cant figure out hw to email me, try yoda@thebozo.com. here…
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