It will come as no surprise that here at RAK, we really love random acts of kindness. In fact, it’s in our name! We love to RAK our friends and family by sending them gifts to brighten their day but we also think that it’s so much fun to send a gift to a stranger. We want to connect strangers around the world with random acts of kindness ideas so we created our Anonymous RAK and RAK Donor programs.
A RAK is a random act of kindness. We have created RAK boxes for you to customize and send to people around the world. You RAK a little or you can RAK a lot but every RAK is meaningful. You can choose between a $10 box and a $25 box, each filled with goodies to put a smile on anyone’s face. The only difference with the Anonymous RAK is that instead of choosing someone you know to send the box to, it is sent to a stranger! You never know who your RAK is sent to but you will know that it brought them a lot of joy!
Our RAK nominee list is full of people who are deserving of a Random Act of Kindness kit - and this means it could be anyone because we all deserve kindness in our lives! You can nominate someone that you know (or even yourself!) to get onto the list. Then you can sign up to send an Anonymous RAK. Our patented RAK technology will then match all of our RAK donors to our special RAK nominees. We’ll announce on our social media when we send out our Anonymous RAK’s so you know when your gift is about to make someone’s day. Now you are a true #RAKStar!
There truly is a different kind of thrill sending a RAK to a stranger! Not only do you make a difference in someone else’s life without expecting anything in return, science shows that a RAK a day keeps the doctor away! Okay, that may not be entirely true but research does show that carrying out random acts of kindness is really good for our mental health. It can reduce stress, improve our emotional wellbeing, and sometimes even our physical wellbeing. It connects us to others and creates bonds and our brains really love that!
The Anonymous RAK stories are some of our favorites to hear about especially this year. We have all been spending a lot more time at home and away from strangers. People are feeling isolated and disconnected from other people, now more than ever. We may not be able to go to the movies, see live music, or meet new friends but we can always keep on spreading kindness and connecting with people through RAKs.
Make sure to tell us your RAK and Anonymous Acts of Kindness stories by tagging us on social media. That is your gift to us because seeing your stories makes our day!
Simple acts of kindness go a long way every day, but even more so during this time when millions of Americans are unemployed and businesses have been heavily affected by the pandemic. Here are simple random acts of kindness you can do this spring:
1. Donate to your food bank
Springtime is when we typically start going to farmer's markets or food festivals. However, this year, more and more families line up at food banks instead due to job loss. To help Americans who are struggling to put food on the table during this pandemic, you can donate to a local food bank in your area.
Feeding America has an extensive list of places where you can donate. Don't know what to give? It is advisable to donate non-perishable goods such as canned soup, rice, pasta, and similar items. Your pantry may have enough items there that you can bring to your local food bank. Some foodbanks also accept personal care, household items, and monetary donations.
2. Support or set up a GoFundMe campaign
Skip spending on that new Prada outfit and support or set up your own GoFundMe instead. Who needs a new pair of designer clothes when you are mostly at home anyway? This simple act of kindness can help many lives who have been affected by Covid-19.
Whether for a friend who was hospitalized, a neighbor who needs financial assistance, or people who lost their jobs because of the present crisis, GoFundMe campaigns have been effective in helping thousands of people. You can search for existing campaigns or set up your campaign, share it on social media and other communication platforms, and receive donations.
What's good about this random act of kindness is you can do this in the comforts of your own home.
3. Send a RAK box to someone
Surprise your family, friend, or even a stranger with a RAK box! You can put sweet treats (because who doesn’t need one right now?), hand-written or customized positive quotes, or a gift card for a local business by the recipient’s place.
Fill the RAK box with whatever you think your friend or family will appreciate receiving during this time or whatever will show them how much you care about them.
As flowers start to bloom in spring, so also do people begin feeling hopeful to start anew.
Your simple random acts of kindness can do so much more than what you can imagine. As the old adage goes, "A little goes a long way."
We can't wait to hear about your RAK stories! Share them with us in the comments section or tag us in your photos!