WOMANSDAYMAGAZINE APRIL 2020 59
KINDNESS/ Inspire
YOUR
KIND ACTS
These generous deeds shared
by WD readers are a great
example of what happens when
action follows heart.
Send your Kindness
Project ideas to
kindnessproject@
hearst.com. Stories
may be edited for
clarity and length.Stephen Todd, a young
man with Down syndrome,
builds bluebird houses and
gives all the profits to charity.
To date, Bluebird Beach
Bungalows, Stephen’s nonprofit,
has donated almost $30,000
to more than 50 charities.
This young man has a heart
of gold and a work ethic that
could rival anyone’s.
JAMIE TODD, Virginia Beach, VA Stephen Todd shows off one of his creations.
Alicia McCormack, a
teacher at Ashdown High
School in Ashdown, AR,
meets once a week with
a group of students to
brainstorm good ideas.
They decided to make
mats out of recycled
plastic shopping bags
for homeless people to
use under their bedding
to keep them dry when
they slept outside. The
teens sent a request to
their community for used
bags, and the response
was overwhelming.
Making each mat requires
between 500 and 700
bags. Last year, the group
donated 10 mats to the
homeless shelter.
JIMMY MCCORMACK,
Texarkana, AR
Mats in the making.Since 2011, Passing
Hats, a nonprofit
organization started by
Ellen Miller, has given
warmth and support to
cancer patients living
in Texas, Colorado,
and Florida with hats
that are hand-loomed,
knitted, and crocheted
by volunteers. Patients
at over 60 cancer centers
and clinics get these
comfy, cozy hats. We
love seeing their smiles
when they realize the
cute hats were made
with love just for them.
SHARYN DIAMOND, Plano, TXPassing Hats in action.When Zoe Coomes of Orem,
UT, was feeling down about
her health several years ago,
her doctor asked her what
she enjoyed doing. When
she said how much she loved
to crochet, he called the
neighboring hospital to ask if
it had need of her skills. The
staff enthusiastically replied
yes. Since then, more than
1,000 newborns have gone
home swaddled in a crocheted
blanket lovingly made and
donated by “the Blanket Lady.”
TRUDY HENDERSON, Orem, UT