Here is the story…short but very sweet. I was browsing around on Craig’s List and I spotted someone selling over 100 pair of sunglasses for $45.00. I e-mailed the owners and asked if they would be willing to donate them to BK2HK for our Guatemala project. Their answer was a huge yes! My daughter and I drove to their home to pick up the sunglasses (plus 14 cases) and met 2 extremely nice people! Ron and Nancy Gosselin of Howell, Michigan were more than happy to be able to donate all of these wonderful sunglasses to the folks in Guatemala!!

Ron and Nancy were so generous to donate so many (much needed) sunglasses to Guatemala. Thank you both! I want to pass on the word that BK2HK is continuing our used prescription eyeglass/sunglass and drug store reading glasses collection. There is always a team heading off to Guatemala to deliver much needed items, eye wear being on the top of their list…so please remember to send any and all used unwanted eye wear to the address below. Thanks! Lorraine.

Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give to you. Until now you have not asked anything in my name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.
John 16;23&24.

Address for donations:
Lorraine Jara (BK2HK)
P.O. Box 131397
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48113-1397

The Robert J. DeLonis Homeless Shelter in Washtenaw County Michigan was awarded a $400.00 store gift card from MEIJER on Jackson Road in Scio township. This is the 4th year in a row that MEIJER has been so generous and gracious by helping out the shelter. The shelter will be using this money for bedding such as sheets, blankets, and pillows. They will also purchase warm hats, gloves and winter gear for their clients. Above is a photograph taken of me (Lorraine) presenting the shelters Executive Director, Ellen R. Schulmeister with the $400.00.

Be Kind to Humankind wishes to say THANK YOU once again MEIJER, Kim Valentine and Kathy Keillor of MEIJER whom without their assistance this would not be possible!!

Thanks to all of those who participated in “Be Kind to Humankind’s” (BK2HK) prescription eyeglass donations for Guatemala. People such as the generous Mayan woman who gave me this purse as a gift can continue to work on such beautiful sewing projects thanks to better eyesight. The women from the villages sew many beautiful things. They sew the clothing for their families, and also sell many of their items for income. Without the eyeglasses donated to BK2HK, many (1,730) people would not be capable of continuing their trade. BK2HK will have further information along with photos of the Gary family’s trip, so stay tuned!!

Thank you again and remember…BK2HK will continue this collection for next summer’s trip to Guatemala, so please save those prescription eyeglasses/sunglasses/and drug store glasses and send them out to us! Our goal for next summer will be 2,010 pair of eyeglasses for the summer of 2010! We can do it!

God Bless…
Lorraine

Mail Glasses to:
Lorraine Jara (BK2HK)
P.O. Box 131397
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48113-1397

A couple of years ago I posted a poem written by Martin Buxbaum. His poem is featured on a beautiful poster. The poster consists of one women in 3 separate stages of her life…one as a young girl, then a young woman and finally an old woman. The poem written by Martin Buxbaum on the poster is as follows:

“Some people, No matter how old they get, Never lose their beauty. They merely move it from their faces, into their hearts.” – Martin Buxbaum

I have seen the sea, when it is stormy, and wild; when it is quiet, and serene’, when it is dark, and moody. And in all its moods I have seen myself. – Martin Buxbaum

Below is the poster and under the poster is information about Mr. Buxbaum and his daughter Kate Buxbaum Prado. To my delight and surprise, Kate had contacted me recently. Read what Kate shared with us about our posting of her dad’s poetry. Thanks so much Kate for sharing your dad’s work with us, and for sharing your work with us as well! It’s beautiful!

Kate Buxbaum Prado writes:

My dad has been gone since 1991 and I miss him every day. He had a full life and gave much to others, and continues to give, even though he is not here. This is the same desire I have for my work. I wish I knew who was the artist that did the work with my father’s verse on beauty. It has been on the Internet for ages and nobody seems to know.

Visit www.pradospen.com and go to Prado’s Picks to view additional photo’s of Martin Buxbaum along with his poetry and that of his daughter’s.

My Father

When I was small, my father traveled, and then he would, come home. But even when, he went away, we never felt alone. We did not have, to see him, to know how much, he cared. He would always, be our father, and his love was always there.- Kate Prado

“I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.” Hebrews 13:5

What Will You Leave Behind? It is not just only the rich and famous who will leave a legacy, but every man, woman and child ever born, no matter who they are. Our society has become so fixated on the lives of movie stars, those in the news and the people on reality television, to where the importance of the seemingly unimportant goes unnoticed. As students graduate and head out into the world, do they carry with them the knowledge of how the life they live and the choices they make, have the potential to change a nation,or possibly change an entire world? It is up to each one of us as parents, teachers, family or friends of children of any age, to send the right message. A young man sat in the office of his guidance counselor before graduating from high school. His eye was black from having gotten into another fight. The adviser was serious when he told the student he was very smart, but it was now up to him as to where he would be in the future. Today that young man is grown. He became a very successful businessman, is a good father, a wonderful husband and gives back so much into the world around him. Did the words spoken to him by the concerned counselor change his destiny? I believe they may have. My own father wrote, “Leave more for others to follow than footprints in the water.” These few simple words have stayed with me throughout my own life as I ask myself the question, “What will you leave behind?”

Kindness

Kindness planted in the soil, of another with a need, will one day blossom, back to you, a product of, this spirit seed. – Kate Prado

“Give and it, shall be given unto you…” Luke 6:38

Be sure to visit scrapbook.com to view Kate’s creations (listed under “KatesCreations”).

Hurray! Thanks to so many generous people “Be Kind to Humankind” (BK2HK) has collected over 1,000 pairs of used prescription eyeglasses and sunglasses for the folks in Guatemala! We cannot thank you enough for your efforts to help these folks. We will have a complete update in late July as to how many eyeglasses we were able to collect for the Gary family’s trip to Guatemala which is taking place in July. Also, we will share a list of those who participated in the collection. The collection will go on indefinitely, as the Garys make this trip every summer. See the Ann Arbor News article here. BK2HK looks forward to June when we can estimate how many pairs of eye wear we have collected! Thank you again and please continue to donate.

Much Kindness and Appreciation to All,
Lorraine

Address for Donations:

Lorraine Jara (BK2HK)
P.O. Box 131397
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48113-1397

Elena Patrice and Elizabeth Sills are sisters who became my friends through our mutual interest in promoting kindness. Elena and Elizabeth are the creators of a web site called laughfriendly.com. I had mentioned to them that I am a new God-mother to my nieces son Jack. What a surprise I got when I received the gift pictured above sent by Elena and Elizabeth for Jack! They are also authors of childrens books called the Nana Star storybook series.

This dynamic duo developed the world of Nana Star, comprised of a picture book series and a lovable, huggable character plushies, based on magical characters created by their grandmother. The stories gently inspire character by modeling such timeless virtues as compassion, kindness, and generosity in little listeners. Elizabeth and Elena raise their families, run their business, crack each other up, and endeavor to change the world in Virginia. Knowing them has certainly changed my world for the better, and I thank you both for sending me this thoughtful gift for Jack!!

Please visit their web site posted below. Their publishing company is ee Publishing & Productions, llc. Their web site is NanaStar.com.

Here is a photo taken of a special gift given to me recently from a friend here in Michigan! Cindy Strang of Dexter Michigan gave me this wonderful basket of goodies “Just Because.” What an amazingly thoughtful thing to do for me Cindy! I cannot thank you enough! Cindy knows that I am dog lover, actually I love all animals…and this gift basket includes 2 bottles of wine from our Michigan vineyards, 2 adorable puppy post cards from “The Dogs of North America” and a hardcover book titled “Wine Dogs” USA Edition; the dogs of North American Wineries. Authors; Craig McGill and Susan Elliott. The book focuses on dogs and the part they play in their owners daily lives of running wineries. This book is full of adorable pictures of adorable dogs, and I look forward to reading it! Thanks again Cindy for your thoughtfulness!

One small act of kindness is always remembered.
Be a joy to this world
Help others
Be a shoulder to lean on
Lend-a-hand
Life is short. Eternity is long. Decide to be kind.