Something About Nothing by Julie Seedorf

I wonder if I have a guardian angel named Nancy.

In recent weeks, I was gifted with two random acts of kindness and both of those people showing kindness to me were named Nancy.

The first person by the name of Nancy left a package in my door. Lo and behold it held two pairs of LulaRoe leggings. I have never tried them before and I love them. They are bright with happy colors and the fact Nancy gifted them to me make them even more special. If you had seen me that day you would have noticed my smile lighting up the room.

The other day I was shopping in Herbergers in Albert Lea during their goodwill sale, although I hadn’t paid attention that a sale was on. I was given a gift certificate for Christmas and I decided it was time to spend my certificate on some much-needed and — hear this — smaller clothes, before the large-size jeans I wore fall down and put me in an embarrassing situation. As I was shopping the sales another woman, who told me her name was Nancy, asked if I had some goodwill coupons. I acknowledged I didn’t know what they were. She kindly gifted me many of hers. I can’t thank her enough, and whoever works with her — I think she said she worked at a school — are very lucky people.

Nancy and Nancy knew the gift of random acts of kindness and I will pass some of that on in my daily life. It reminded me kindness is never wasted on anyone. It is again a time of year when we all need to think of those who need our help.

Last week I attended a food shelf benefit in my community. The afternoon of music along with a silent auction was to draw attention and raise money for Communities Fighting Student Hunger, better known as the Backpack Program. Volunteers donated their time and talent to entertain us and raise awareness to the hunger in our southern Minnesota communities.

When Christmas rolls around we pull out all stops to see people are fed, and families who do not have the means to buy gifts and food for their families have what they need so they, too, can celebrate the holiday. Easter should be no different, but it doesn’t seem to get the attention the December festivities do.

At Christmas we have bell ringers and donation boxes all over. We are reminded every day to make sure we find a place to donate so others can have a better holiday. But at Easter we do not see the hype we see during the cold and snowy season. It is as if we conclude that because winter and the Christmas season are over, people quit being hungry. That is so not the case.

March is Food Share Month. Many donations are matched by Minnesota Food Share. The Cub Scouts have a door to door campaign collecting food and cities hold benefits so they can get matching funds. The people who run the organizations helping the needy know there is no season when hunger and homelessness stop.

The two Nancys who were my angels, making my day better by their kindness to me, know there is not a season of kindness. Kindness doesn’t have to be a viewable gift, it can be a word of encouragement to someone in the darkness of the world. It can be a smile on the street or a note across the miles. Kindness can be a gift of food to a food shelf or a homeless shelter.

Those who receive it might never know who helped them, but they will feel the kindness, and when they are in a better position may pass it on to others.

Easter is a day of resurrection in the Christian faith, a time of hope and renewal. What better way is there to give someone hope but to offer them kindness this time of year and every day forward?

“No act of kindness however small is wasted.” — Aesop

Wells resident Julie Seedorf’s column appears every Monday. Send email to her at hermionyvidaliabooks@gmail.com.