Help Others.Org ~ Smile Card Project

HelpOthers.org -- kindness is contagious.

How did the SmileCard project start?

One college student was talking to another slightly older twenty-something guy about pranks that students do for rival football teams. The older guy says, "Isn't it interesting that students are motivated to do such incredible acts without getting any credit?" Such acts are fun, collective, creative, and incredibly challenging. But typically, they're not all that constructive nor do they leave anyone with a lasting "wow" feeling either. So the question followed -- why not do the same with kind acts? More friends joined in the conversation. Right then, we thought up a game of doing anonymous acts of kindness and leaving behind a "smile card" to keep the ripple going. Over the next three months, we tested out the concept. And then, we setup this anonymous website and got started.

What resources did you start with?
Not too many. One of our friends designed the card, another wrote up the content on the card, and another gathered 15 bucks to go to a local Kinkos. The guy at Kinko's, well, he found out about this and did it for free. That was September 2003 and our first box of 100 cards. We never anticipated that this concept would extend all over the world!

Is there a business plan behind any of this?
Nope. Everything here is (and always will be) a labor of love. We run this commerical-free portal with dedicated volunteers, we send weekly kindness newsletters without any agendas, we ship smile cards all over the world for free, we allow people to download, print and republish everything without any restrictions. Some people order free cards to do kind acts, some share creative ideas of compassion, some contribute stories of inspiration, some sponosor cards for others, and kindness keeps spreading.

What is the future of the project?
We just launched a new site -- our third revamp of the year -- to keep up with the increasing demand. More recently, we launched Smile Groups based on the requests we heard from smile-carders around the globe. Quite honestly, we don't really know the future; our attempt is keep doing "small acts with great love" in the present.

Is this a religious effort?
Not really. All the anonymous folks behind the scenes have their own reasons for practicing compassion; for some it might be their religious beliefs, for some it might be their spiritual cultivation, for some it might just be common sense.

How can I help?
Do something kind in your community. Join Smile Groups and make it a weekly habit. Comment on the many stories to encourage the carriers of kindness. And if you're still pumped-up to give more, drop us a note.

Kindness is contagious! Keep it going.

Jump over to the site and read some kindness stories....

........ like this one....................

Smile Stones, Mile Stones 

--posted by singlestep on Jun 9, 2008

Here's an idea that brings lots of smiles-- go to your neighborhood crafts store (I went to Michael's), pick up some polished colored stones, hand-draw some smiles, and leave those smile-stones with the following poem at coffee shop tables or just about any public venue.

Look a Smile Stone straight in the eye and you'll smile back not knowing why

It's something about their lopsided grins, their lack of noses and of chins

A twinkling something that's not-quite-art touches your heart

Like snowflakes and fingerprints no two are the same

But why? You ask- What's the point of this game?

Somebody's hand drew those smiles for you

To find and to keep and to give away too

For when the smile fades from the stone

Then you'll find it within

And this is where you get to begin

To share that smile where there's a lack

All you'll need is a pen

(Permanent. Black)

To draw a new smile in place of the old

And send it off on its way

to places untold

Smilestone milestones

Marking the way

We each can reach out

to

Make Someone's Day.

Comments

[Debbie]

Hey Deb, I like this. Wonderful ideas to use to make someone a little happier.

I've changed my blog so much, I've got to put the Angel and the Breathe back on and I'm going to add the SMILE too. Thanks for reminding me of some things I forgot....((Hugs))