Departing South Africa after a marvelous 2-week visit with DRA, I witnessed this Actively Caring event. A uniformed janitor at the Tambo Airport in Johannesburg stopped to notice a slow drip coming from the ceiling far above and forming a small puddle on the tile floor. He dug a few newspapers from his trash cart and placed them on the puddle and left. Two minutes later, he was back with small buckets and a caution sign. He dried the floor with his newspapers, strategically placed the buckets and stood back to watch. After observing the traffic pattern in the area, he seemed to come to a conclusion about where to put the caution sign. Again, he stood and observed for a minute then adjusted the sign. He quietly urged the flow of passengers around the area. He stayed in the area as long as I watched and seemed genuinely concerned about this problem and potential safety hazard. When I thanked him and gave him the Actively Caring wristband, he beamed with pride and immediately put it on. As I walked away, he was simultaneously admiring his wristband and keeping an eye on his passengers.

I have passed on my Actively Caring for People Bracelet. Here is the story.

After school I went to my science teacher to ask what I received on the test earlier that day. While in his class I over heard I classmate say that on his way to hand in his test he saw the answer key and noticed four of his questions were wrong. Instead of sitting back at his desk and change his answers he did what he originally planned to do and hand in his test. On the spot I took off my green Actively Caring for People Bracelet and handed it to him. I explained that when he saw someone else doing something kind he should pay it forward. Without hesitation he slipped the green bracelet on his wrist and grinned ear to ear even more happily than he would if he got a grade ten points higher.

Eric

Yesterday, during a Boy Scout meeting, one of the first years (a fifth-grader) walked up to me and told me a story about how some students from Virginia Tech came to the middle school and had a presentation about caring for people. He told me that I immediately came to mind and gave me the bracelet as soon as he saw me during the meeting. I am a senior in high school and the Senior leader of the scout troop. I really look forward to passing on my band as soon as possible as the feeling that I got when I received it is simply awesome. Congrats to the VT students who started this – it is a heartwarming program.

On June 8 I was helping the Arlington County Public Health Division set up a room for a Medical Reserve Corps volunteer celebration. We were at a local community center and I was walking towards the restrooms. I was having a pretty bad back spasm and was not walking straight due to the pain. A little girl named Latifah ran up to me out of no where and asked me what I was looking for. I told her the restrooms. She looked at me and noticed that I wasn’t walking so well so she asked, “What’s wrong?” in a very concerned way. I told her that my back was hurting. She proceeded to run in front of me, raced to the restroom door and held it open for me. I was so touched by this young girl’s gesture and thanked her. I then remembered my green wristband. It was the first day that I was wearing it. After thanking her, I told her I wanted to give her something and her face lit up. I gave her the green wristband, explained why I was so thankful and why I was giving it to her, and then told her to pass it on when she saw somebody else do something kind. The expression of excitement on her face was priceless. She was so sweet and caring and I will never forget how such a simple act of kindness could make such an impact.