Doing Good Deeds From Home

Once upon a time, there was going to be a Good Deeds Day, where people got together in person to do good things for other people. While the planned event isn’t going to happen, Good Deeds Day is still taking place – this time at your home.

Good Deeds Day At Home will give families the same opportunity to good for other people. For $18, you’ll be mailed a Kindness Kit, which will contain all you and your family need to have fun, teach compassion, and make a difference. The event is a partnership between JFCS Minneapolis, Talmud Torah of Minneapolis, and Heilicher Minneapolis Jewish Day School.

“We’ve had a good response,” said Carrie Fink, the PJ Library coordinator at JFCS. “We’re hoping more people are inclined to sign up because it’s easy and people can do it whenever they want. The goal is to make it as easy for parents as possible.”

Half of the $18 fee for the kit, which is mailed from the organization Doing Good Together, goes to PRISM, the Golden Valley-based food shelf and thrift shop which shares a building with JFCS. PRISM is committed to responding to the needs of the community during these challenging times. Donations to PRISM help ensure food is available to our most vulnerable neighbors.

“They are just completely swamped and had to change operations,” Fink said. “The need is so high.”

The three organizations ask that when you’ve completed your kit, you upload your photos to showcase your work using the hashtag #GoodDeedsAtHomeMPLS to the Facebook event page.

“It’s geared to school-age kids, but it’s definitely something a 3-year-old can do,” Fink said. “It was going to be right after lunch when the youngest kids are napping. Now if families want preschoolers or toddlers to take part, they can.

“Parents are dealing with a lot of virtual stuff and it’s all overwhelming. All of us planning this are in the same boat: We want to do something meaningful, we want to help, but everyone is in over their heads. This is manageable.”