Holy Smokes!
things have been CRAZY!
I dont mean to be neglectful to the blog for any passersby, I certainly am still as passionate about the cause as ever.
Hoever the Instagram (@heystrangerproject) and the fb (www.facebook.com/heystrangers) have been busy! I am very excited about it.
Im still balancing this funded solely by myself (and a few random and very kind donations!) and also on top of part time work, full time school and family life. But I am VERY VERY happy. Ive sent to so many locations already! Did I update last with a map? I dont know so here it is again just for funsies.
Im SO EXCITED! Just this morning I got another international request from Lisburn Northern Ireland! So excited!
okay ahve to go put together abother 7 packages! squeee!
in the interim of a new lappy :)
This card ended up in the hands of my sister, through not my own devices! It was given through the stranger to stranger interaction, leading to her getting it at her work at the Humane Society. Isnt that amazing?!
This was given to the sweet baristas at starbucks the day before christmas! it was slammed and they were still cheery!
This was for the family behind me, and the car behind them, at starbucks, our first starbucks trip of the day on Christmas eve. It was very busy, and they were very kind and patient to help us give back!
This one is one of my favorites. I went to visit a few old friends from high school in our old restauraunt hangout. Its been 10 years since we were in high school and we felt it appropriate to hang out there. We sat at our usual table and hashed out old memories.
Then a group of current high schoolers walked in.
and they sat at another table and did and said all the same things we used to. I couldnt help but pay it forward to them. I ended up getting accosted by them after I came basck from the bathroom. They gave me the sweetest group hug, and I was changed. I hope they remember themselves when they are older 🙂
Thiss was at dinner with a pal going through a tough illness. Bought 2 gift certificates for the Roadhouse, and had the waitress pick who to give them to 🙂 it was WONDERFUL. she came basck and told us it was one for a family, and the kids got to see the kindness of strangers, and another to a couple who are “regulars”. how wnderful! we left her a 100% tip too 🙂
20 bucks gets you 3 coffees and a great tip for the baristas 🙂
another great tip for another great gal.
I spent one day making some art for my childrens room, full of quotes to keep them looking out and upward.
this is one of my favorites.
Reached out via instagram for thoughts on what to do with a nice 350$ donation (100% of which will go towards my project. I take NONE for me). i decided to do all three that night. it was marvelous to show my children what we can do and how many people we can touch when we use our hearts and wallets. 🙂
I have not disappeared, nor lost my passion
I merely have s cracked screen phone and broken laptop at the moment. Such is life right?
What a great day! First I bought ten suspended coffees at java crew, and got sad full stamp card for it for the person behind me. Then I went too Dutch brothers for my coffee, and filed up my last punch there, the person behind me got a coffee. add to out that my errands today include sending out two envelopes full of cards to strangers
Soul mate numero Dos: Pegitforward
Peg It Forward people!
This is awesome. Just found it a few minutes asgo on the instagrams and am swooning. I love how creative we get as frugal peoples longing to bring a smile.
Very simple concept and very fun. Very Very fun. LOVE IT 🙂
+1 Person and Yay for More Love Letters! :)
OMG!
I have released about 12 of these into the wild in the last few months or so, and today I checked the website to find fun little stories…and someone found my little package!!!Man what a RUSH!!!!
In the words of my Love “for an anonymously charitable person, this must be like winning the lottery.” and it is! I always fantacize and romanticize about the people who come into contact with Hey Strangers, and wanting to stay anonymous I never get to see or hear what happens with these things, (save for my barista co-conspirators who pick the “victims”) and when I found this site MoreLoveLetters, I thought it would be a great way to use some of hey stranger (the letter portion and gift giving) to let them share it with others, but I kinda thought no one would. This is a total rush. I am SO thrilled. 🙂 read on and squee with me! 🙂
OCTOBER 26, 2013. OR.
I was walking home from work the other day, when i spotted a little white envelope on a bus stop. When i went to investigate I noticed it was labeled “Hey Stranger” on one side and the name of this site on the other. “I’m a stranger” i thought to myself, as i opened the envelope curiously. Inside was a nice cup cozy and a letter that read: “Hey Stranger! just a little something for you, just because. Go make waves today.
-Stranger + be well.
❤ Me”
The letter certainly put a smile on my face, and i left in a better mood. It made me want to leave a note of my own to cheer another stranger up.
I’m sure I’ll leave one before the end of the week.
tabforacause.org
hey strangers,
not something specifically HSesque, but to share a fun thing to do to raise funds for those who need it is tabforacause.org.
basically your everyday activity can raise money for causes aroudn the world.
do what you can with what youve got!
27 gifts for my big 2-7 :)
Today I turned 27.
The goal today was to share 27 gifts with 27 people, or as many as i could with 27 being the goal, and the minimum. Packed up cards, tiny bags with change, and my special printed birthday cards and went to town! I took 3 of my specials with me, 2 sisters and a dear dear friend and we had a really great birthday! I don’t have pictures, as we were in a hurry, but I will chronicle them here!
10 People in the form of Suspended Coffees (coffees purchased for future patrons who inquire if there any available, they dont have to pay for them.) Check your local Java Crew and see if they do that 🙂
+1 Person in the form of coffee: they always give me a full stamp card when I do that, and I always just have them then give that full card towards the person behind me’s purchase. in this case, The barista did so, but the gave me another full one. so technically even another +1! 🙂
+2 People who would arrive at their bus stop to see their trip has been paid for, with a little note 🙂
+1 Person at the Emergency Room Vending machine. We couldn’t find any of the other ones, and it was after hours so they might’ve been on floors we couldnt visit.
+10 People at Dutch Brothers in the form of coffee! They got personalized messages from me, instead of one of my HSP cards, that explained it was my birthday, and I wanted them t have a great day….dont wanna let a girl down on her birthday right?
+4 People at the Laundromat. the bags were too heavy to use with tape, hopefully they see them before they put their clothes in!
+1 person at a payphone. I hit a median trying to get to that damn payphone. I hope someone sees it and feels loved!
+30+ People at the hospital who will find HS cards placed strategically in gifts they buy or recieve, or in their magazines they sift through, or on the seat they sit on. I wish I could be a fly on the wall.
+1 at a coffee stand. drove through just to spend my last 5bucks and give away my last birthday card.
Also got a lead on a barista’s birthday on December 9th, think I might have to make him a little card 🙂
🙂
oh! almost forgot!
+1 for the dutch brothers barista. We bought a couple bouquets of flowers for another car flower run, but we didnt have the time! So I brought onefull bouquet to the dutch brothers and gave them to the barista.
+1 for another stand that was gifted 1/2 of a bouquet in their tip jar as a little pick-me-up
and
+1 for the mom with 2 kids in a 2 door car going shopping ast Fred Meyer. I left her one on her car with a note too 🙂
That is a successful birthday!
Soul Mate #1: The Cursing Hey Stranger
Someone forwarded this to me, and I fell in love from afar. We are soul mates, whoever did this. and I love them for it. If this was you, know my heart reaches out and fist bumps you.
Much love.
Hey Stranger Holiday!
We (myself and the littles) put together a package of 21 cards, Hey Strangered up! 🙂 excited for them to get them!
http://www.redcross.org/support/get-involved/holiday-mail-for-heroes
Supporting Our Military by Giving Something that Means Something
Each year the American Red Cross provides assistance to more than 2 million service members and many of our nation’s 24 million veterans. We support military families, military and veterans hospitals and provide emergency communications across the globe. And once a year, we get the joy of delivering holiday greetings to veterans, military families and active-duty service members at hospitals and installations around the world.
The cards and personal messages, sent by tens of thousands of Americans, provide a welcome “touch of home” for our troops during the holiday season.
Throughout the year, you can make a difference with a monetary gift to Help Military Families through the Red Cross. Your donation can help change a military family’s life.Donate Now.
Each year we collect cards between October and early December and then distribute them at military installations, veterans hospitals, and in other locations.
There are several ways to be part of the Holiday Mail for Heroes program. In addition to sending cards on your own, you may want to start making plans to host card signing parties or card making parties. Here are a few guidelines to help you on your way:
Card Guidelines:
Every card received will be screened for hazardous materials and then reviewed by Red Cross volunteers working around the country.
Please observe the following guidelines to ensure a quick reviewing process:
- Ensure that all cards are signed.
- Use generic salutations such as “Dear Service Member.” Cards addressed to specific individuals can not be delivered through this program.
- Only cards are being accepted. Do not send or include letters.
- Do not include email or home addresses on the cards: the program is not meant to foster pen pal relationships.
- Do not include inserts of any kind, including photos: these items will be removed during the reviewing process.
- Please refrain from choosing cards with glitter or using loose glitter as it can aggravate health issues of ill and injured warriors.
- If you are mailing a large quantity of cards, please bundle them and place them in large mailing envelopes or flat rate postal shipping boxes. Each card does not need its own envelope, as envelopes will be removed from all cards before distribution.
All holiday greetings should be addressed and sent to:
Holiday Mail for Heroes
P.O. Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456
The deadline for having cards to the P.O. Box is December 6th.
Holiday cards received after this date cannot be guaranteed delivery.
Apple Cider Fail!
Today the mission was Apple Cider for the Police Station, with some sweet HS notes and handmade drawings from the kids.
Wellllllll. Both attempts on the Apple Cider was a fail! So instead we just sent a little paper love to the Police Station.
A local police officer was KIA this week and we wanted desperately to show our appreciation for the things they do, for the job they do.
Besides, i bet they get a lot of crum sometimes.
Hope they liked it!
Rest in Peace Officer Robert Libke. We are thankful for you!
Hey Stranger 
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