Comfort as a Tool for Compassion

#NiceWork! Post 15 Tuft and Needle is a national mattress company on a mission to spread compassionate comfort. The company is an innovator in both premium mattress production and providing those in need with a great night’s sleep.  By donating mattresses and profits to local charities and causes, Tuft and Needle is strengthening communities and engaging customers at the same time.  

Valuing transparency and teamwork, Tuft and Needle founders, Daehee Park and JT Marino, have assembled a team of entrepreneurs dedicated to making a positive impact. Melanie LaDue, a member of the Tuft and Needle team, told Envision that Tuft and Needle, “has been intentional in making social mission and the community the heartbeat of our company.”  In order to engage customers and donate mattresses, Tuft and Needle has pioneered a unique return policy. If a customer chooses to return a mattress, the mattress isn’t returned to headquarters. Instead, the company works with individual customers in order to donate the mattress to local charities and nonprofit organizations such as St. Vincent de Paul Society in Phoenix, AZ. Of course, Tuft and Needle still redeems the customer for the cost of the mattress.

In addition to return donations, Tufts and Needle supports communities by partnering with a variety of nonprofits and charitable organizations such as, UMOM, Chrysalis, Ronald McDonald House Phoenix Charities, firehouses, and schools nationwide.  Through Tuft and Needle Gives Back program, partner schools are able to absorb 25% of profits from mattresses ordered by anyone affiliated with the school, from parents to teachers. Recently, Tuft and Needle even made a large-scale donation to help Hurricane Harvey relief efforts in Houston.

The social mission of Tuft and Needle is embedded within all of the staff acting from the belief that, “values aren’t what you want to be, it’s who you are…we’re going to take the spirit of [Tuft and Needle] and find more problems worth fixing…we’re just getting started,” founders Daehee Park and JT Marino say in their “Our Story” video on the Tuft and Needle’s website.

If you are in need of a better night’s sleep, check out Tuft and Needle’s mattresses: https://www.tuftandneedle.com/. Think of innovative ways to spread kindness and continue to positively impact your community!

Kaladi Brings Good Feels and Close Community to Alaskans

#NiceWork! Born as an espresso cart in 1986, Kaladi Brothers Coffee has grown to be a staple of Alaska. Today, Kaladi has fourteen locations across the State and one in Seattle, and they produce almost a million pounds of coffee every year.

How did they do it? On top of roasting and brewing fantastic organic beans, Kaladi cares about its customers. Former owner Mark Overly explained to the Alaska Dispatch News that, “[The community aspect] was [always] the intention of the business…And [we knew that] everything would follow that.” As a “catalyst of community,” the shop is incredibly dedicated to supporting and growing the communities they serve.

Kaladi sponsors countless community events, drives, and causes. By teaming up with other local businesses and nonprofits, Kaladi is able to put on incredibly fun and generous events to benefit Alaskans. One such event was for a launch party for Read on the Fly. The event, sponsored and hosted by Kaladi, called on community members to donate children’s books. They turned this donation drive into a party for the whole community along with free hot dogs provided by Phat Kid Food Truck and a craft station put up by the Anchorage Community House.

Kaladi is incredibly generous in its coffee and gift donations. From offering free coffee for moms on Mother’s Day to donating gift baskets to local drives and auctions, Kaladi is constantly finding new avenues to give their support. They’ve donated money to the University of Alaska Anchorage Debate Team and the Anchorage Running Club. Kaladi’s marketing team estimates that Kaladi supports around 250 events per year. Along with the work of their Community Cafe and other donations, this comes out to about $150,000 in donations every year.

Across Alaska, Kaladi is famous for their Community Cafe. This cafe-on-wheels travels around the state to spread its warmth. They’ve been there to meet parents with a free 12 oz cup of coffee when dropping off kids at their first day of school or to provide free espresso at the Pride Parade and at events for the Anchorage Motorcycling Community. No matter the gathering, Kaladi shows generosity to all community members. By using the hashtag #FollowTheRedGoat, inspired by their Red Goat logo, Kaladi has gained huge popularity across Alaska. When the Red Goat comes, everyone knows that warmth and community come along with it.

Kaladi is also famous for bringing the community together in their open and shared community spaces. Spaces are used for just about everything, from family gathering and group meetings to art shows like Susitna Elementary Student Art Show. They currently have 3 large community spaces at their Brayton, Downtown and Soldotna/Sterling Highway locations.

Kaladi support groups like the Cook Inlet Tribal Council. They provided the coffee for their Native Youth Olympics and they purchase wholesale goods, such as sandwiches and baked goods, from their Chanlyut program. The program gives residential, vocational, and educational support for participants to overcome challenges such as reintegration post incarceration, addiction, and homelessness.

“Kaladi is an industry leader when it comes to coffee, community and customer experience,” customer Seth Stetson said.

So, if you ever find yourself up North, drop on in to enjoy a cup of joe at Kaladi. Your dollar supports a company that works to support you.

Great Harvest Bread Warms the Hearts of Anchorage Residents

#NiceWork! Great Harvest Bread in Anchorage, Alaska  does phenomenal business. For the past several years, it’s held the top spot in sales for restaurants in Anchorage. But their success can’t simply be explained by their infamously fresh and organic bread. Anchorage owners Barb Hood and Dirk Sisso believe that 90% of sales are due to the restaurant’s connection with the local community. Anchorage residents know that a purchase at Great Harvest Bread is a purchase that supports Anchorage.

Great Harvest Bread, a franchise, with over 100 locations throughout the United States is unique.  The company doesn’t solely focus on profits. In fact, the company’s tops priorities, aside from making delicious bread, are freedom and people. The parent company encourages each individual branch to do what’s best for their location and connect to their customers in a unique and personalized way. That’s why to many Anchorage residents, Great Harvest feels like home.

Ever since the Barb and Dirk opened shop in 1994, they’ve been a community favorite. They’re probably most well known for their generosity of spirit. As Bonnie Harry, an employee of Great Harvest, explained, “It’s not for show. They do it because generosity to others is part of who they are. The fact that it benefits the business is a bonus.”

Barb and Dirk’s generosity radiates through Great Harvest. They’re frequent donors, and they let the community choose where a large portion of their donations go by encouraging Anchorage residents to submit requests to support local events. Over the years, they’ve supported hundreds of events including annual fundraisers for Breast Cancer and Leukemia research. The restaurant is also an official partner with three schools: West High School, Romig Middle School and North Star Elementary, where they support school events with bread and cookies.

Great Harvest may be most famous for their exceptionally large free samples. When speaking with Envision Kindness, Barb explained an instance in which a young girl came to the counter to get a free sample. She returned again a few minutes later to get another. When Barb saw this, she encouraged the girl to bring a third piece back to her mother. Upon hearing this, the mother burst into tears. “You never know where people are coming from,” Barb explained. “So, you just try to do your best.” Two families have even come up to Barb to tell her how important this free bread has been to them during tough times over the years. Great Harvest also donates unsold items to the local food bank, Beanz Café, each day.

Barb and Dirk even lend out their restaurant’s space. They have made their shop into a community center, helping local artists display their work and hosting open mic nights for poets, musicians, and others.  This personalized engagement with customers and customer values has allowed Great Harvest to become a cornerstone in the community.

Outside of Great Harvest, Barb is known for taking pictures of underrepresented populations and telling their stories. Dirk is currently serving as president of the local neighborhood Basher Community Council, working to protect natural places among other things. Dirk carries his interest in environmental protection to the bakery. Great Harvest has received Green Star’s award for environmental responsibility, a shining example of an eco-friendly business.

Inspired by Barb and Dirk’s Great Harvest in Anchorage? No need to fly to Alaska. Check out what your local Great Harvest is up to these days. No Great Harvests near you? Think about what can you can do to be help others in your community.

“Be a Blessing to Somebody”

Sometimes, you need to go somewhere where everyone knows your name. For many Memphis, TN residents, Manna House is just that place. A colorful safe haven for community members who are down on their luck, the house provides showers, fresh clothes and a cup of coffee for folks who need some community feels and a pick me up.

Open 3 days a week, the house is run by volunteers. Karen Pulfer Focht, a talented and socially conscious photojournalist who is a frequent contributor to Envision Kindness, was able to catch up with one of them. Almost every Thursday on the front stoop of Manna House, you can find Kirk Whalum, the Grammy award winning jazz artist, giving the homeless a fresh shave and a haircut.

Whalum is a celebrated and sought after artist. On top of winning awards for his solo and collaborative albums, he has been “an in demand session player for top artists like Barbara Streisand, Al Jarreau, Luther Vandross, Larry Carlton, Quincy Jones and most notably, Whitney Houston, amongst many others.”  In fact, the hit song “I Will Always Love You” features his saxophone.

Still, Whalum is a very self-aware man. After reflecting on his own life, he decided that he wanted to do more. He wanted to be a “blessing to somebody.” So, he began blessing the Manna House with his service. Whalum understands what it means to care consciously. An ordained minister, he listens to people, finds out what they need, and responds to the best of his abilities. After speaking with people at Manna House, he realized that people needed shaves and haircuts. So, he dove right in it. Rick Greer, Memphis resident who frequents Manna House, says he is thankful for places like this where he can get cleaned up.  “Us street people…we got to keep our appearances up,” Greer explained.

“We are all in need of care and kindness,” Whalum tells Focht. He strives to be in solidarity with those who he cleans up. That’s why he’s constantly greeting people and making sure they feel welcomed at the center. In Focht’s enlightening interview with Whalum, he speaks humbly about his service. At one point, the man who he is caring for looks up at him. “I appreciate it,” the man says. “You’re welcome, bro,” Whalum responds with a smile.

Thank you, Karen Pulfer Focht, for the beautiful video, still images, and story.

Southern Connecticut Wine Company is Crushing Grapes and Creating a Better World

#NiceWork! Amanda Brackett, owner and founder of Southern Connecticut Wine Company in Wallingford, CT, creates some of the most interesting wines on the East Coast (try their blends).  But when you meet Amanda, you’ll notice that she loves more than a good Merlot: she loves people. She’s made her company into a force for social good. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a small-business this active in their community, this generous, and this fun to be around.

A Monterey Peninsula, CA native, Amanda loves making wine. “Making it keeps me creative, correcting faults keeps me learning and innovative, drinking it keeps me social and selling it keeps my husband happy,” she explained (My Record Journal). That passion, combined with an amazing team of all women, is leading this business to success. Southern Connecticut Wine Company is entirely owned and operated by females. They frequently use the hashtag, #girlsmakewinetoo. Amanda´s passion for female empowerment doesn’t end there – she´s a member of the the Killingworth Women’s organization too.

When she isn’t crushing grapes, Amanda is also involved in an enormous number of causes. As her business is growing, so is it’s list of charitable donations. Inspired by her husband, a veteran who was deployed the first year of their marriage in Kuwait, she serves as Chairperson of the Soldiers Box initiative, a program that sends local soldiers care packages while they are deployed. Southern Connecticut Wine Company also offers discounts to veterans, active duty service personnel and first responders.

The winery has given thousands of dollars to charity through donations including barrels of wine, winemaking classes and wine baskets to non-profits including: JDRF, Channel 3 Kids Camp, Make a Wish, Helo Haiti, Killingworth Refugee Resettlement Coalitions, Middletown Cooperative Preschools, and more. Amanda supports causes both in her neighborhood and abroad. If she hears about a group that needs assistance, she’s quick to jump in to help. Those closest to Amanda explain that she donates to so many groups, and so often, that it’s hard to keep track of them all. She’s also known to donate her space free of charge to a number of non-profits.

Want to support Amanda and SoConnWineCo.?  Stop by for a tour! And stay tuned – their online store will be up soon: http://soconnwineco.com/

Kindness Served One Cup of Coffee at a Time

cup of coffee

Brewed Awakenings is serving community, one cup of coffee at a time. At this warm little coffee shop in Newark, Delaware, people are the focus. The shop is known for hosting residents from all walks of life and making all feel welcome.

As a psychologist, owner and founder J.D. Willetts knows the importance of kindness, conversation, and relationships. When he opened the coffee shop in 2015, he had a strong focus: community. Good coffee is a plus (and trust us, they do have it), but the real focus here is on the friendly space. “…I want to spread the love. I want this to be a place where people are physically, emotionally, spiritually safe,” Willetts said in an interview with Honey Grow. 

Though you will find Willets at the shop most days, he doesn’t keep a dime of the revenue at Brewed Awakenings. Instead, profit is used to help the community. Willets also tries to be free as much as possible so that he can do what he’s best at: talk. He loves to take the time to sit and chat with customers.

One true example of kindness at Brewed Awakenings is their Community Cup program. For $1.50 and a personalized sticky note, customers have the option to pay it forward and prepay for a coffee for someone in need.  And if someone comes in for a sandwich too? No problem – sticky notes can be redeemed for food too.

Love what Brewed Awakenings is doing but aren’t in Newark, DE? The spirit of community can be spread to your hometown. Ask your local coffee shop what they think about starting a community cup program, or go out and buy someone a coffee today.

Delta Fantasy Flight – A Flight of Imagination for Children Facing Life-Threatening Illnesses

The North Pole Fantasy Flight is a charity flight, put on by Delta, for children dealing with a life-threatening illness. Patients from local children’s hospitals take a fantasy flight to the “North Pole”. The day is full of wonderful surprises for the children including flight attendants dressed as elves, music, clowns, and a visit from Santa when the plane lands.
The Delta Fantasy Flight is something a child could only dream of. It gives children with life-threatening illnesses a chance to forget about hospitals and their illness. It is a day for these children and their families to experience the spirit of the season.

Photographer, Christa Breaugh, said, “It is truly a fantastic event that I was honored to witness.” Christa is currently a lifestyle and wedding photographer.

Give Kids The World is another organization that provides children with life-threatening illnesses and their families an experience of a lifetime. Children and their families visit a “storybook” resort in Florida for a week long, cost-free vacation.

Keep Our Neighbors Warm Event: We Are On This Earth to Help One Another

womens ministries

Keep Our Neighbors Warm, now in its 5th year, is an annual event put on by the Women with a Vision Ministries here in Connecticut. The most recent event took place on Saturday, December 10th at Capital Community College, where one of the members of the ministry, Marva Patterson, graduated.

Keep Our Neighbors Warm is a community event where donations of coats, footwear, hats, gloves, scarfs, sweaters, and blankets are accepted and then distributed to those in need. The winter drive begins in September of each year. Women with a Visions Ministries seeks donations from consignment stores, churches, and other local organizations. The items are then given out beginning in December. Last winter roughly 1500 individuals received warm clothing and accessories.

This annual program is one of many that is held each year by Women with a Vision Ministries. Around Mother’s Day the organization collects wallets, purses, and totes for the women at the Interval House and The Salvation Army Marshall House. Interval House provides services to break the cycle of domestic violence. Interval House is dedicated to providing services to prevent and break the cycle of family and intimate partner abuse. The Salvation Army House helps those in need in both Connecticut and Rhode Island.

Marva states, “I don’t take credit for what God has commissioned me to do as an ambassador of Jesus Christ.  We are on this earth to help one another. The reason I sent the information to you was because there are people out there that can help us help others.”

If you are interested in taking part of one of Women with a Vision Ministries’ drives you can contact Marva at [email protected] or 860-484-1511.

Pledge to help

SECOND ANNUAL EASTERN CT WALK AGAINST HUNGER

A remarkable moment occurred during the pledge of allegiance before the fundraising walk began. Kids learn from a very young age about supporting important causes, feeding the hungry and helping others.  As they pledge allegiance to the United States, they are also pledging to keep our country strong through kindness and volunteerism.

Over 350 walkers on almost 50 teams participated in this fundraising walk to support the United Way/Gemma Moran food pantry in New London, CT. Together they raised over $25,000 to support the food pantry.

Enthusiasm and smiles are the most common thing that I see in kind people while they volunteer! It is amazing how happy they are, just from the simple act of giving!

Some walkers at the Walk against hunger dressed for the occasion!

For more information, please see below: http://www.uwsect.org/walk