CHERRY BLOSSOM VOLUNTEER TIME

Spring is near, which means it's almost cherry blossom time in Washington, DC. Looking for a fun way to experience the festival and do some good in the process? Volunteer!

Event organizers are always looking for people to lend a hand, particularly during the annual parade and kite festival. Learn details HERE!

Not in DC? It's festival season in many places -- most are happy to have eager volunteers. Check out their websites. Befriend Google. Have fun. Give back. 

MARCH IS RED CROSS MONTH -- GIVE BLOOD!

March is Red Cross Month, which means it's a great opportunity to donate blood. 

Need three reasons to give?

How about the three lives one pint of blood could save? This week, visit the Red Cross website to find a blood drive near you and help save a life.

EXTRA CREDIT: Organize a blood drive in your office/church/school

ALTERNATIVE: Don't like needles or can't give? Check out other ways to support the Red Cross. And if you’re on the fence, help theRed Cross locate hesitant donors by playing this goofy video game.

A LAMB, A PUPPY, A NEW PET

We met Cinde Jeheber, aka, the Ocelot Whisperer, in Costa Rica last year. Cinde volunteered with us at at the Monkey Park Foundation, where we prepped food for various animals, such as monkeys, marmosets, and one sultry female ocelot. 

Last week, we heard from Cinde in Nicaragua, where she traveled to build houses for the homeless. Between hammering nails and digging holes, she found a scared little puppy so shaggy it looked more like a little lamb than a dog.

She asked Carmen, one of the women her team was building a house for, if she could use her water to wash the puppy. They scrubbed it clean and dried it, and from then on, the little dog kept going into Carmen's new house and laying down, as if he lived there.

After a while, Cinde decided to ask the new home owner if she would like a puppy. Immediately, Carmen started crying, saying “I've been loving outside for 15 years all alone, now I have a house and a dog!"

And that's how Cinde's Random Act of Kindness to a lamb-looking puppy helped a lady get her first dog. 

Thanks for continuing to give back, Cinde! You inspire us!

WHAT'S YOUR RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS?

Like our neighbor Bill, you celebrated Random Acts of Kindness Week, right? So what did you do or what did someone do for you? 

We'd love to hear your story. Email us at info (at) 1of7.org or leave us a comment below.

Here in DC, we had eight inches of snow overnight last week and no snow shovel. In the morning, when we looked out our front door, two neighborhood kids were busy clearing our walkway and sidewalk, snow shovels in hand and smiles on their faces. 

Our neighborhood's friendly enough, but the chances of two teenagers shoveling yards at random are remote at best. Kip stuck his head out and asked the kids what was up.

"Your neighbor paid us," one of them said proudly. Kip closed the door, and the kids got back to work.

Kip got so excited he made a snow angel.

The mystery gifter had to be Bill, we figured. He lives next to us with his lovely wife Paula. He's always helping us out, doing odd jobs, taking care of things that need doing. 

Relieved at not having to brave the 20-degree temps and find a shovel, we knew what we had to do. Kip went upstairs and grabbed his wallet. Then he opened the front door and hollered at the kids to come over. 

Handing the kids some cash, he told them go ahead and get the next two neighbors' sidewalks, too. 

Pay it forward. One small act for the day. Thanks for getting it started, Bill. 

And thanks to all of you who got in your 1 of 7 during Random Acts of Kindness Week. 

Don't forget to tell us your story. And while you're at it, help us celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Week II. Let's do it again this week. 

CELEBRATE RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS WEEK

C'mon, you knew Feb 10-16 was Random Acts of Kindness Week, right? Thought so. 

A girl gives Kip a hand in the Philippines.

Yes, this really is a week-long event. Do you already have a good deed planned? Well, if so, you're doing it wrong! 

This week is about paying attention, staying alert, and keeping your eyes open for opportunities to give back whenever they present themselves. 

In many ways, it's a big part of what 1 of 7 is all about. We're all busy people. We may not have time every week for a pre-planned volunteer activity. 

But that should never stop us from finding a way to do some good in the world and making philanthropy -- acts of goodwill to others -- a regular part of our lives. 

If you're hard up on "random" ideas, there are plenty of places to look, including this website, as well as here and here. 

This week, keep your eyes open. Be ready to be randomly kind. You'll know when the opportunity presents itself. It's one of the very best parts about being human. And it's in every one of us. Sometimes we just need a contrived holiday or a well-meaning website to remind us.