By Lisa Lopez, data assets associate, for our Random Acts of Kindness blog series

I had a wonderful experience participating in the Random Acts of Kindness Challenge that Hamacher Resource Group offered to us in December. When I was asked if I wanted to participate I was quick to say “yes.” I thought it was an amazing opportunity to engage in a random act of kindness outside of work.

I decided to give some of my money to Operation Scarf which was an effort where individuals could donate scarfs, hats, or mittens and they were placed around the City of Milwaukee for people in need to take. I chose this because I wanted to help these individuals make it through the chilly Wisconsin winter. I stopped into a children’s store in the mall and bought a few hats and mittens out of the dollar bin for the cause. As I was searching through the bin I asked a lady beside me that was also looking through the hats and scarfs how many she was purchasing. The lady replied that she could only afford one for her son. I gave her one dollar and told her about our Random Acts of Kindness Challenge and she was so appreciative that she began to cry. She was getting a much needed hat for her son for free and it made me so happy to be able to help someone who really needed it. I got emotional myself, my eyes filling with tears of happiness, when I saw how much that woman appreciated that one dollar. It was a small gesture that made a big difference.

While at the mall, I found another opportunity to perform a random act of kindness. My daughter was with my sister and I at the mall, and she wanted to go for a ride on an electronic car. While my daughter was riding I saw another young girl watching how much fun she was having so I gave her mom a few dollars so her daughter could ride too.  The mom was taken back by the random act of kindness, was intrigued to hear about our company, and was interested in continuing to pay it forward!

Another act of kindness I thought of was prescription purchases. I work part-time at a drug store, and I took the opportunity to purchase a few necessary prescriptions for some of our deserving patients. The looks on their faces were priceless and their appreciation was beyond what I ever had expected to receive in return!  With my remaining dollars, I made a donation to a Salvation Army Red Kettle.

It is hard to explain the feelings I experienced while I was giving. The surprised look on people’s faces that quickly turned into appreciation was so amazing to see. People were stunned by what a stranger did for them.

The best gifts are not the ones you receive, but what you get from the gifts you give!