The Basket Lady

The Culture of Compassion was in the Good Humor Town over the weekend and it was heartwarming to know that others gave of their time, hands and hearts in service to others. Basket Lady believes that kindness and compassion go hand-in-hand and the good folks associated with the Praise Assembly of God deserve our thanks and appreciation for their heavenly efforts.

It seems like there’s a lot of kindness going around these days.

The following angels in training donated the following items for the basket lady projects: Myrtle Milledge donated some homemade wash/dish cloths along with a big heaping of kindness to someone showing up at her door unexpectedly on a hot afternoon, recently.

Mary Benson and Al Snow donated a huge truck load of children’s and adult clothes, plastic ware, shoes, table cloths and towels.

Barbara “Jean” Smith donated 35 handmade lap throws and 25 pillows.

Donita St. John donated some sweet jazz cassettes; VHS swing band musicals, and a variety of CD’s along with a cassette case.

Mary Greaney and Tom Hoyt donated some super baskets from a Grange sale and one of Dot’s very special angels donated some vegetables, several baskets, magazines, playing cards, homemade cookies and a box of other goodies along with a big hug.

The donated items from Mary Benson and Al Snow were divided between the Free Shop, families in the River Valley, and my community liaison, Barbara “Jean” Smith, who has a wonderful knack for giving to folks in need.

Of course, I know that Barbara “Jean” Smith doesn’t need my praise for all of the kind things that she does for others but just let me say for the record, that for three years she has made cushions for the stiff chairs in the Rumford Falls Auditorium by using a small sewing machine on her dining room table and hand sewing them at other times. This is truly a labor of love and Barbara also does her sewing deeds to support the basket lady in her mission to carry out Dot Sanchases mission of kindness and giving to others.

On Canal Street, at the back entrance of Bartash's, Barbara and her dog friendly group have put out several bowls of cool water for dogs passing by with their owners to stop and have a drink as well as available plastic baggies for dog owners to get if they need to clean up doggie poop. What a thoughtfully kind thing to do downtown.

Kindness in little things just as in big things counts and it adds up!

Bless others by showing them a kindness today.

We miss you every day, Dot Sanchas! Until then, smile and live in the present.