Friday September 3, 2010

www.rakd.com.au

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What is RAK’d?

RAK’d is an awareness campaign that occurs on the first Friday of September each year and encourages individuals to reach out and do something kind for someone else, no strings attached.

Why RAK someone?

As each person commits a good deed, he or she sends out into the community a ripple of kindness that is magnified by every life it encounters, so that every good deed makes a difference. Kindness is infectious!

How Did It Begin?

Now a pastor at Church180, Phil Camden, formally a pastor in New Zealand, ordered a couple of pizza’s before a church service and thought to himself that it be great if the congregation could give the pizza delivery guy the greatest tip he had ever had. The generous congregation agreed and the pizza boy, a student, walked away with a $820 tip. Word from this one Random Act of Kindness got around so quickly and the story was so popular that it inspired the creation of an annual National Random Act of Kindness Day in New Zealand.

How do people get RAk’d?

They may have their lawns mown, their petrol paid for or flowers delivered to them for no reason at all.

Who can be and who is involved?

Everyone in the community are invited to make a special effort to do a random act of kindness for someone else.

What’s in it for me?

Committing Random Acts of Kindness brings delight and goodness to not only the recipient but also to yourself. It promotes you as being a positive influencer to create a better community and environment here in the Hunter Region.

Check out some of the testimonies from last year:

04/09/09 Hungry Jack Anonymous: I was blown away. My family went through the drive thru at Hungry Jacks Maitland and the person infront paid for our meals. I was told I'd been RAK'd. I couldn't beleive it. Im looking forward to making someone elses day now!
04/09/09 Anonymous: I gave date night movie tickets to 3 sets of parents in the JHH oncology ward. The nurse and I were both tearing up. RAK touches people!
04/09/09 Grant: We went and gave 10 movie tickets away to people going into the movies, the responses were priceless! I even got a hug! We also went to businesses and bought the staff coffee & gave flowers out at the mall to unsuspecting passers by. It was great!
04/09/09 The Lady in the black car: A HUGE THANK YOU to the lovely man in the silver car that paid for my petrol at the Caltex at Marylands at 3:15pm today. Hope his weekend is fantastic!
04/09/09 Alex: I RAK'd my neighbour and put $50 their mail box!
04/09/09 Mark: Went to Bunnings and paid for some peoples BBQ sausages.
04/09/09 Mark: Gave groceries to a person who is in remission with cancer. Left it on their doorstep.
04/09/09 ANDOR: Gave each statt member and customer that we came in contact with a free movie ticket!
04/09/09 Yik: I paid for a pensioners hair cut at Jesmond while I was getting one!
04/09/09 Ben, Troy & Steve: RAK'd a family with movie vouchers.
04/09/09 Sam: Paid $50 worth of petrol for an elderly man at BP. Lady at counter asked if I knew him. I said no...RAK'd creates culture.
04/09/09 Choe, Rachel & Glenda: We are buying flowers for a few people. Some for a woman who's having challenges with her teenage son. Another for an elderly lady whose husband passed away & some to people we run into along the way!
04/09/09 Ian: RAK'd next customer at United petrol station The Junction with $20 off. Took a while for the attendant to understand but he smiled when it sank in!
04/09/09 Anonymous: Just RAK'd a couple of removalist guys doing a piano removal for us! Gave them an extra $15 to shout them some lunch.
04/09/09 Jon & Jen: This morning we dropped 5 x $20 at the local servo 2 x $10 at the local takeway and 2 x $10 at the local bakery.
04/09/09 Brendan & Allison: Bought 50 Heralds at Blackalls Park newsagency & the sales assistant is giving them away free with a 'You've been RAK'd' card attatched.
04/09/09 Anonymous: A courier driver saw a lady who's groceries bags broke, he helped her by paying a dollar for a trolley and assisting her to her car. He gave her a 'You've been RAK'd' card and told her to check out the website!
03/09/09 Jodie: I RAK'd someone by paying for their hair appointment. My hairdresser was so impressed she RAK'd me with a free haircut!
03/09/09 Kaylene & Jenni: As part of our connect group we are putting together gifts for newborn babies and giving them out at John Hunter hospital. My part (Kaylene) is free newborn photo shoot and dvd slideshow of all session photos - Its going to be a great day!
03/09/09 Murray: RAK'd 3 people at a restaurant.
03/09/09 David & Wendy: 250 newspapers are being given away tomorrow in Lake Macquarie area.