ARK giving Project
ARK stands for Acts of Routine Kindness.
Following an act of hate directed at the Pensacola Chabad Jewish Center, we are on a mission to add lots of goodness and kindness across Pensacola.
We are starting a campaign to get an ARK charity box in the hands of every person and business in Pensacola. Let's generate kindness through small acts of giving!
It works like this:
Get an ARK charity box
Fill it up
Share the contents with a charity or someone in need; the choice is yours!
Develop a habit of giving
ARK charity boxes give every person the opportunity to make the world a better place through Acts of Random Kindness.
We can generate change in ourselves and in our community with the simple act of consistent giving. Keep it handy, use it daily, and together we'll achieve Acts of Routine Kindness.
#DailyKindness #ARKforChange #PensacolaARK
The Rebbe places a coin in the large charity box at Chabad Wold Headquarters.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe set an example of how society can heal itself from within. Through nurturing the inherent goodness within everything and cultivating the latent empathy we all possess, we can change ourselves and the world around us for the better, ushering in an era of global peace and tranquility for all.
Tzedaka - charitable giving - is a constant theme in the Rebbe's teachings and became a campaign to educate everyone to become a giver
The ARK Giving Project in Pensacola is inspired by, and a result of the Rebbe's clarion call to inspire humanity to greater moral and ethical heights through positive and consistent action.
ARK: Acts of Random Kindness > Acts of Routine Kindness
The Philosophy:
People are more influenced by the things they do than by the knowledge they are taught.
Compassion and kindness are strengthened by consistency. Giving small amounts of charity every day causes one to become a giver.
Childhood is the prime time to cultivate compassion and kindness. Children also influence adults to do the same. This creates a stronger culture of giving in society.
Having a dedicated charity box to place money every day provides a visual reminder of the importance of giving.
Everyone is concerned about the increased polarization in our society which leads to intolerance and hatred that can have deadly consequences. In order to change the trajectory of the way things are going we need to nip hatred in the bud. Providing more opportunities for ourselves and our children to express compassion and kindness through consistent action is one way of combating hatred. When someone becomes a giver, especially at a young age, it’s impossible to hate others so blindly.
Giving charity every day has proven to generate a greater sense of compassion. Following is a testimony from a principal of a school in Texas that implemented ARK in 2019.
“One of the high school boys was walking down the hall and he stopped me in my office and told me thank you for allowing the students to do the ARK project. He then went on to tell me that even though he lives in Juarez, he doesn't spend much time thinking about the poor people there because the city is full of desolate people. But, he told me that every time he put money in the ark, he felt like that was kind of like sitting alongside one of the migrants.”
“He crosses the border daily with the fast pass and never truly realized the impact of so many other suffering people, until the project. He mentioned that so many students say that when they grow up and get a job or win the lottery- then they will give. He told me that he would keep the ark in his backpack to remind him that loose change can make a difference in the lives of others.”
The Vision:
Home: Acts of Routine Kindness begin with you, in your home with your family. Anyone, old and young, can make a huge difference in our community. Get your ARK charity box and start filling it. When full
Schools: Start a Kindness Campaign in your school or classroom. Children in schools are given their own personal charity box (in the form of an ark) to collect coins at home. They are encouraged to place a coin in their ark every day. ARK motivates classroom discussions and projects about kindness.
Businesses: When employees are encouraged to get involved and take a more active role in charitable initiatives, company culture thrives. Charitable giving helps employees build respect for one another, fosters teamwork, and deepens employee engagement.
The Practical:
How can you get involved?
There are three easy ways for you to participate:
1. Spread the word about ARK on social media.
2. Help prep ARKs for distribution, and deliver them throughout the Pensacola area
3. Sponsor some ARK charity boxes. Click here to donate. Write ARK in comment
Does any of this sound good? Send us an email here, and get involved!