Contributed by Laura Ponticello

Dear Friends,

Amelia Earhart said “No kind action ever stops with itself. One kind action leads to another. Good example is followed. A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees. The greatest work that kindness does to others is that it makes them kind themselves.”

My heart was incredibly moved by this community’s gift of giving at the Summer Book Lover’s Party hosted by Laura’s List: Books for Women at Creekside Books & Coffee. Over 135 women and couples stood shoulder to shoulder, as Dr. Barbara Connor and Akuot Leek, a Lost Girl of Sudan inspired the audience with their personal experiences in the Sudan.

Leek’s brother is John Bul Dau, author of “God Grew Tired of Us”and a survivor of unsurmountable odds. During the civil strife in Duk Payuel, Sudan, Leek’s village was burnt to the ground, children abducted, and those that survived were forced to walk thousands of miles through alligator infested waters to find shelter in refugee camps. Leek now attends college in Central New York and serves as inspiration for women of all ages- that a resilient spirit can’t be broken.

As a result of this evening, funds were raised to help support the Duk Lost Boys Clinic. Together, we made a difference and for that I have tremendous gratitude.

The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation tells us that health benefits exist when one performs an act of kindness to include:

- The health benefits and sense of well-being return for hours or even days whenever the helping act is remembered.

- An increased sense of self-worth, greater happiness, and optimism, as well as a decrease in feelings of helplessness and depression, is achieved.

Laura Ponticello,
Laura’s List: Books for Women

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