As days get shorter, and spirits need a boost, we invite you to join us in a new community project we are calling “Acts of Kindness”. Faculty Housing, Work Life and Community Engagement invite you to make and distribute greeting cards and gift bags containing food and toiletries that we’ll distribute to our neighbors including Visiting Neighbors seniors.

Things to know

• All residents are welcome to participate!
• No experience necessary.
• Materials provided while supplies last.

There are a couple of ways you can participate in this project:

Acts of Kindness (Part 1)
Pick up DIY materials kit: Tuesday, December 1, 5-7pm
Drop off greeting cards and decorated gift bags: Tuesday, December 8, 5-7pm
2 Washington Square Village Lobby

You can make and decorate greeting cards and gift bags.

HOW? Pick up a DIY kit for decorating greeting cards and gift bags from the lobby of 2 Washington Square Village on Tuesday, December 1 from 5pm-7pm, then make a card at home using provided supplies, or your own materials and put it inside the decorated gift bag. Please see suggestions below for crafting your greeting card for your neighbor. You can make more than one!

Once complete, deliver the gift bag and card to the drop box in your building lobby by December 8. Alternatively, you may drop off to the lobby of 2 Washington Square Village on Tuesday, December 8 from 5pm-7pm to receive a gift from us to you for participating!

Everyone is required to wear a face covering and maintain 6 feet of distance from others.

Acts of Kindness (Part 2)
We also encourage you to participate in our cooking contest

HOW? Contact Stacey Gordon at slg584@nyu.edu to request a food bag. (Bags will be available for pick up at the Work Life office on December 9, between 10am-1pm).

• Using the basic pantry staple food items in the bag, prepare a meal – get creative, adding your own supplemental ingredients is encouraged! If you’re looking for inspiration, here is a list of great food blogs.
• Snap a photo of the food you cook, and send it to Erin Donnelly (erin.donnelly@nyu.edu)
• Once the photo is sent, share your meal with whomever you choose – extra points for photos of you sharing your meal!

Your photo will be submitted to the Cooking Contest and a winner will be chosen and announced in the Work Life and Faculty Housing newsletters.

Acts of Kindness (Part 3)
Help us deliver gift bags to a neighbor
HOW? Stop by the Work Life office on December 9 from 10am -1pm (located at 245 Mercer Street, corner of West 3rd and Mercer Streets.)

If you have questions, please feel free to contact Erin Donnelly, Community Liaison, NYU Faculty Housing, erin.donnelly@nyu.edu or 347-514-0317.

Thank you in advance for participating!

Be well,
Faculty Housing, Work Life and Community Engagement

Below are suggestions for crafting your festive DIY greeting card for your neighbor:

• Write or type in large print to allow for easy legibility.
• In your greeting, please clearly identify yourself as an “NYU Acts of Kindness” participant to provide context for the reader.
• Add a bit about yourself to personalize your message but do not give out your address or phone number.
• You might want to wish your neighbor Season’s Greetings or Happy Holidays; however, do not specify which holiday so messaging is inclusive.
• Sign your greeting with just your first name and last initial.
• Please do not seal your greeting in an envelope as we will be previewing submissions for suitability before distributing to neighbors.

Images: Courtesy of NYU Photo Bureau; Christian Motos