When I was a boy, I was always happy to see those little brown coins. After years I was still very happy to pick up pennies on the ground.

I usually saved them up. I usually bought a pack of gum or a bag of chips when it was enough. After growing up, I heard a story about coins. It was said that our loved people sometimes would leave pennies on the ground in front of us. People wanted to show us that we were loved and watched over kindly. I never doubted that story even as an adult. It is difficult for me to find a lot of money on the ground, but pennies are there all the time. Maybe that is why I still enjoy seeing them and picking them up, no matter how dirty or old they are.

A few months ago, I was walking to the local post office to mail a letter. As I entered the room, I saw not one, not two, but four pennies shining in the sunlight. I smiled and picked them up. I kept them in my hands as I walked in the post office. “Four is Ok,” an office said to a lady. The lady began searching her purse. Her face went red. I understood what had happened. I laughed to myself at this surprising moment. I placed my pennies on the desk before her. The smile I got in return was worth a thousand dollars.

The coins weren’t so valuable to me, but they did matter to her. I just performed a little kindness. I was happy.

It took multiple weddings for Christine Law to realize what she needed to do. In the summer of 2014, her schedule was packed with friends’ marriage celebrations - flower-filled occasions that got her thinking, “Where do all the flowers go after the party？” More often than not, they were thrown away. Law was confident she could find a better use for them.

By August, she had a plan:convince couples and companies hosting events to donate their flowers, which she would pick up and deliver within 48 hours to seniors across the city. She wanted to bring beauty into the lives of the elderly. She drew on her experience through being a volunteer in non­profit institutions in order to set up her own organization, which she called Floranthropie. Not having enough bouquets (花束) for all 150 people of a health center, Law asked the staff to provide a list of patients who needed cheering up most. “The first woman I approached thought it was a mistake, and that the flowers couldn’t possibly be for her,” says Law. “I said they were a gift, and we talked for a half hour.

In addition to health centers, Floranthropie focuses on community groups devoted to the elderly. Laëtitia Thélème is a volunteer for Les Petits Fières, an organization that aims to help the elderly who don’t have a support system. The group receives a dozen or so bouquets from Floranthropie monthly, and then redistributes them. “Our motto is ‘flowers before bread’,” says Thélème. “We don’t focus on primary care, but rather on nourishing (滋养) the spirit. Floranthropie helps us do that. It’s amazing what a big difference a small bouquet can make.”

In the beginning, most of Floranthropie’s donations came through word of mouth. These days, Law receives messages from strangers via her organization’s Facebook page and has connected with corporations and flower wholesalers. Law hopes to expand Floranthropie nationally, but at this point is happy to be able to oversee each delivery personally.

On the first day of fourth grade, my teacher, Mrs. Brown, told my class a story about her husband Rob, who is a brain cancer survivor. After what Mrs. Brown experienced with Robs’ illness, she decided to devote part of her life to an organization called Be head Strong, which works to support families with a member suffering from brain cancer.

Along with typical math and science, throughout the year, Mrs. Brown shared stories with us about people in Be Head Strong who had overcome some tough and unfair battles. Mrs. Brown never showed any sadness or confusion toward the disease. She instead spoke only with words of determination to find a cure. Whether news from Be Head Strong was good or bad, she always looked at the situation as an opportunity to improve and do more.

My parents taught me from a very young age that making wise choices with my money is important. I would always set aside most of my $ 2.50-a-week allowance. By the end of the school year, I had saved over one hundred dollars, $ 131.30 to be exact. One day was wondering what to do with it. I did not feel like any game or toy was worth the time I had spent saving. I thought about the stories Mrs. Brown told us, then I decided that was where I wanted my money to go.

As the last day of school approached, my mom helped me wrap the heart-shaped box full of dollars and coins. After all the other kids had left on the last day of school, I handed Mrs. Brown the present. As she opened it, I told her that I wanted the money to go to Be Head Strong to help people like Rob. She broke into tears and hugged me tightly.

People may not always realize how big of an influence one kind gesture can make. One teacher encouraged a decision in my life that has changed the way how I live.