Testimonials

The Caring Coins have been reminders of caring and connection giving hope to many over the years.
These are but a few of the testimonials…

Caring Coins as a reminder of a dear friend…

“We recently have lost a very dear family member who would be 100 years old in just a couple of weeks. She was such a neat lady with a mind as sharp as a tack. Visiting with family members and friends, I realized how precious life is and how one person can make a huge difference in many lives. I looked around the room at the many lives of all ages she has touched from babies to this now Matriarch of our family. She was truly a gift to everyone she touched…The Caring Coins will be a tangible reminder of this dear lady.”

A young man at the quarry…

“I had just finished swimming at the Quarry. As I went to my car, three young people arrived. We all said hello and talked for a while. One young man told me how he had swam at the Quarry as a youngster and just had to show it to his friends. Before leaving, I shared an I matter…You matter Caring Coin with each of them. The young man who had brought his friends to the Quarry looked me in the eyes and said ‘…no one has ever told me I matter before.’ I looked back at him and said. ‘…well, you do’…He just smiled…”

A student writes…

“Our mission group brought SO many Caring Coins with us Atlanta to hand out to people we met along the way. We shared them with people at OAC, which is a center for homeless people. The people embraced the Caring Coins. It was like they were waiting for us to be there and tell them they aren’t alone, someone cared about them. The moments we were there made me realize that the people who are homeless aren’t any different than myself and you out there reading this. The only difference is where we sleep at night, and how often we shower. I am so glad that we had the Caring Coins to share.”

A young boy at Camp Agape,

a camp for children with a parent in prison put a Caring Coin in his fish bowel for his fish. He said, “I don’t want my fish to be lonely. After all, he’s my best friend. He’s always there for me.”

“We have been through so much

and lost everything: the mere fact that someone care means more than you’ll ever know…”
—a survivor

“I sent coins to my twin godsons.

One of the boys has been battling a serious drug addiction…the boys have told me how much having that coin in their pocket has helped in the struggle.”

A young girl writes…

“I have certainly come across many times when I’ve doubted my ability to live out in away without my friends and family, and have come across many struggles when I think about my friend who passed away last spring (when you saw me in church). Your coins really mean a lot to me and I hope that they remind me everyday that I can overcome any fears that I have when I am lonely out here. Thank you so much for the inspiration.”

“It was amazing to see

all of these people who had lost almost everything. They had plastic bags with their earthly possessions. There were all kinds of people of all ages from very young to very old. Each one was so grateful to receive the Caring Coin and the message of caring. It seemed to give them hope knowing someone cared about them.”
—a volunteer

A woman who works with Vets…

“I work with disabled athletes and veterans and one of my Vets gave me a coin! He said that someone had given him a coin and he wanted me to have one to remind me that he appreciated all that I do for the Vets. I was very touched…You have a great message and organization! I would like to know how to get involved with volunteering with your group.”

“Just between you and me,

I am so tired of this whole care giving thing. I just don’t want to do it anymore. I have barely been able to get out of bed the last few days. Thank god for coffee and my Caring Coin! That’s what’s getting me through.”
—an anonymous caregiver

A young girl writes…

“You will find it funny

but my poor cat is home alone a great deal because I am at work a lot of course so I gave her a Caring Coin on a string to play with because I wanted her to know that she isn’t really ever alone and she loves playing with it and drags it around all the time on that ribbon.”

“I received this beautiful coin from a passenger

that I assisted at the airport, about 3 months ago. I was helping help and her family check in, and when we were finished, she thanked me for my help and handed me this coin. I looked at it, and read it, and was sincerely touched at the very nice sentiment. This is such an unusual occurrence, being an airline employee, I’m used to people being demanding, inconsiderate, and obnoxious, while yelling and screaming at us, on a daily basis! It was so nice to receive this coin from this lady, as it made my day, in a special way, and I’d like to do the same for others!”
—an airline employee

A man in the parking lot…

“I had just parked my car at the grocery store when I saw a man struggling with the grocery carts. They were getting away from him. He appeared to have an problem with his leg so it was a real challenge for him to keep the carts together. I smiled at him and said he had a real challenge. I asked his name and told him he was doing a great job and I gave him an I matter…You matter Caring Coin. He smiled and said “At least someone thinks I matter…”

Caring Coins for People in a Homeless Shelter…

A little boy…

“We were sitting in a circle talking about how each one of us mattered. Each child had received an I matter…You matter Caring Coin. One little boy said “I don’t matter…my mother doesn’t love me, she doesn’t care about me” Needless to say, we were all taken back by what he had just said. I thought for a moment and said “You know honey, sometimes someone just can’t say I love you…but that doesn’t mean they don’t love you or that they don’t care about you. You do so matter. I care about you, all of us here care about you”. A little later, he came up to me with his Caring Coin in his hand and said “Do you really think that I matter?” I said “I know that you matter” He said “Then maybe I do…” And we gave each other a big hug. I reminded him to keep his I matter…You matter Caring Coin to remind him that he does so matter.”

Camp Agape, Vermont:

“I don’t think I’ll ever take this off.” These words from a camper at Camp Agape, a camp in Cabot, Vermont for children who have experienced having a parent in prison resonate how the Caring Coins are a tangible reminder of caring, connection and hope they receive at Camp Agape. The campers participated in discussions, games, and crafts focusing on caring, respect for self and each other. Each camper received a Caring Coin for themselves and additional coins to Pass On. Frequently, a camper shared a Caring Coin with another camper they felt was having a difficult time. Many campers returned with their coins from previous years which reflects what Camp Agape and the Caring Coins meant to them.

A student shares…

“A good friend of mine shared with me a secret. She was depressed and hurting herself. After getting her some guidance and help from adults at school, I gave her a hug, not knowing what else to do. When I got home I was sitting at my desk trying to think of something to give her for a little hope. That’s when the Angel Caring Coin caught my eye. I lifted the coin from under a text book and wrote a little note with it. The next day I gave it to her she broke down in tears in the middle of the hallway thanking me. She sent mea picture of the coin made into a keychain saying “I’ll always have it with me, thank you”. After this experience, I truly understand why these coins are so special to you. Now I wear a necklace with coins on it and always try to pass them along when I can.

A Caring Coin for a Waitress…

“I gave out a Caring Coin tonight at around 9 pm to a waitress at was working her tail off. I told her that she mattered. She seemed to light up. Her eyes were bright with joy. I also gave her a coin to pass onto someone she loves or needs some enlightenment. HOPE she takes it to heart.”

A Lady writes…

“Everyone I have ever given a coin to has been delighted to have them. I gave them to my twin nieces when they moved from Vermont to New Hampshire and they put ribbons on them and used them as Christmas tree decorations, which I think is really nice.”

The lady on line…

I was asked to speak at a local Kiwanis Club Meeting. After I spoke about the Caring Coins, I passed them around for the group to see. A big smile came over the face of one of the ladies. She said “I have one of these…” She then went on to tell this story…she was standing on line at Rite-Aide when the girl in front of her realized she didn’t have enough money for the tax on a phone card that she was sending to her boyfriend in Iraq. This lady immediately offered the girl the amount of money she needed. When this lady finished her transaction and started to leave the store someone came up to her and said…”You are an angel” and gave her a Caring Coin. She said she “floated” out of the store and has kept the coin with her ever since.

A woman at Michaels…

“I went to Michaels to get some pins to glue on come Caring Coins. I had no idea where to find them. Anyone who has been to a Michaels knows it’s easy to get lost there…I asked Edith, an older woman, who worked there if she knew where the pins were. He said she didn’t but suggested I go to the children’s crafts area. As I proceeded in that direction, I heard over the loudspeaker “Would the lady who wants the pins come up front?” I went up front to where the manager showed me where the pins were. When I went to check out, I saw Edith at the cash register. I thanked her for getting me the help and told her she mattered as I gave her an I matter…You matter Caring Coin. Her eyes filled up with tears and she told me that someone had just told her she didn’t know what she was doing and should go home. Edith said this Caring Coin meant the world to her”.

The Man on the street…

I was in New York for my nursing school reunion. I’m not usually early but this day I was. So I decided to walk down to Washington Square Park. My old stomping grounds…As I left the park and walked up Fifth Avenue, a man asked me if I could spare a dollar for a cup of coffee. I reached in my pocket and took out a dollar and a Caring Coin. (I always carry a couple of single dollars and Caring Coins in my pocket) I gave the man the dollar and then I said “My name is Salley, what’s your name?” He gave me a big smile and said “My name is Rightous.” I said, “Rightous, I’m happy to meet you. I have something for you.” And I gave him the Caring Coin and said “This is for you to keep”. He looked at the coin and said “Thank you ma’am”. I crossed the street as I was going in a different direction but I watched Rightous as he walked up the street and he kept looking down at the coin all the way up the street. Sometimes the simplest little thing can mean so much.

An anonymous gift…

“I just received a call from a lady who wanted to know more about the You Are Never Alone Foundation and the Caring Coins. She had recently lost a family member. She told me how she belongs to a prayer group where she had shared about her loss. After sharing, she got up from her chair to get a cup of coffee. When she returned, someone had put a Caring Coin on her chair. She was so touched by the coin, the message and the thoughtfulness of the person who gave her the coin.”

The Boy at the Rec. Center

I was feeling good…We had had a Board Meeting that morning and I had asked the Board how they felt about being a part of YANAF. They all said they liked being part of something simple, positive and something that made a difference. “This is good.” I thought as I walked along. The high school baseball team was practicing. I could hear one or two voices above the others. I kept walking…

As I came off the trail heading for my car, one of the boys came running past me huffing and puffing saying “F this and F that”. He got into his car and started to rev up his engine. I thought “…this is not good, he’s angry, he shouldn’t be driving his car.” I reached into my pocket for a Caring Coin but I didn’t have one. I went to my car to get one. Then, two of his friends came off the field and pleaded with him to come back saying the team really needed him. He got out of the car but was still noticeably angry. I went over toward the three boys and said “Excuse me…” Needless to say they didn’t hear me. Suddenly out of the blue, I shouted “Hey you!”. The three boys turned and looked at me. No one was more surprised than me. I then pointed at the boy and shouted “You get over here…” The boy came over to me, his face red and full of perspiration. He said “Yes ma’am?” I held out the coin in my hand and said “…I have something for you. Feel this.” He did. Then I said “…now take a deep breath.” He did. Then I said, “…now put this in your pocket.” He did. Then I said, “…now go” and I shooed him off.

He went back to his friends and they all went back to the field. Now I wouldn’t be surprised if he said to his friends “…do you know what that crazy lady did?” But do you know what? It broke his anger. Sometimes is only takes something simple to break the anger and head off an unfortunate situation.