Thoughts for Theo Spreads Kindness and Healing
by Margaret Hurlbert
December 13, 2019

The holidays always provide a time to give back to the community For the Wolf family, this season of giving has an even deeper meaning. They are giving back with random acts of kindness as a way for them to honor the memory of their infant son, Theo, who passed away in August.

Lisa Wolf explained that Thoughts for Theo started as a way for the family to remember Theo while helping others. Whenever a family member performs an act of kindness, they leave a Thoughts for Theo card encouraging the recipient to pay it forward to keep Theo’
s memory alive and to share kindness on Facebook using #ThoughtsForTheo.

This December, the Wolfs committed to doing a different random act of kindness daily. From paying for strangers’ meals at the drive through, to sending gift cards to those in difficult situations, and bringing snacks to emergency room staff, the Wolfs have found many ways to give back and celebrate Theo. “I think it’s awesome,” stated Lisa. “We’ve been doing it as a family and it’s something we’ve enjoyed doing as a family. . .. It just makes your heart feel good.”

Each member of the family has helped work towards their goal of spreading kindness. Along with helping his parents with several acts, fourth grader Noah has done several of his own, which include giving out poinsettias and working with his class at school to send candy canes to nursing home residents. “I just like spreading kindness to other people,” Noah shared.

Even three-year old Owen has found ways to help with Thoughts for Theo too. Lisa reported that he had fun putting money in the Salvation Army kettle and picking out snacks to send to the emergency room staff.

Since starting Thoughts for Theo, members of the Wolf’s extended family, friends, and others have joined up to keep the kindness flowing. The family has received requests for Thoughts for Theo cards to give out across Iowa and across the country in cities from Chicago and St Louis to Albuquerque. “It’s really taken off. We started it as something just for our family, and now it’s grown,” said Lisa.

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