Each Friday, the another jennifer blog shares stories of those who incorporate philanthropy into their everyday lives – personally and professionally – in a creative and unique way. If you have a story you’d like to share, please contact Jennifer. You can view past posts from the series here.
KIND Healthy Snacks are more than just yummy snacks made from all-natural whole nuts, fruits and whole grains. The company is committed to social entrepreneurship with impact and focused on making the world a little kinder, one act at a time. I recently had the opportunity to interview David Rule, Director of Consumer Engagement at KIND.
What was the inspiration behind KIND Healthy Snacks?
Our founder, Daniel Lubetzky, began with a more personal story. Daniel’s father survived the holocaust thanks to several acts of kindness. Hearing first-hand stories from his father inspired Daniel to develop sustainable, socially driven companies that better our world. With success, came a much busier schedule and a growing frustration over the lack of healthy, tasty and convenient snack choices to fuel his busy lifestyle. This, coupled with concern about the rising obesity and diabetic epidemic in America, ultimately drove Daniel to launch KIND in 2004.
Why does the company go beyond just selling healthy snacks?
Here at KIND, we work to not only sell wholesome, delicious snacks that are good to your body and taste buds but to inspire kindness and impact change in the world. Our motto says it all: “Do the KIND Thing for your body, your taste buds, and your world”.
What kind of impact has KIND made?
Through our social mission Do The KIND Thing, we have partnered with numerous individuals and groups to manifest large scale projects ranging from delivering thousands of care packages to Wounded Warriors to donating school supplies for undeserved children in need. While Do the KIND Thing has taken many shapes over the past few years, its overarching mission has remained the same: inspiring and celebrating kindness.
A perfect example of how we try to bring our mission to life is through one of our most recent one-off kindness campaigns where we brought a Flower Wall (literally, a wall of flowers) to various cities nationwide. People who visited the wall were given a bar and a flower. The bar was for them to enjoy, but the flower was for that individual to pass along to a friend, loved one or stranger.
This program was really awesome to work on because I got the chance to see just how enthusiastic people were to not only get a free snack, but receive a flower that they in turn could pass on to someone else. More often than not, people involved in these type of programs are more enthused to be the giver (in this case with the flower) than the receiver and at the end of the day, that’s exactly what KIND is about.
What does “giving back” mean to you?
On a more daily basis, I find it’s about being decent and providing time, guidance or resources when possible to the people around you that need it – even if that is just lending an ear or giving advice. On a larger scale, for me personally, it is about having the mentality that we are all in this together as people on this planet. When you have that community perspective, ‘giving back’ becomes more natural instead of a daily task.
How You Can “do the kind thing”
“Doing the kind thing” is literally doing anything that is good for your body, taste buds or world; the possibilities are endless and could be anything from running your first 5K to holding the door open for someone at your local supermarket.
You can get involved by capturing moments like these through the hashtag #kindawesome via Instagram and/or Twitter. Those captured experiences will all become part of a larger living mural on the Do the KIND Thing homepage – a hub for all things kind! Included on this page are inspiring videos like this #kindawesome surf story.
In addition to the online store, KIND is available in most grocery stores, convenience stores and commuter hubs. It’s one of those things where once you know what they look like you’ll see them everywhere. (And they are seriously good!)
What #kindawesome thing will you do today?
This article was also published on pplkind
Love this! My kids ADORE these snacks, so to know the company is so philanthropic makes me really happy that I always say yes when they want one! :)-Ashley
They are so good, aren’t they? And healthy! And philanthropic! It’s like a win-win-win. 🙂
We often have a stash of their snack bars in our house. It’s good to know the story behind the company as well and to know of all the great things they do, makes me that much happy to support them while I enjoy one of their tasty treats!
Exactly. And they are the perfect pregnancy snack too. When I was pregnant, I always had some sort of bar stashed away in various places so I would never go hungry!
I LOVE Kind bars! And now I love Kind even more! I am willing to support any business – especially one that makes delicious healthy snacks – in their mission to do social good!
So cool to hear that my readers already eat KIND bars. I’m not the shopper in the family, so I guess I missed them at first. Now that I know how good they are, I seem to see them everywhere!
This is the kind of brand I love. I hate seeing so many kid snack brands pumped with sugar and crap I can’t even pronounce.
Do you know if KIND is in grocery stores or do they just sell from their website?
They are in grocery stores and convenience stores. Heck, I’ve even seen them in Old Navy! Super good too.
I have relatives who survived the Holocaust too. Daniel’s mission story is near and dear to my heart. I am constantly frustrated by lack of easy but healthy snacks.
When I was pregnant and newly nursing, they were perfect for me. Come to think of it, they still are. I’m constantly snacking.
They are so good and so easy, as you said. I’m a snacker as well. KIND snacks are perfect! I stash them everywhere now.
I’ve never tried these but after reading this I will be on the lookout for them. I love socially responsible companies.
Me too, Carla. Companies like KIND make you feel better about shopping decisions.
Ooh I could have fun with that hashtag these days!! Great concept!
I know, right? Love the hashtag!
Love this idea. Healthy snacks – oh man, what a world it would be if we ALL had access to those. 🙂 Happy weekend. Thanks for sharing this!
Seriously. There are bars that can keep kids from starving to death. And I think about the kids in my son’s school whose families can’t afford good, healthy food. So sad.
I see KIND bars all of the time, but never really knew why so many people like their snacks. Now I know. Thanks for this interview. It’s great!
It’s a great company, Jennifer. They are passionate about making a difference in the world. It’s refreshing to see!
Not only am I going to go buy these snacks, but if something (God FORBID) should ever happen to Derek, I wanna marry THAT guy in the video! Not only a gem of a person (obviously) but HUBBA HUBBA!! (Obviously!)
LOL
You are hilarious, Chris! That’s why I love you. Well, there are other reasons, but you always make me smile. 🙂
First, I LOVE KIND bars but never knew the purpose behind the company. I love the simplicity behind their message. And now I will purchase and eat yet another KIND bar.
Makes you want them more, doesn’t it?! 🙂
I have never seen them – now I will be on the look out. Love the concept behind KIND…so simple yet so strong!
Once you see them, you’ll notice them everywhere! They are so good.