Ari’s Flashlight: How One Small Act of Kindness Sparked a Big Light
Every now and then, a story comes along that reminds us exactly why we do what we do.
During our recent #spreadjordenslight RAOK (Random Acts of Kindness) Challenge, we saw an incredible range of beautiful gestures inspired by one mission: to light up the world in honor of Jorden. One entry in particular moved us deeply—a story that came full circle in the most unexpected and heartwarming way.
Sherry, the winner of our RAOK Challenge, teamed up with her sister Michelle to spread light—literally. The two decided to buy small flashlights, attach inspirational notes, and include our hashtag and social handles. Then, they placed the flashlights all around their town, quietly seeding joy and hope for strangers to discover.
One of those strangers was a 6-year-old boy named Ari.
Ari found one of the flashlights at his local CVS. His mom messaged us on Instagram shortly afterward, sharing that Ari was absolutely overjoyed to find this tiny beacon of light. But what she told us next stopped us in our tracks.
Ari had just lost his uncle—someone he was very close with. He was grieving, confused, and heartbroken in the way only a child can be. The flashlight, she said, gave him something he didn’t even know he needed: hope. He carried it around for days. He brought it to school for show-and-tell. It became a physical reminder that light still exists—even in dark moments.
We were moved to tears reading her message. Because this is what Jorden was all about—bringing light, laughter, and love to those who needed it most. In Ari’s joy, we felt Jorden’s spirit. In Ari’s flashlight, we saw a spark of something bigger: proof that one small act of kindness can ripple out in ways we’ll never fully understand.
Ari may not know who left that flashlight. But he felt its meaning. And now, so do we.
So thank you, Sherry and Michelle, for stepping up and creating something so simple, yet so powerful. And thank you to Ari and his mom for sharing this moment with us. You reminded us that Jorden’s light is still very much alive—and still finding its way to those who need it most.
Let’s keep going. Let’s keep spreading light.
