HELP US CELEBRATE RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS

For the past five years, the Southeast Missourian has sponsored what grew to be the largest community celebration of Random Acts of Kindness Week in the nation.

This year, the week that recognizes the goodness and kindness of our area will be condensed into one special day.

As has become the custom in Southeast Missouri, the observance of Random Acts of Kindness is linked to Mother's Day. Although the national observance of Random Acts of Kindness Week is observed later in the year, we have always felt that kindness and motherhood have such a special relationship that it was only appropriate to honor mothers everywhere with the special celebration.

This year, we are asking readers to tell us about acts of kindness that have touched their lives or the community in a special way. These stories will be published in our Random Acts of Kindness issue Sunday, May 13 -- which, of course, is Mother's Day.

Mark Bliss of the news staff will be coordinating this year's coverage for the Random Acts of Kindness Week edition. Please contact Mark with your kindness stories. You can reach him by telephone at 335-6611 (extension 123), or by e-mail at mbliss@semissourian.com. You may send kindness information by mail to RAK, P.O. Box 699, Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63702. Feel free to drop off information about acts of kindness at our main office at 301 Broadway.

We hope you will share stories of deeds that make our area such a special place to live.

If you have been helped by a neighbor or been the recipient of any special act of kindness, please let us know.

Thank you.