KINDNESS HOTLINE

THE KINDERGARTEN center at Sikeston Public Schools has been busy all week with kind acts. Early childhood classes made place mats for nursing homes. Students picked up litter around the school, and wrote thank-you notes to janitors, cooks, bus drivers, librarians, volunteers and others. Kindergarteners also read to early childhood students. Each teacher handed out "tickets" that they issued to children "caught" doing kind acts around the school.

THE CHAFFEE Elementary School observed Kindness week by presenting several musical programs. The students rehearsed songs and speaking parts that centered around kindness, good manners, respect, self-esteem, getting along with each other and other areas of growing up. Each grade level prepared a musical and they presented it during the week. Students also created posters with their names and positive characteristics about themselves and displayed them in the cafeteria.

MY 86-year-old father-in-law and I discovered that we had a flat tire on his truck when we arrived at Pokey's Pub and Grill in Pocahontas for lunch. We decided to have lunch and deal with the flat tire later. Our waitress offered the use of her air compressor, but my father-in-law declined her kind offer and said that he had a jack and would change the tire after he ate. Two of Pokey's associates changed the tire while we ate and would not take payment for their good deed. This was truly a random act of kindness since we were just unnamed patrons. We had the feeling that kindness is a way of life there. Thanks Pokey's.

AT MAY GREENE Elementary School, the boys club, which is fourth, fifth and sixth grade boys, planted flowers and put mulch around the flower beds in the front of the school.

BOB'S FISH House in Cape Girardeau donated 10 percent of his sales last Monday and Tuesday for the Women's Safe House.

CHARLIE AND Sue Balsamo perform acts of kindness all year long. When my son and his wife left to return home Sue called with a cheerfully message. Charlie sprayed the wood bees that were attempting to make a home in my garage.

I KNOW a wonderful person, Bernice Pierce, who does a lot for her church as a neighbor and friend. She is caring, loving and faithful to her Sunday school class. All this she does so that Jesus' light will be seen through her. I wish I could be as faithful as she.

AT MAY GREENE School, Mrs. Brazy's 4th grade students area all over the building helping teachers with whatever they need. I have some children in here organizing a clothes closet, and I just wanted to let you know.

I WOULD like to take this opportunity to thank the ladies at the United Way office, Nancy Jernigan and Kathy Patterson, for sending the special treat to the CASA office and the Jackson R-2 children's fund. It was truly appreciated.

I WOULD like to recognize Lou Skaggs as an exceptionally kind person. Lou is a true angel always doing good deed for her neighbors and friends.

Earlier this week, my sister and I were on our way to work. We stopped at McDonalds to get breakfast, and the lady in front of us bought it. She was in a red Oldsmobile mini-van, and we'd like to thank her.