KINDNESS HOTLINE

A smile and good deed

Terry Ford reported a kindness Monday that made her day. Phyllis McDonald at the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce did her good deed for the day when she gave Ford a smile and a friendly greeting. Ford was looking for a city map, a rental guide and a Cape Girardeau telephone book. McDonald made Ford's day by giving her all three items. "She was so nice. She really just made my day," Ford said.

Kindness exemplified

Mindy Beyer, activity director at the Fountainbleau Lodge, works to make everyone happy at the center. "She makes sure there's something for everyone to do every day so we don't get bored," said one resident. "Everybody loves her."

Kind neighbor

Lois Smith called to praise her next-door neighbor Leo Bethards, who does kind acts for neighbors most every day. When neighbors are in Florida for a month, he takes care of the house and flowers. He also goes to a local nursing home every week and takes a former neighbor to lunch and shopping. He volunteers every Wednesday at the Lutheran Home. He's always ready to do anything anyone would like him to do.

Free car washes

Jim Profilet, an instructor at the Regional Adult and Alternative Education Program in Cairo, Ill., reported that students in his class gave free car washes to all the students and instructors at the center. "I have the sore feet and sore arms to prove it," Profilet said.

Mowing with kindness

Lois Scott of Cape Girardeau, says two neighbors -- Jim Musgrave and Jackie Todd -- have mowed her lawn the past year and a half. "My husband suffered a stroke a couple of years ago, and the neighbors took it upon themselves to mow my yard," said Scott. The two neighbors work together on the program. One mows the front, one mows the back.

Church helps family

Donna Fee of Jackson reported a kindness by the Immaculate Conception Church of Jackson. "We're in the process of moving, and we're without housing," said Fee. "The weather has prevented the family getting into a new double-wide mobile home, and I just had a new baby." Mons. Edward Eftink, of Immaculate Conception Church, became aware of the plight, said Fee, and let the family rent a home owned by the church until their home is ready. Renting a home usually takes a lot of time, but Mons. Eftink let the family move in immediately.

Alert mail carrier

Neighbors along County Road 532 in Bollinger County called to thank contract mail carrier Debbie McCabe. A few weeks ago, McCabe took time out from delivering the mail to report a fire along the side of the road. She called the fire department and went back to the neighbors to make sure everyone possible was notified. "It was a fantastic deed," said one neighbor. "The whole countryside could have gone up in flames without her quick action. Her effort was outstanding."

Daughter real gem

Margie Ervin of Cape Girardeau called to nominate her daughter, Patricia Ann Williams, who always helps out Ervin and her across-the-street neighbor. Ervin said her daughter, who lives a few houses away, stops by every morning to bring her and her neighbor's newspapers from the driveway to the door and always carries their trash to the curb on garbage pickup days. "She is always ready to help someone in any situation," Ervin said of her daughter.