KINDNESS HOTLINE

Injury doesn't stop kindness

A recent horseback riding accident left Julie Dale with a broken arm, but not a broken spirit for doing acts of kindness.

With her regular routine and work schedule hampered by a cast from fingers to shoulder, she stopped by Hanover Lutheran Church office to see if there was anyone she might visit. The parish administrator sent her in the direction of Marie Exler, a member of the congregation who is recuperating from a recent surgery. Julie loaded up the kids, grabbed a bouquet of flowers -- with one hand tied in a sling -- and headed off for an afternoon of loving and being loved. Said Marie, who didn't know Julie before the visit, "It absolutely made my day!" A little kindness provides a whole lot of cure.

Coke and a smile

Central States Coca-Cola in Jackson donated five cases of soda to general services at Southeast Missouri State University as a treat for the employees.

Friendly fire safety

Cape Girardeau Fireman Steve Niswonger took a fire truck to Timothy Circle and Kenneth Street and talked to the kids about fire safety.

Treats from teachers

St. Mary's Early Education Center teachers handed out doughnuts and sodas Wednesday morning.

Taking the time

First American Home Care would like to thank home health aides Nancy Seymour and Judy Lichtennegger.

Seymour, on her day off, drove to Cape Girardeau from her home in Marble Hill to wash and style an elderly patient's hair.

Lichtennegger collected money from other staff members on her own time to buy bought personal items and household necessities for a needy patient.

Both women do these kinds of acts of kindness all the time.

Free faxes

Mail Boxes Etc., who is proud to be a part of Random Acts of Kindness Week, decided to send "Random Free Faxes."

Mary Prince, manager, went through the blank fax log and put happy faces beside random lines. Several customers this week will get a free fax when their line has a happy face beside it, regardless the number of pages! The idea has gone over with great enthusiasm.

When a customer receives a free fax, they are required to wear the "Warning, I Practice Random Acts of Kindness" sticker out of the store and practice kindness. It has brought lost of smiles this week. Thanks to the Southeast Missourian for sponsoring this event; maybe it will remind all of us to be kinder to each other every day.

Snack time

The Regional Employee Assistance Program delivered snacks such as cookies, popcorn, and Chex mix to the boys at the Girardot Center on Tuesday.

Staff helps out

The Girardot Center staff and kids go to Washington School to play with the other kids during recess. Also, the center's staff helped supervise the kids with Washington's teachers.

Kindergarten kindness

Diana Raymond, an aide at Cape Christian School, reported an act of kindness. Every day she takes Riley Lohrmann, a kindergarten student, to meet the bus for day care. On Wednesday, she saw that someone had dumped trash on the school yard. Riley Lohrmann voluntarily picked up all of the trash.

Nice nieces

Sue Gleason called to thank her four nieces for their Random Act of Kindness. On April 10, Mrs. Gleason's mother died and then on April 26th her husband had a stroke. Mrs. Gleason's four nieces, Annette, Barb, Bonnie, and Angie, planted three flowering bushes, spread mulch, and left a card. The card referenced that each bloom from the bushes would represent a smile, a hug, and a prayer each day. Mrs. Gleason said couldn't have asked for a better gift.

Plants for partners

The Union Planters Bank employees would like to thank the bank's Partners in Education school, Alma Schrader. The school sent plants to the bank employees as an act of kindness. Also, the school performs other kind acts throughout the year for the bank.

Home for kindness

A Lutheran Home resident has seen many acts of kindness at the home. Everyday there are many acts of kindness, from the residents to the caretakers and from the caretakers to the residents. The resident would like to thank God for all of these acts of kindness.

Treats for teachers

The students at Schultz School will pass out treats during the teachers meeting on Thursday.

Thank you, neighbors

Ann Abbott of Cape Girardeau would like to thank her kind neighbors, Dustin and Mathus Williams. They helped her carry in groceries, run errands and reach things from high shelves.

Nell Holcomb helper

Karen Roques from rural Jackson is being thanked for her great deeds. Karen regularly volunteers at Nell Holcomb and greets students with hugs. She is a Brownie leader for her children plus helps other local coaches. Karen is known for always smiling through all the kind acts she does.

Pharmacy flowers

Broadway Prescription would like to thank Medical Arts Pharmacy for sending the Broadway girls flowers on Monday.

More than garbage

It was reported that when the city sanitation workers in the big white truck stopped by 1561 Briarcliff Tuesday morning, they left with more than bags of trash.

For two hours Aaron Sippy, two years old, waited to present each worker with a new pair of work gloves and a thank-you.

inner time

The Young Adult Classroom at Parkview School in Cape Girardeau made dinner for the school custodian and her family and the school secretary and her family. Plus, they made cupcakes for all the bus drivers and bus monitors.

Kitten locators

Violet Winningham of Jackson reported two neighborhood girls committing an act of kindness. The two girls walked around the neighborhood, stopping at each house, to try and find the owner of a lose orange kitten.

Special people

Mary Kennedy would like to thank two special people who do kind things throughout the year.

Mindy Hamlett, a teacher at Schultz School, watches after the kids if they need a coat or other clothing. She does a lot of special things during the year.

Jack Kitchen, the Kennedy's next door neighbor, checks on them and mows their yard occasionally. He is a special person.

Saved at the store

Carolyn Downs of Cape Girardeau reported a Random Act of Kindness. Recently, she was shopping in a local grocery store. She had gone there from work to pick up a few things that she needed for a church supper. She never thought to check her cash on hand and was already in the checkout lane before it dawned on her that she couldn't write a check there. She commented to the cashier that she was in trouble if the total come to more than she had in her billfold.

The lady checking out ahead of her overheard her comment, and was quick to turn around and offer to pay the difference. When she did come up short, it was an embarrassing situation. But, that kind lady did pay the difference, rather than have her put some things back which she needed.

She offered to give the lady some of the money back, but she told her to pass the good deed onto someone else.

She did not know this woman, and in all the excitement, failed to ask her name. It is good to know there are people around who are so willing and quick to offer help.

Kind Lucille

Mary Horn of Cape Girardeau would like to thank Lucille Keller for the nice things that she does for her and other people. Lucille checks daily on a number of "shutins." She also does a lot of church work. The world would be a better place if everyone was as kind as Lucille is.

Gifts for delivery folks

Mercantile Bank has given presents and a thank-you note to individuals who service and deliver to the bank each day, including the Southeast Missourian news carrier.

Thanks to restaurant

The staff at HRH Dumplins received two carnations in a vase from the Excelsior Optimist club for the restaurant's excellent service during the club's weekly meetings.

Toy Train help

Tracy Taylor reported that the Toy Train at Southeast Hospital received games and puzzles from Brownie Troop 13 to give out to pediatric patients. She thanked the Brownies and troop leader Marty Koeller.

Jackson teacher terrific

Sandy Ressel said her son's teacher, Debbie Lusk at Orchard Elementary School in Jackson, is "nothing but a big Random Act of Kindness."

Uplifting gift

The Jackson R-II schools started Random Acts of Kindness Week early. The district sent balloons to everyone on the children's floor at Southeast Missouri Hospital last Wednesday. Susan Harrison thanked the district because her son received one of the balloons.

Helpful neighbors

Mysie Keene of Jackson thanked her next-door neighbors for helping her during the recuperation of a broken arm. Don and Velma Gammon have been taking care of her lawn, bringing in the newspapers, and even sharing their barbecue.

Call the Kindness Hotline from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.