KINDNESS HOTLINE

Gardener deserves a medal

John Smothers on Rodney Vista Road is the person who deserves the medal for Random Acts of Kindness Week. He uses his tiller to till neighbors' gardens, mows yards and cuts trees. In the winter he uses his snow blower to clear neighbors' driveways. He not only plants tomato plants for neighbors but also buys them. He also does many kind things for members of his church, Assembly of God.

Yard gets cleanup

Craftsman Office Supply reported an act of kindness it received from one of its customers. Lenny Martin planted flowers in a box near Craftsman's parking lot and helped clean up the area to make it look nicer.

Self-service turns full

An anonymous caller reported a kind act of a local gas station in Jackson. Rhodes Midway gas station, next to the Down Spout, pumped gasoline for customers, even though the station is self-serve.

Schultz students treated

Schultz School received a kindness cake from Melvin Gateley Wednesday morning. He brought a sheet cake with "Schultz school is the greatest" written in icing. The school has benefited from his kindness for a long time.

Minister's grass cut

The youth minister of Lynwood Baptist Church received some kindness. Bart and Alex Elfrink mowed the minister's yard for him.

Police enjoy baked goods

The Humane Society of Southeast Missouri took baked goods to the Cape Girardeau Police Department on Thursday.

Thanks, Mr. Seabaugh

A neighbor in Lakeview Acres in Jackson is appreciated for all he does. Milford Seabaugh cuts branches after storms, mows lawns, and many other kind acts for his neighbors.

Church gives doughnuts

The First Baptist Church in Delta passed on acts of kindness to the area schools on Wednesday. The church gave doughnuts to the high school students, cupcakes to the elementary students, and fruit baskets to the staff and faculty at both schools.

Band entertains vets

The Bob Black Band visits the Missouri Veterans Home monthly to play for the residents in the A wing.

Thanks for the equipment

The Oran Team 1 softball team would like to thank Dr. Connie Smith. Dr. Smith bought new softball equipment this season to replace the team's old, run down equipment.

Irises appreciated

Dr. Rhonda Andrews of Andrews Chiropractic in Jackson would like to thank Vallie Graff for bringing in a huge bouquet of irises. Plus, Dr. Andrews would like to thank her neighbors, Tom Wilson, Randy Davis and Kim Weaverm, for cutting her grass.

Men's Wear was "there" for us!

You have heard the phrase "he gave the shirt off his back." Well, Garber's Men's Wear of Cape Girardeau loaned Hanover Lutheran Church the "back" from under its shirt! Hanover needed a mannequin on which to display its upcoming Ascension Run T-shirt with the congregation's 150th anniversary logo. Upon calling Garber's with the request came the enthusiastic reply, "We're glad to help!" Incidentally, Garber's kindly makes available kindness stickers and bookmarks to all its customers.

Thanks for the yard work

Mrs. Weldon Heller of Cape Girardeau would like to thank the person who mowed and trimmed her lawn. It brought a good feeling for her because there has been illness in her family.

Wheelchair ramp built

Jess Reddick, Bill Reiker, and Clois Hood provided an act of kindness to another First General Baptist Church member. The three built a wheelchair ramp for Opal Perkins' home.

Store provides treats

Schnucks grocery store has provided cookies and snacks for all the clients at the Lutheran Family and Children's Services all week.

Preschoolers sing

The 2- and 3-year-old Sunday school classes from New McKendree United Methodist Church in Jackson visited and sang for the Suzannah Wesley Sunday school class.

Girls pay visits

The girls from Job's Daughters Bethel No. 60 in Jackson visited shut-ins, Masons and Eastern Star members in Jackson on Thursday. The girls took candy and flowers.

Keys returned

Rick Rodgers committed a random act of kindness. He found a set of keys near Cauble and Field. Thinking that the keys came from the business, he tried to return them, but the business was closed. So Rick wrote a note and stuck the keys in the door. The next day the business called to let him know that the keys were someone's from the business.

Birthright gets gifts

The women from the Sewing Ladies of Bethany Baptist Church took comforters, baby quilts, stuffed toys, and candy to the Women's Safe House and baby comforters to Birthright.

VIP employees provide surprises

VIP Industries employees may be characterized as kind, generous, appreciative and considerate. Random Acts of Kindness Week has prompted all sorts of nice surprises.

Clients donated their soda money to a flower fund so that roses could be bought for their floor supervisors to express how much they appreciate all three of them. Floor supervisors' names are: Bonnie Boyd, Joann Hite, and Carol Locklear.

Melinda Lohmeier, Barb Barnard, and Beverly Delph prepared brownies as a surprise morning snack for handicapped clients.

Deborah King sent Rebecca Cantrell a flower and sent Tamara Buck a book to show her true friendship.

Deborah King let a gentleman go ahead of her at Wal Mart that had many more groceries than her. Now that is kindness!

Many VIP staff members donated money and sent flowers to the best receptionist ever, Bernice Glas.

Vicki Weissert sent Becky Cantrell an uplifting greeting card and gave her a coloring book for her son.

Melinda Lohmeier always leaves a staff member in need an inspirational card when they are having a bad day. She is very considerate and genuinely cares about her coworkers.

Vicki Weissert gave Diana Kershaw a friendship card and inspirational calender to show her appreciation.

Thanks for the free meal

Rachel Welker, an employee at Hardee's on Route K near I-55, saw the nicest act of kindness she has ever seen in the drive-through lane. Friday morning a customer was going through the drive-through and paid for the meal of the customer behind him.

Plenty of surprises

Linda Roberts of Jackson would like to thank all the businesses and individuals who have been so kind to her son, Chris, who has Hodgkin's disease. Linda reports, "We get a surprise almost daily for Chris."

Neighbors are wonderful

Velma Holshouser of Maple Methodist Church would like to thank neighborhood acts that happen year round. Elizabeth Hileman brought large pots with plants. Doug Hileman takes the garbage out. George and Mary Savoi take care of Velma by mowing her lawn, shoveling snow, etc. Dana Kender brings mementos year round. Betty Hopen checks on Velma regularly.

Fall victim thankful

Genevieve Watson would like to give a great big thanks to those who helped her when she fell and broke her hip in January. A school bus driver saw her fall and called for help. The police, fire, and ambulance personnel and the staff at St. Francis were all very kind and helpful.

Search turns up retainer

A South East Missouri Bank coworker's husband, Thomas Layman, took his daughter and her friend to lunch. One of the girls accidently threw away her retainer with the trash. Thomas went through the garbage until he found the girl's retainer. Now that is an act of kindness!

Teacher has big influence

A former student wrote a thank-you note to Mrs. Mae Sherwood at Jefferson School during Random Acts of Kindness Week. The student thanked her for all the good things she did for her while a second-grade teacher at Washington School. She wrote: "Because of you and my mother, I plan on going to SEMO to become a teacher just like you telling kids not to settle for a C grade."

Patients have visitors

Employees from the business office of Physicians Resources Center and Health Information Management took cards to patients at St. Francis Medical Center and visited with them in their rooms. They also took cards and candy to waiting rooms for cancer care, surgical and intensive care for families of critical ill patients, and other areas of the hospital.

Furniture donated

Kindness week started early for SEMO Alliance for Disability. For the May 2 auction, Jan Harris of Cape Girardeau was moving and donated three rooms of furniture instead of selling it. Snappy Delivery delivered the furniture to the auction without charge.

Driver appreciates help

Laura Johnston reported that a man walking Pacific Street near Schultz School helped direct her out of a tight parking space amid an onslaught of traffic.

Safe House gets gifts

The Balanced Weight Loss program donated clothes, food and toiletries to the Women's Safe House and Division of Family Services.

Sorority watches children

Martha Zlokovich, a professor at Southeast Missouri State University, reported a kindness by Alpha Delta Pi. One of Zlokovich's students has two children, who came down with chicken pox. Women from this sorority took turns babysitting the children so the student could finish out the semester.

Neighbor is great

Loraine Aldrich reported the kindness of a neighbor, who not only lives a full block from the family but on a different street. One day a delivery service left a correctly-addressed package at this neighbor's door. She called the Alrich family, who came to pick it up. That same afternoon the mailman left two correctly-addressed packages containing checks in her mailbox. Again, and in a good humor, she called about the checks. This lady is indeed very kind and we do thank her. We live on North West End Boulevard and she lives on North Missouri.

Soldier gets quick attention

Mary Robertson mentioned to the Cape Girardeau Fire Department that the Civil War Fountain in Common Pleas Courthouse Park wasn't working. In no time the firemen fixed the fountain, cleaned it and painted it.

A 'fairy' did it

Wanda Dickmann reported that a neighbor, Wanda Wadley, and her 2-year-old grandson, Austin Wadley, moved a number of tree limbs that the Dickmanns had trimmed from the trees. The little boy hid in the bushes when the Dickmanns came outside. He later said he wanted the family to think a fairy had moved the limbs. Later, Wanda Wadley moved the Dickmanns' yard.

Treats were great

The Southeast Missourian reported that the news staff was the recipient of treats by three separate groups during Random Acts of Kindness Week. Jobs Daughters brought cookies and brownies; the University Relations Office of Southeast Missouri State University brought cookies; and the Convention & Visitors Bureau said thanks during National Tourism Month with two packages of blueberry muffins. Thanks to all!