KINDNESS WEEK BEGINS; KINDNESS SHOWN ALL AROUND TOWN

Outfitted with a tool belt and hammer, 5-year-old Joseph Froemsdorf was more than ready to help his dad fix up a log-cabin playhouse Saturday.

Froemsdorf's father, Carl, was among about 40 parents and staff of the Christian School for the Young Years, who spent much of Saturday fixing up the day-care center's playground.

Organizers of the fix-up day said it was a chance for parents and staff to participate in Random Acts of Kindness Week.

The week officially kicked off today. Nearly 160 organizations, businesses, churches and schools in the region are participating in kindness week.

The local observance is sponsored by the Southeast Missourian.

Kindness Week stickers are available free of charge at the Southeast Missourian offices, 301 Broadway. The newspaper has distributed about 20,000 bright pink stickers.

The Southeast Missourian also will report on kindness calls it receives during the week.

Kindness has caught on with students in the A-OK Club at the Perry County Middle School in Perryville.

The club has more than doubled in the past two years. Today, it has about 100 members in grades 5 to 8.

"It is neat," said Mark Bowles, the school's assistant principal and one of the club's advisers.

He said the club has evolved over the past four years.

Members who perform acts of kindness at school get to attend club outings.

On Saturday, some 40 members of the club attended a pool party at the Cape Girardeau Central Municipal Pool. Scheduling conflicts prevented other members from attending, Bowles said.

Bowles said much of the kindnesses are simple things like cleaning blackboards and carrying other students' lunch trays.

"It is kind of fun when you do something anonymously," said Dawn Pecaut, 12, who writes "have-a-good-day" notes to students.

Nicki Cummings, 13, said she often decorates students' lockers.

John French, 12, said he likes doing nice things for people. "I do something nice everyday."

Randi Dosenbach, 12, cleans up milk spills, empties lunch trays and does other assorted kindnesses.

Samantha Morris, 13, reads to first-graders.

"I go outside and clap the erasers," said Charles Ochs, 11.

"It feels good that you are doing something for people," said 11-year-old Morgan Morris, who helps clean up classrooms.

While the students splashed, work continued at the not-for-profit Christian School for the Young Years.

Volunteers said they weren't interested in headlines. They just wanted to help.

"We feel like it is a way to bring home and school together," said teacher Gail Jones.

Sherri Roth, the center's director, said the work day provides a chance for parents and staff to get to know each other better.

Tim Gramling of Cape Girardeau said he was glad he could help. He has three sons attending the center. "I have a sense of ownership in a way," he said.

Michele Swanks of Cape Girardeau has a 5-year-old daughter who attends the day-care center.

Swanks said she just wanted to help the center because it has done a good job of caring for her daughter.

The volunteers painted and stained playground equipment and performed some major landscaping chores, such as repositioning railroad ties and installing stepping stones.

Carl Froemsdorf spent part of the day putting a wooden door on the log cabin. It also was scheduled to get a new roof.

The cabin was a favorite project for his son, Joseph, who wanted to carpet it.

Kenny Foeste of Cape Girardeau delivered truckloads of pea gravel and sand to the center.

NEW KINDNESS WEEK PARTICIPANTS

Alliance Blue Cross Blue Shield in Cape Girardeau

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

Alpha Moo Gamma, the national foreign language honorary society at Southeast Missouri State University

Oran Elementary School

The Happy Helpers Pantry in Tamms, Ill.

Schnucks Pharmacy

Cape Girardeau Public Library

Personnel Support, Inc.

Notre Dame High School Student Council

Southwestern Bell Communications, Inc.

Women's Small Group Bible Study at La Croix Methodist Church

Mr. Ed's Trading Post

Grace United Methodist Church 1st grade Sunday School

VIP Adult Basic Ed Class

Sigma Sigma Sigma at Southeast Missouri State University

Delta Companies Inc.

Marvels & Legends: Comics and Cards in Cape Girardeau

Short Stop in Perryville

Friends Forever Pre-School

Lynwood Baptist Church

Frank and Patty Kane and family in Marble Hill

Century 21 Ashland Realty

TCI Cablevision of Missouri Inc.

BP Financial Services

Cape Girardeau Fire Department

JCPenney

Alpha Tau chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa, teachers sorority at Southeast Missouri State University

Young Americans 4-H Club

Fruitland 4-H Club

Special Needs Class at Kelly High School

Psychiatric unit at Southeast Missouri Hospital

Koinonia Fellowship Group at Eisleben Lutheran Church in Scott City

United National Real Estate in Marble Hill

Ryder Student Transportation in Cape Girardeau

Cape Girardeau County Abstract and Title Co., Inc.

Cornerstone Church

Cindy Pair of Cape Girardeau

Cape Girardeau Physician Associates

Toy Train at Southeast Missouri Hospital

Southwestern Bell Telephone Cape Pioneers

Communication Workers of America Local 6316

Southwestern Bell Community Relations Team

Complete list of all kindness week participants will run Monday.