KINDNESS WEEK REGISTRATION OPENS

Feeling kind? Turn those feelings into action and sign up for Random Acts of Kindness Week.

The week, sponsored by the Southeast Missourian, will begin on Mother's Day, May 11, and run through May 17.

Beginning next week, the names of all participants will be featured on the front page of the newspaper.

Signing up is easy.

"Simply pick up a registration form at the newspaper office, 301 Broadway, or call the newspaper at 335-6611," said Joni Adams, managing editor, who is coordinating the event.

Registration forms will also appear in the newspaper each week.

Interested persons can also request information packets in the mail, which includes registration forms.

Individuals can also begin picking up free Random Act of Kindness stickers, bookmarks, brochures, idea sheets, participant posters, and community booklets or curriculum guides.

The newspaper hopes to distribute 25,000 kindness stickers that proclaim "Warning: I practice random acts of kindness."

St. Francis Hospital picked up 500 stickers and bookmarks this week to distribute to employees. "That's just the kind of participation we like to see," said Adams.

"I'm a big believer that kindness is contagious," said Adams. "I spoke to the Rotary Club of Cape Girardeau last Monday, and six members registered their businesses, clubs or programs." They included the Otahki Girl Scout Council, Boy Scouts of Southeast Missouri, Centenary United Methodist Church, AAA Travel in Cape Girardeau and the Political Science Department and M.B.A. program, both at Southeast Missouri State University.

The NAACP and Visiting Nurse Association of Southeast Missourian also signed up to participate this past week.

The newspaper is still looking for the names of people who do kind deeds all year long to feature in special full kindness pages during the week. Individuals with nominations can call Adams or Peggy Scott at 335-6611 with names.

"We received numerous nominations this past week, but we're still looking for more," said Adams.

The newspaper hopes to sign up hundreds of businesses, schools, churches and individuals.

As participants decide what kinds of activities they will perform during the week, Adams encouraged them to call back to the newspaper.

"We're going to write dozens of stories over the coming weeks about Random Acts of Kindness Week," she said. "We'd like to use these examples in our stories as a way to encourage others to participate."