LITTLE TIME REMAINS BEFORE START OF KINDNESS WEEK; STICKERS ARRIVE

Seven days and counting.

That's the time remaining before the official start of Random Acts of Kindness Week. The week begins next Sunday, which is Mother's Day, and runs through May 16.

A rather large reminder will go up early this week as two Kindness banners will be stretched across Broadway -- one near Southeast Missouri Hospital and another near the Southeast Missourian offices.

Interest in this year's event is growing. The 25,000 happy face stickers were handed out in one week. But another shipment of 25,000 arrived Friday, and the Missourian is ready to distribute these free of charge.

More than 170 individuals, churches, businesses, schools and organizations representing thousands of people have already signed up to participate.

To sign up, call the paper at (573) 335-6611 or (800) 879-1210. Participants only must agree to do something nice during the week. What they do is strictly up to them, said Joni Adams, organizer of this year's fourth annual observance sponsored by the Southeast Missourian.

If people or groups are looking for ideas, the newspaper has a list of 100 kind ideas. Bookmarks and participant signs are also available.

The celebration has already spread to a number of communities: Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Chaffee, Charleston, Bell City, Sikeston, Caruthersville, Perryville, Lilbourn, Benton, Dexter, New Madrid and Altenburg and the Illinois communities of Cairo, McClure and Tamms.

Unique to this year's observance is the growing number of individuals who have signed up.

"It's nice that people aren't waiting for someone else to make plans," said Adams. "Individuals and families are asking for stickers and bookmarks and planning small kindnesses that can make a big difference."

Many groups are making plans as well.

The Central High Beta Club plans to write thank-you notes to grade school teachers. The faculty and staff at Alma Schrader Elementary School will collect clothing for the Career Closet. The Downtown Neighborhood Association plans to do "Random Blocks of Kindness," picking up trash and litter throughout the week.

Dr. Roseanna Whitlow, co-president of the group, said she recently found an article in a early 1900s edition of the Weekly Republican newspaper expressing concern over litter.

Cape Girardeau residents in the early 1900s called for a town-wide movement for well-kept streets, weedless walks and attractive public grounds.

"Let the woman with the broom grasp the immemorial weapon, draft the man with the hoe and go forth to battle with dirt and disease," quoted the paper. "'For the honor of our city' is our motto, and with this inscribed upon our banner, we shall win if we faint not."

Whitlow said the fight against litter seems a continual quest.

But certainly Random Acts of Kindness Week is a good time to pitch in for the community good and personal kindnesses, said Adams.

NEW RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS PARTICIPANTS

Nicholson Consulting

Washington Elementary School

Jefferson Elementary School

Caring Communities

Meyer Chiropractic Center

Sande Meyer of Cape Girardeau

First National Bank of Jackson

Good Shephard Lutheran Chapel

St. Francis Medical Center Education Center

Curtis Family of Cape Girardeau

Immaculate Conception

Bob's Fish House

Notre Dame High School

Humane Society of Southeast Missouri

Westfield Shoppingtown at West Park Mall

Chaffee Ladies Track & Field Team

Garber's Men's Wear

Carol Cardwell

Digitron

Climber's Class of the Dexter United Methodist Church

Freda Reid of Lilbourn

Bank of New Madrid

Susan Gist of Lilbourn

6th grade Possums at JMS in Jackson

Albrecht-Hodges, Inc.

Class 4 Sunday School at Tamms United Methodist Church

Charleston Manor

Junior Girl Scout Troop 218 at Clippard School

Big Ridge General Baptist Youth Group in Lilbourn