RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS POUR INTO NEWSPAPER

Countless acts of kindness are performed in our area every day. For the most part, these aren't headline-grabbing actions. They're little things, as simple and direct as taking dinner to a sick neighbor.

The Southeast Missourian is once again sponsoring Random Acts of Kindness, an annual event that focuses on spotlighting the kindness of people in our area.

This year, we are asking readers to tell us about acts of kindness that have touched their lives.

These stories will be published in our Random Acts of Kindness issue next Sunday, which, appropriately, is Mother's Day.

There are numerous instances of kindness in our area. A bridge club of retired teachers cooks meals for a member who is battling cancer. A Brownie troop cleans up the yard of an elderly woman. A high school Spanish class befriends two students who moved to Jackson, Mo., from Bogota, Colombia.

Call us with your stories. Mark Bliss of the news staff is coordinating the coverage. He can be reached at 335-6611, extension 123, or by e-mail at mbliss@semissourian.com. Kindness information also can be mailed to RAK, P.O. Box 699, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63702.