RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS WEEK BEGINS

Today marks the start of Random Acts of Kindness Week. Thousands of participants throughout Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois have jumped on the bandwagon, agreeing to perform kind acts throughout the week.

Monday also marks the start of the Kindness Hotline. People can call the newspaper at (573) 334-8997 and report kind acts they have performed or kind acts done to them. These calls will be published in the newspaper in the coming week. Information can also be faxed to the newspaper at (573) 334-7288.

The Cape Girardeau Public Library is one of the participants that has planned a kindness event this week.

For the price of a few canned goods, Cape Girardeau Public Library patrons can escape paying fines for overdue books and other items.

The donations of canned and boxed food will be accepted at the library, 711 N. Clark, Monday through Saturday.

The donated food will be given to the FISH food pantry in Cape Girardeau, said library Director Betty Martin.

The library annually participates in Random Acts of Kindness Week.

The library's board of directors welcomed the idea of doing a "double" random act of kindness," said Martin.

The library collects food for the FISH pantry every December. "We have collected as many as 900 items," she said.

Like its December effort, each canned good or other non-perishable item will be counted as 50 cents off a library customer's debt.

Most customers who have overdue books or other items face fines of under $2.

But there are some library patrons who owe far more. They will need to bring in a lot of canned goods to pay their fines.

Those who haven't returned books or other items within a month, end up being charged for replacement books and other materials.

Some customers end up owing $100 or more, she said.

Martin is a big believer in random acts of kindness. "We try to be kind every day," she said.

"It is fun to think up ways to show that you are a kind person or a kind organization.," said Martin.

The week will culminate with the appearance of Will Glennon, chairman of the National Random Acts of Kindness Foundation that is headquartered in Dever, Colo. Glennon, whose nickname is "Dr. Kindness," will make his first appearance in Missouri.

The program will begin at 6 p.m. in the JCPenney court with songs from two well-known singing sensations from Cape Girardeau: The Ware Sisters and Mike Dumey.

Ironically, although both Dumey and the Ware Sisters have been singing for many years, both are currently working on their first CDs.

Dumey has been singing since high school, and is well know for his weekend dinner theater shows with Robyn Hosp. But Dumey's going solo on his first CD, which should be released this fall. The working title of the CD is "Feels Like Home."

It features pop, country and gospel musical selections as well as a song from his daughter Lauren, a kindergartner at Alma Schrader School.

Dumey taught music for 18 years in local school districts 9 years at Schultz Middle School, two at May Greene and seven at Oak Ridge. But last year, he took a sabbatical to try his hand at full time performance. He formed his own production company, featuring local talent.

Church music is also important for Dumey, who serves as director of music at Grace United Methodist Church.

The Ware Sisters combine the talent of four sisters, one brother and three talented musicians. Group members include: Shelly Ware Moore, JoAnn Ware McCauley, Brenda Ware, Lakaren Ware Porter and Eric Ware. They are accompanied by Ramona Robinson on the organ, Stafford Moore Jr., on the drums and Tony Terry on the keyboard.

The family have been performing together for 25 years. They specialize in contemporary and gospel music, and perform at least twice a month.

The group should cut their first CD, "Living By Faith" by the end of June.

JoAnn Ware McCauley and Stafford Moore Jr. co-pastor the House of Prayer, 13 N. Sprigg. Shelly Ware Moore is the minister of music and the sisters play a big role in the music ministry.

Shelly Ware Moore said it's exciting to see a new generation contributing to the act.

"Our kids sing with us now and we travel together," she said. "It was rough when they were babies, but now they're teen-agers. They help a lot, unloading, working the equipment and singing. It's a family thing and it's really good."

KINDNESS LIST

The following individuals, businesses, churches or organizations have signed up for Random Acts of Kindness in the last week:

Midwest Center for Professional Counseling in Sikeston

Southeast Hospice

Rhodes 101 Stops in Cape Girardeau at Sunset, William Street, Morgan Oak, Midway, N. Kingshighway, S. Kingshighway, Sprigg and the Corporate Office.

Rhodes 101 Stop in Jackson

Rhodes 101 Stop in Fruitland

Rhodes 101 Stop in Scott City

Rhodes 101 Stop in Chaffee

Two Rhodes 101 Stops in Sikeston

Rhodes 101 Stop in Ste. Genevieve

Rhodes 101 Stop in Perryville and Perryville Bypass

Rhodes 101 Stop in Biehle

Rhodes Travel Center

Cape County Health and Wellness Diagnostic Center

Into the Garden

Jacie, Lindsey and Robert C. Hartle II of Jackson

Re/Max Realty One

Good Shepherd Lutheran Chapel Youth Ministry

VFW Post 3838 Ladies Auxiliary

Personnel Support, Inc.

Fourth Grade Sunday School Department of First Baptist Church in Jackson

Someone's Treasures Clubhouse

Lorberg Memorial Funeral Chapel

Thomas M. Spencer of St. Charles

Westfield Shoppingtown West Park

Shawnee Elementary in McClure, Ill.

Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce

Mrs. Matlock's First Grade at Shawnee Elementary School

Charleston Manor in Charleston

Innovative Idea Integration in Jackson

Girl Scouts of Otahki Council

Deer Creek Academy

Patrick McFadden of Cape Girardeau

VIP Industries of Cape Girardeau

Cedar Street

Zonta Club of Cape Girardeau

Echo Program

Grace United Methodist Church

Parkview School/Linden School

Fifth Grade at Woodland Schools in Lutesville

Bertha King

First Baptist Church of Cape Girardeau

St. Ambrose School

Alzheimer's Association, Southeast Missouri Office

Circle K Club of Southeast Missouri State University