RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS WEEK BEGINS

Today it begins.

Today marks the start of Random Acts of Kindness Week in the region. The observance will continue through Saturday.

This year's celebration spreads across seven Missouri counties, Cape Girardeau, Perry, Scott, Bollinger, Stoddard, Mississippi and New Madrid; and Alexander County in Illinois.

More than 20,000 kindness stickers, 13,000 bookmarks and 3,000 brochures have been distributed. A few thousand kindness stickers remain. They can be picked up free of charge at the Southeast Missourian, 301 Broadway.

Starting today, a full page will be devoted each day to people who do kind deeds all year long.

The stories are heart-warming. They focus on men and women, teen-agers and adults who perform kind acts day in and day out, not for recognition, but for the sheer joy of helping.

Many of these people were nominated by readers.

In addition, a kindness hotline will begin Monday. People are encouraged to call 334-8997 and report a kindness. The calls will be published Tuesday through Sunday.

The local celebration is part of a national observance.

The first national Random Acts of Kindness Week dates back to February of 1995. Participants included more than 140 communities coast-to-coast -- from Boston to Los Angeles to Lubbock, Texas, as well as thousands of schools, city governments and nonprofit organizations.

By February of 1997, the celebration grew to about 450 communities, 11,000 schools and several foreign countries.

For more information about the week, call Joni Adams or Peggy Scott at 335-6611.