RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS WEEK BEGINS MOTHER'S DAY; SIGN-UP START MONDAY

Spring is blooming. Bright yellow daffodils, flowering trees and sprouts announce the nicer weather. It just brings a smile to your face.

Random Acts of Kindness Week will help you keep that smile in place. It's scheduled to begin on Mother's Day, May 14, and runs through May 21. This marks the fifth year that the Southeast Missourian has sponsored the week.

Last year, the newspaper handed out 45,000 bright yellow smiley face stickers and thousands of bookmarks, posters and informational sheets. Participants signed up as far as 100 miles away. Individuals, businesses, churches and entire towns joined the ranks of Random Acts of Kindness participants.

Signing up is easy. You only have to fill out the form that will appear in the paper each day until the week begins. You can mail, fax or drop the form by the newspaper, 301 Broadway.

Names of all participants will appear on the front page of the newspaper during the next four Sundays. It's a nice way to show people you care. Participants must only agree to do one kind deed during the week.

We're also looking for the names of people who perform kind deeds year-round for a series of stories that will be published during the week. Please call Joni Adams at 335-6611 with the names. It's a great way to give a pat on the back to men, women and children who do kind deeds all year.

The newspaper is also distributing free smiley face stickers, bookmarks, 8 1/2-by-11-inch signs and a sheet with 100 kind suggestions.

The Southeast Missourian is also looking special kindness projects to feature on the front page of the newspaper during Kindness Week. Those projects can also be forwarded to Adams at 335-6611.