RANDOM KINDNESS PROGRAM GROWS

Do you practice random acts of kindness?

In just 16 days, a special regionwide observance will promote kindness among businesses, organizations, churches, schools and individuals.

More than 120 groups and businesses have signed up to participate in Random Acts of Kindness Week, said Joni Adams, managing editor of the Southeast Missourian. The newspaper is sponsoring the week May 12-18.

"For one week, we're encouraging people to act on every single thought of generosity and kindness in their heart. Then we're asking people to step back and notice the consequences," Adams said.

Cape Girardeau, Jackson and several other towns in the region will join more than 230 communities that already have celebrated Random Acts of Kindness Weeks in 1996. The observance first began in 1995, led by a national foundation headquartered in Berkeley, Calif.

Already, some businesses have discovered enthusiasm building for Kindness Week. That's what Retta Miller found as she planned a week of daily activities at Union Planters Bank for both employees and customers.

"In this day and time, there's not enough kindness," she said. "That's what we really like about this week. It makes people think about being kind to each other. People in the bank are really responding to it. I keep getting memos from people asking how they can help."

The bank is planning a special casual day for its 160 employees. On another day, employees will draw out names from a hat and be asked to send a nice note to that co-worker.

Bank employees in Cape Girardeau, Sikeston and Perryville are also planning volunteer work in the community. Employees in Cape Girardeau also plan to bring cleaning supplies one day to donate to the Women's Safe House.

It's not just businesses or groups jumping on board.

The Andersen family of Cape Girardeau signed to participate. The family includes parents Gary and Dorothy, 9-year-old Jessica and 5-year-old Melissa. Jessica is a third grader at St. Vincent's grade school.

"We saw it in the paper, and we were really impressed by it," said Dorothy Andersen. "We talked about ways family members could do nice things for people during the week."

Mrs. Andersen feels it's a good opportunity for parents and children to talk about kindness, and then put those kind ideas into action. They stopped by the newspaper to pick up free stickers and bookmarks.

Loretta Dodd with Rose Hill Garden Club said her organization also wants to join in the celebration. Members decided to donate flowers to be placed on one day's Meal's on Wheels deliveries.

Members found the idea on a list containing more than 60 suggestions, which is available free of charge at the newspaper office. These ideas have been used successfully in other communities.

"Everybody liked the idea of bright, spring flowers on the trays as a way to brighten up someone's day," said Dodd.

In addition to the idea list, the Southeast Missourian is also handing out bookmarks, posters, brochures and colorful stickers that proclaim: Warning, I Practice Random Acts of Kindness. The items are available free of charge at the newspaper, 301 Broadway.

There is still plenty of time to sign up, and names of participants will be published in the newspaper. To sign up, call Adams at 335-6611 or 1-800-879-1210.

"We don't need to know what activities groups are planning now. We just want to add their names to our growing list of participants," Adams said.

During the week, feature pages in the Southeast Missourian will be replaced with Random Acts of Kindness pages. People will be asked to call in both large and small act of kindness to a special hotline for publication in the newspaper.

The newspaper will also award "Random Acts of Kindness" books and buttons to outstanding acts of kindness done during the week.

KINDNESS SALUTE

A blustery Thursday morning created havoc for a drive-through customer at South East Missouri Bank. As the customer took her money out of the machine, the wind blew it out of her hand. She was able to find $30, but another $20 was lost. She went into the bank in tears. Officials replaced the lost money in her account later that day.

Good going Southeast Missouri Bank, a Random Acts of Kindness Week participant.

RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS PARTICIPANTS

In just one week, more than 120 businesses and organizations have joined the kindness campaign. Here are the names of the newest participants:

Interim Personnel

St. Denis School

Grace United Methodist Church

Dr. Jeffrey Patton

Arts Council of Southeast Missouri

St. Mary Cathedral School

Commercial Real Estate

Dickerson Rice Spaeth Heisserer & Summers

Department of Accounting, Finance and Business Law at Southeast Missouri State University

FBC of Jackson

Washington School

Alumni Services at Southeast Missouri State University

Rust & Martin

Pasta House

Kinsey Documents Solutions

Ameritech

Premier Clothing

Southeast Missouri Bank

Universal Physique

Gateway Internet

Mary Kay Cosmetics, Jateff Unit

Rose Hills Garden Club

Area Wide United Way

SEMO Private Industry Council

L.J. Schultz School

University Center at Southeast Missouri State University

Mercantile Bank

RAPCO

Missouri Division of Employment Security

Immaculate Conception School in Jackson

Job's Daughters Bethel #60 in Jackson

Cape Christian School in Cape Girardeau

Ace Rent A Car

First General Baptist Church in Jackson

Kelso C-7 School

Cape Girardeau Fire Department

Metro Title Insurors, Inc.

St. Mark Lutheran Church

Metro Business College

Guy's Big and Tall

Holshouser & Associates

Medical Arts Pharmacy

Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce

Cape Girardeau Police Department

Dail-A-Page by Teletouch

Community Counseling Center

Dorothy, Gary, Jessica and Melissa Anderson of Cape Girardeau

Kindercare

Foamex

Prestige Air Services

First Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau

Lutheran Family and Children's Services

Patrick Furniture

BART Transportation

Lutheran Home for the Aged

Parents as Teachers in Cape Girardeau Public Schools

First Church of God in Cape Girardeau

Century 21 Key Realty

Mailboxes Etc.

Southeast Missouri Hospital

LDD, Inc.