SMILE! RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS SET TO BEGIN ON MOTHER'S DAY

A kind act can bring a smile.

Expect smiles to be abundant next month during the fourth annual Random Acts of Kindness Week that starts on Mother's Day, May 9.

Registration begins Monday.

Hundreds of organizations, businesses, churches, families and individuals are expected to participate.

The theme this year is a yellow smiling face, reminiscent of the 1970s.

"The 1970s retro look is very popular this year. We decided to use that look," said Joni Adams, managing editor who coordinates Random Acts of Kindness. "Kindnesses make people smile."

It's easy to participate. Just sign up.

"You don't have to tell us what you're doing," Adams said. "You just have to promise to do something kind."

During the weeks leading up to May 9, names of participants will be published on the front page of the newspaper.

In addition, the newspaper will write dozens of news stories about kind people and kind acts during the week. The newspaper is looking for suggestions of kind people or kind acts to be featured.

During Random Acts of Kindness Week, a hotline will operate at the newspaper for callers to report kindnesses.

"We hope people will join us in promoting kindness," Adams said.

For example, kind messages could be posted on marquees and signs at businesses and churches throughout the region.

To make participating as easy as possible, the newspaper will give away stickers, bookmarks, signs and a sheet listing 100 kind suggestions. All are free.

This year, 25,000 stickers and 25,000 bookmarks, all with the smiling logo, are available free to those participating. Schools, classrooms, Sunday School groups, businesses may request as many stickers as they need. Small quantities can be mailed.

Some kindnesses are simple and truly random. Allow a motorist to merge into traffic or give someone else the best parking space. Others are more elaborate and obviously well planned.

"I have a friend who likes to say `May all your news be good news,'" Adams said. "I wish that could be true. Too often news is bad news about war and death and destruction.

"The neat thing about this week is it gives us a chance to step back from all that and realize a lot of good things go on every day in the community. Things we may even take for granted."

Random Acts of Kindness Week is a way to make sure those kindnesses, big and small, get noticed.

Over the years, Random Acts of Kindness has become a regional event. Participants have signed up throughout Southeast Missouri and in Southern Illinois.

The national observance begins on Valentine's Day, but in February, the newspaper staff is in the middle of its annual Progress edition. So the local celebration begins on Mother's Day.

People started calling for information about the week months ago.

"I hope they're not waiting for the week to be kind," Adams said. "The week is a way to celebrate kindness."

Kindnesses occur all the time.

For example, Adams said, recently a stranger took her grocery cart back to the store.

"It was a little thing. Someone saw me with my bags and kids and offered a little help," she said. "Random Acts of Kindness Week is a reminder that those little things can make a very big difference in someone else's life."

What is Random Acts of Kindness Week?This nationwide celebration encourages people to perform kind acts. This marks the fourth year for the local celebration.When is Random Acts of Kindness Week?The local celebration begins Mother's Day, May 9, and runs through May 15.Who can sign up as a Random Acts of Kindness participant?Anyone. Last year's effort boasted of more than 20,000 participants. These were entire cities, churches, businesses, organizations, families and individuals. Signing up means you agree to do a kind act during the week. Names will run on the front page of the newspaper.When should I sign up?Starting Monday, participants may register, request information or order free Kindness supplies. What free Random Acts of Kindness supplies are available?We have smiling Random Acts of Kindness stickers, bookmarks, participation signs, a list of suggested kind acts and sign-up sheets. Informational packets, including samples of these items, are available. Call the newspaper at 335-6611 or stop by at 301 Broadway with requests. Items will be available after April 15.How do I nominate someone for a kindness story?Simply call the Southeast Missourian at 335-6611 and ask for Joni Adams or Peggy Scott. Full pages in the newspaper during Random Acts of Kindness week will be devoted to kind people who perform kind acts.How do I report kind acts?Call the Kindness hotline at the Southeast Missourian, and your kind act will be published in the newspaper. The phone number is (573) 334-8997.