A WEEK OF RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS

For the third year, thousands of people in Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois will be finding ways to show their kindness during Random Acts of Kindness Week. This event, organized by the Southeast Missourian, puts a focus for an entire week on the acts of generosity, compassion and concern that folks in this area do year around.

It is no accident that we start this weeklong celebration on Mother's Day. Our mothers are the models of kindness. Throughout history, mothers have rightfully taken an exalted place in our hearts and minds, from Eve, the mother of humanity, to the Virgin Mary prominence in Christian tradition, to our very own mothers, whose love and nurturing were fundamental to making us who we are today.

Even many of our institutions rely heavily on maternal symbolism. The Statue of Liberty, which has welcomed the world to our shores for well over a century, has its motherly side. Mother Earth has been a part of cultures around the world.

And so it is that Mother's Day marks the start of Random Acts of Kindness Week. This week is the brainchild of the Southeast Missourian's managing editor, Joni Adams, who heard about Random Acts of Kindness observances elsewhere and thought our area would respond well to such an event.

Little did she know how our friends and neighbors would respond. More than 20,000 individuals, either on their own or through schools, churches and organizations, sign up each year as official participants and proudly wear the special Random Acts of Kindness badges that are given away each year. Those beautiful badges, by the way, are designed by the Southeast Missourian's very own Teresa Connell, graphics editor in our news department.

Each year, Adams enlists the help of news staff members and others to prepare the badges and the thousands of brochures that are sent to anyone who requests them. She makes sure special Random Acts of Kindness tickets are available for the Cape Girardeau Police Department, which issues them to motorists who show kindness while driving.

The activities here have drawn attention from around the nation and the world. Last year, Adams was proud to represent the newspaper in accepting an international award for this activity.

Why do we do it, especially when there is no revenue generated through advertising sales or special editions or even the thousands of Random Acts of Kindness badges? Because it makes people in our communities feel better about themselves. This, in its own way, is the Southeast Missourian's random act of kindness.

Throughout this week, there will be stories and photographs in the Southeast Missourian about the kind things people are doing. All of these people were nominated by our readers. Please watch for this special coverage. And enjoy. We hope you find a way to be especially kind this week. And we hope someone is kind to you.