The weather will still be chilly, but Valparaiso will become an even warmer place the week of Feb. 13 to 17. That week will be the city’s first ever Random Acts of Kindness Week, led by city employees. Mayor Costas will kick off the week with a proclamation and the entire community is encouraged to get involved.
“We envision and encourage the sowing of intentional random acts of kindness, so that our entire community will benefit not only from receiving them, but also from the giving,” said Mayor Costas. The idea is to get businesses, schools, nonprofit organizations and each individual involved in doing kind acts for others. “You can show kindness in so many ways – from donating food to a local food bank or family in need, shoveling snow for a neighbor, or anything that helps brighten a day for others,” said Christine Hisick, Neighborhood Liaison & Human Resources Assistant, who is helping to organize the movement.
Random Acts of Kindness Week is actually an internationally recognized week – the second full week in February, initiated by the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation. The Foundation has a web site with ideas for kind acts. “We see kindness every day in Valparaiso. The Random Acts of Kindness Week is a great way to celebrate this and inspire people into action to do even more for others,” said Hisick.
So far a number of businesses and schools have committed to participating in RAK Week, including Valparaiso Community Schools, Valparaiso University, Ivy Tech Community College, NIPSCO, Porter Starke Services, and The Times, which intends to hold an in-house food drive as well as publish stories of kind acts throughout the city. “The acts are meant to be anonymous so that the value comes from the giving; not from the receiving,” said Hisick. However, if you have a story of kindness that you’ve given or received that may inspire others to continue the kindness movement, contact Christine Hisick at City Hall, 462-1161 or chisick@valpo.us. Be sure to check out the city’s facebook page, “Valparaiso Now” or “Valparaiso Neighborhoods” to read about kindness at work in Valparaiso.