Residents throughout the Fox Valley and beyond are encouraged to offer random acts of kindness as part of the annual Random Acts of Kindness Week, a national initiative that began Saturday and officially runs through Feb. 20.
To celebrate the event, St. Charles-based non-profit organization Random Acts Matter will hold its ninth annual Random Acts of Kindness Week in the Tri-Cities of Batavia, Geneva and St. Charles from Monday, Feb. 16, to Sunday, Feb. 22.
West Chicago resident Lisa Weier, president of Random Acts Matter, said the effort in the Tri-Cities has continued uninterrupted for nearly a decade even during the pandemic.
“Back during COVID, we of course limited exposure and did things like shoveling driveways and checking on elderly neighbors, things we could still do and be safe,” she said. “The idea just stemmed from the reason that Random Acts Matter began with, which was how do we just spread kindness and compassion and how do we show that everyone can use a little kindness and compassion.”
Weier said the local Random Acts Matter group began in 2017.
“You never know what people are going through and it doesn’t cost you anything to be kind,” she said. “There are a multitude of ways that you can show kindness from big acts to small acts and from people that you know to complete strangers. It’s really just a way to kind of bring the community together and makes the world a little bit better and a little bit brighter, especially for those who might not have as much joy right now.”
Weier said she has been president of the group the past several years and joined it at its inception. She said dozens of volunteers take part during the annual Random Acts of Kindness Week.
“Participation ranges from elementary schools making cards for seniors, baking treats for first responders and other city workers and things like that,” she said. “We have people that volunteer at Lazarus House (in St. Charles) and bake goods and some are involved on a one-time basis and decide, ‘I’m just going to collect food and take it over to the veterans for their food drive.’ And then there are the people who volunteer throughout the entire week for a bunch of different opportunities.”
Weier noted “how surprised people are when someone does something kind for them.”
“There is, generally speaking, a bit of awe and disbelief and someone assuring them that we’re just doing it to be kind – there’s no agenda, there’s nothing we’re trying to get from it,” she said. “When people realize that, they smile and really light up. That’s always endearing to me.”
To sign up as a volunteer or learn more about the Random Acts of Kindness Week in the Tri-Cities, go to www.randomactsmatter.com.
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
