100 Acts of Kindness Challenge Begins March 20; Make a Difference in Someone's Life


It only takes a small act of kindness to make a big difference in the life of someone in your community, like a service provider, a community leader, a lonely person or a neighbor.

We have no idea how even the most minuscule gesture might resonate with the recipient.

Mental health studies on altruism indicate that doing good deeds reduces stress, improves emotional well-being, and improves physical health.

As Mister Fred Rogers said, "The real issue in life is not how many blessings we have but what to do with our blessings. Some people have many blessings and hold them; a few give them away."

I’m like most of you in that I’m rarely in a position to do high-profile good deeds. But there is an alternative to doing one superhero headline-grabbing good deed: doing a bunch of low-profile ones.

Acts of kindness are often simple gestures that help us be better neighbors, lift others, or make our community a place we love.

You are invited to turn talk into action by participating in the "100 Acts of Kindness Challenge" from March 20 to Saturday, March 26, 2022. This challenge is being organized to celebrate Mister Fred Rogers' birthday on March 20.

Our goal is for residents of Greene County to achieve 100 acts of kindness toward their neighbors during the week.

We do want people to use the MU Extension website to help document the act of kindness you or your family do. Just search for the 100 Acts of Kindness challenge on our website and use the registration button to tell us about what you did. About 20 percent of the people who submit examples will get a $10 gift card for food.

For those wanting some ideas of what to do, let me suggest a few of the following ideas.

1.     Donate blood at the American Red Cross or Community Blood Center of the Ozarks.

2.     Give old blankets to the Humane Society of Southwest Missouri.

3.     Write a positive online review for a locally-owned business you love.

4.     Drop off used books at your favorite library for the Friends of the Library book sale.

5.     Write to a local government official and thank them for their service.

6.     Write something you love about your city on your city’s social media page.

7.     Go for a walk and bring a small trash bag to pick up trash along the sidewalk.

8.     Use sidewalk chalk to write an inspiring message in front of your home.

9.     If you play a musical instrument, invite neighbors to a front porch concert.

10.  Offer to mow the lawn of a busy young family or older adult neighbor.

11.  Make a double batch of the cookies you’re baking and bring some to a neighbor.

12.  Know parents who could use a night out?  Offer to babysit a neighbor’s child for free.

13.  Pay it backward – buy the coffee or tea for the person behind you in line.

14.  Write a thank you note to a teacher who made a difference in your life.

15.  Call your local school district and pay off a student’s overdue lunch balance.

To learn more, contact David Burton at burtond@missouri.edu or 417-881-8909. "Becoming an Engaged Neighbor" can also be found on Facebook.

Search for the 100 Acts of Kindness challenge at extension.missouri.edu and use the registration button to tell us about what you did and its impact. Or follow this direct link.

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