The Kindness Zone

By Michelle Nelson

Were you one of the customers surprised with free coffee at Rise Up Coffee Roasters on Riverside Drive last Friday morning? Salisbury Mayor Jacob Day and several kindness commissioners surprised people as they pulled up to the window to place their orders. Mayor Day played barista during the morning rush hour along with help from Commissioner Grace Foxwell Murdock. I was in the heart costume greeting people in the drive up line and encouraging people to pay kindness forward. 

Members of the Kindness Commission visit the Tidal Health COVID test center staffed by the Maryland National Guard.

Besides the coffee flowing, it was the donations of donuts and flowers to surprise others (thank you, Kellyn's Cafe and Kitty's Flowers) and the gift of time spent visiting several locations to set the mood for kindness week. Commissioners visited West Salisbury Elementary, where Mayor Day read a book on kindness to a class, DelmarvaLife, Wicomico Nursing Home, the Tidal Health COVID test center, and Wicomico County Health Department. The short video at the top shows what a wonderful day of kindness it was!

Mayor Day reads a book about kindness to a class at West Salisbury Elementary School.

This is national Random Acts of Kindness Week, Feb. 13-19, with Thursday being Random Acts of Kindness Day. KindSBY has suggestions for every day to show others kindness.

 
Here's the week of kindness, and even though we are part-way through the week, you can do these any time! 

Sunday - Self-Care Day! Maybe you have heard the expression, "You can't pour from an empty cup," so take care of yourself so you can help others. 

Monday - Honor Your Valentine! Did you treat those you love to kindness? It's always the right time to show you appreciate friends and family.

Tuesday - Send a Note Day! Surprise someone with a handwritten note or card! 

Wednesday - First Responder Day! Shop local and surprise our first responders with treats or meals from local businesses or restaurants. 

Thursday - Donation Day! Make a donation to your favorite non-profit. 

Friday - Positive Mental Health Day! Share an encouraging movie, quote, app, anything uplifting, on social media. 

Saturday - Pay it Forward Day! Pay for the order of the customer behind you in line, surprise someone with a few extra dollars for their order, or give out a random gift card. 

Secretary of Kindness Grace Foxwell Murdock and Mayor Jacob Day chat about kindness with DelmarvaLife’s Jimmy Hoppa and Lisa Bryant.

Every day, kindSBY is sharing short videos about the day's theme, and visit https://www.randomactsofkindness.org/ for even more ideas for home, school and work. There are even kindness lesson plans for teachers. 

Let's do everything we can to spread kindness in our community and beyond. When people hear the name Salisbury, we want it associated with kindness and our place as the first city in the United States to be an official kindness city.

Tag #kindSBY when you share your kindness, too, on social media. Share the positive!  www.kindsby.org

Leave a kind note for someone to find.
Make your own or print some at www.kindSBY.org.