THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, February 10, 1997 TAG: 9702100039
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LORI A. DENNEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 63 lines
If a stranger walks up to you and hands you a lollipop or a sticker this week, don't run screaming.
Chances are, the stranger's simply committing a random act of kindness.
After all, it's national Kindness Week.
And although the kindness kick became trendy several years ago, the practice is still alive and well in Hampton Roads. About 135 folks are actual members of an organized nonprofit group who spread goodwill year-round.
``Our mission statement is to bring a smile to the world, one person at a time,'' said the chapter's founder and president, Peter Wayne Bushman. ``Some people question why we do this and really, it's just letting people know that kindness is OK.''
This week's token balloons, stickers and lollipops will be given out by members of Random Acts of Shared Kindness of Virginia beginning today through Feb. 17.
The group has assigned a theme for each day. Today is ``just the fax day'': Schools and organizations are asked to fill out a good-deed sheet and then fax it to another business or organization. The fax form is available through RASK.
Tuesday is ``lollipop guild day,'' Wednesday is ``have a great day,'' Thursday is ``stick a smile day,'' Friday is ``go nuts for doughnuts day,'' Saturday is ``bring a smile to the world balloon day,'' Sunday is ``enjoy your family day'' and next Monday is ``go out of your way day.''
Members of RASK are hoping their kindness will be contagious not only this week but also throughout the year.
When member Daryl Carver commits an act of kindness, like offering a stranger a few pennies to complete a purchase or letting someone go in front of her in line, she always thinks back to a car accident two years ago.
``I was in a very bad accident that involved several cars,'' said Carver. ``There was a lot of confusion and I didn't know what was going on. Out of the blue comes this man. He stayed with me and he talked to me the whole time. I don't know who that man was but I'll never forget him.
``It proved to me that just the little things you can do, like saying `have a nice day' can really mean the most.''
Members of RASK routinely carry on their credo, ``to be nice to other people without personal, political or financial gain.''
Throughout the year, you may find members helping out in shopping malls, opening doors and helping customers with packages. You may find them singing Christmas carols to nursing home residents, volunteering in hospitals and community centers, and making flashcards for schools.
Bushman, 30, founded the group in 1993 after a man on a public bus offered him money when he was 15 cents short on fare.
``This one guy turned my whole day around,'' said Bushman, who works full time with a magazine distribution company in Norfolk. ``It was then that I realized that just one act of kindness can really make the difference in someone's day.''
The group has members from Florida to New York, and Bushman says he receives letters and phone calls from people who have been touched by another's kindness.
Bushman first called the group Random Acts of Senseless Kindness but soon changed the name to Random Acts of Shared Kindness because, he said, ``kindness really isn't senseless.'' MEMO: Random Acts of Shared Kindness can be reached at 486-7275.