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THE KINDNESS CAMPIGN IN ASHEVILLE
Kindness Week is February 13-19, 2006
MAYOR PROCLAIMS KINDNESS WEEK IN ASHEVILLE;
AGENCIES RECEIVE COMMUNITY OF KINDNESS AWARD
Thursday, February 9, Mayor Terry Bellamy read and signed a Proclamation declaring the week of February 13-19, 2006 as Kindness Week in Asheville (See attached Proclamation and picture).
In addition to signing the proclamation, Mayor Bellamy helped the Kindness Campaign present its Community of Kindness Award to 13 different non-profits in the Asheville area for their contributions to the relocation to the Asheville area of over 500 families to who lost their homes in the Katrina disaster. The agencies receiving this award were ABCCM, The Affordable Housing Coalition, The Asheville Mountain Area Chapter of the American Red Cross, Asheville City Schools, Buncombe County Schools, Catholic Social Services, The Department of Social Services, Eblen Charities, Hearts with Hands, Manna Food Bank, The Salvation Army, The Sisters of Mercy Urgency Care Centers, and The United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County.
For example, the Red Cross helped 850 families with Client Assistance Cards that enabled them to buy $310,000 worth of clothes, food, household items and medication. They also helped find temporary housing for them working with local motels, hotels and the Corporate Lodging Program. They also acted as a referral source and helped develop a coordinated plan of service delivery to the evacuees.
The schools districts provided free tuition to the children so they could attend school and the 221 Center of the United Way provided needed information to evacuees on how to get replacement driver's licenses, birth certificates, social security cards, marriage licenses and information on how local citizens could contribute to the relocation effort. Other agencies helped evacuees find permanent housing, gave them rent money, utility assistance, furniture, school supplies, medical treatment and clothing. It was a seamless cooperative effort of all the agencies involved that made this possible.
Last October, as part of Make A Difference Day, the Kindness Campaign presented 14 area schools with Community of Kindness Awards for their contributions to the Katrina relief effort. To date the Kindness Campaign has given 37 Community of Kindness Awards to area individuals, schools and organizations that have performed extraordinary acts of kindness all contributing to the creation of a Community of Kindness in Asheville.
Did you know that over one thousand refugees from the Hurricane Katrina floods found their way to Asheville? On Thursday, February 9 at 11:30 am, ten agencies who reached out a helping hand to these new residents will be given "Community of Kindness" awards at the Mayor's office. Representatives from ABCCM, Manna Food Bank, Hearts with Hands, the Salvation Army, the United Way's 211 Center, Catholic Social Services, the Affordable Housing Coalition, Pisgah Legal Services, the Asheville Chapter of the American Red Cross, and Sisters of Mercy Urgent Care will receive awards from the Kindness Campaign for going the extra mile to help our new neighbors.
Dr. Barry Weinhold, Director of the Kindness Campaign, said, "We wish to honor all of the social service agencies who went way beyond their usual level of service to welcome in and care for over a thousand Katrina refugees of the flood zones last fall. It was their work that enabled many people to start new lives in our city."
Many Faiths Celebrate Kindness
Kicking off Kindness Week in Asheville February 12-19, will be an Interfaith Celebration of Kindness on Monday, February 13 at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Asheville. It will be a colorful blend of music, dance, and poetry. Co-sponsored by the Kindness Campaign, the WNC Interfaith Network, Holy Ground, and Christians for a United Community, the event will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Asheville on Monday, February 13 from 6-7:30 pm with a community potluck to follow. The address is 1 Edwin Place (at Charlotte St.) Bring a potluck dish to share that represents your faith tradition.
The great Sufi poet Rumi said: "There are all these religions, so everyone can sing along. And all these people singing together make just one song."
Participating in this joyous celebration are: St. Eugene Catholic Church, Cloud Cottage Buddhist Sangha, Hill Street Baptist Church, Jubilee Community, Unity Church, Beth Israel Synagogue, Unitarian-Universalist Church of Asheville, as well as representatives of Baha'i, Muslim, Wisdom Traditions, Native American, and Earth Religions. American Sign Language interpreters will sign for the deaf and hard of hearing.
Last year's Interfaith Celebration at St. Eugene Catholic Church was attended by over 300 people. Said participant Judith Toy: "I was deeply touched by last year's ecumenical service. Watching the signers to the hearing impaired was like watching a ballet! I felt we'd brought the whole world into that sanctuary, with the colors and costumes, prayers, songs, chants and dances of the peoples of so many generations and traditions. All with open arms--and all conveying one sweet message: be kind."
Help celebrate the good news that kindness is universal to all faith traditions!
The theme for Kindness Week, Feb. 13-19, is "Spreading Kindness through Community Service." Other events during Kindness Week include Community of Kindness awards being given by the Kindness Campaign and Mayor Bellamy; a showing of "Ryan's Well" (documentary about how one little boy made a difference for a whole village) at Mystic Journeys bookstore, Weds., Feb. 15 at 7 pm; and a kindness bumper sticker contest. For more information, please call Cathy Holt at: (828) 252-3054.
Valentine's Dinner for Homeless Women and Children
The Kindness Campaign has formed a "cook team" to make and serve dinner to women and children at a homeless shelter on February 14. To get involved, please call 252-3054.
"Ryan's Well" Film Showings
One nine-year-old boy made a huge difference for a thirsty village in Africa when he raised the money to provide a well; and he didn't stop there. "Ryan's Well," an inspiring short film about this true story of kindness, will be showing at Mystic Journeys Bookstore, 333 Merrimon Ave., on Wednesday, February 15 at 7 pm, with a discussion afterwards. It will also be shown at the Fine Arts Theater on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at noon. Showings are free; donations benefit the Kindness Campaign.
Also during Kindness Week, Goodwill Industries has a group of developmentally disabled adults who are making valentines to distribute to seniors at retirement centers.
Barry Weinhold, Director of the Kindness Campaign, asks: "Did you know that writing a 'gratitude letter' and delivering it in person could benefit you just as much as the recipient? Research by Dr. Martin Seligman shows that people who did this simple act of kindness were measurably healthier both mentally and physically for up to three months afterwards! Consider writing a letter to someone sincerely thanking them, this week." Acts of kindness such as serving meals at a homeless shelter, running to the pharmacy for a sick neighbor, or lending emotional support to a friend may help people live longer, according to a recent study. Do something kind and compassionate for someone else each day, and you'll reap health benefits as well.
Kindness Bumper Sticker Slogan Contest
Would you like to see your catchy slogan promoting kindness on cars all over town? The Kindness Campaign invites everyone to participate in a Kindness bumper sticker slogan contest. Send in your idea to: cfholt@buncombe.main.nc.us by February 28 (maximum of 8 words). The winner will receive a prize (dinner for two at Vincenzo's Ristorante).
For more information about any of these events, please call: (828) 252-3054.
The Human Race
On April 1, 2006, the United Way will be holding it's annual "The Human Race". People run or walk for donations to their favorite charity. If The Kindness Campaign is yours, contact Cathy Holt at (828) 252-3054 and ask for information on how to join "The Human Race".
Have you received a Spread Kindness button? Turn it over and you will see how you can keep track of your button after you pass it on to the next kind person. Visit a the main page and record your button number, how you received it and to whom you passed it on. This will help the Kindness Campaign collect stories of everyday and outstanding kind acts and help you find out how far your button has traveled seeking other kind people.
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