CAPTION (image courtesy of Visit Brownsville TN and Haywood County Cultural Arts): Look for this sign on the doors of participating merchants Thursday, January 13, to find the jars filled with uplifting messages from local students at the Scott Street Community Center.
Brownsville — January 13 will mark the seven year anniversary of a movement begun in 2015 by Dr. Tommy Russell and the Brownsville Rotary Club. The community is invited to help celebrate this milestone by participating in several planned opportunities throughout the day including volunteering, supporting local businesses and students, and intentionally doing acts of kindness.
Influenced by the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut and how a parent there began a kindness program in memory of a child, Russell was inspired to initiate an Acts of Kindness – Haywood County program. With the blessings of the club and all three Mayors, a proclamation was signed January 13, 2015 naming it Acts of Kindness Day in Haywood County and declaring Haywood County an “Acts of Kindness Community.” Its mission is to encourage intentional acts of kindness.
“Join us as we celebrate the 7th anniversary of Acts of Kindness Haywood County,” says Russell. “Use this as an opportunity to be a blessing in some way to friends and strangers. If you want to be happy, make someone else happy. Choose kindness!”
In collaboration with Visit Brownsville TN and Haywood County Cultural Arts, residents are invited to volunteer to help with grocery takeout during an organized event on January 13. To register for the program or learn more, email visitbrownsvilletn@gmail.com or call 731-779-9000.
A Winter Open House shopping event, organized by The Forked Deer owner Jaclyn Eubanks, will allow you to shop late Thursday evening at participating merchants. This is also an opportunity to welcome new business, Kinfolk Bakery & Cafe, to the court square. Kinfolk is located in the former Milano’s building.
To enhance your Shop Local experience, students of the Scott Street Community Center have put together Encouragement Jars. These special jars will be at location sporting a window sign that says “We Practice Acts of Kindness Here,” and anyone can reach in the jar for words of encouragement and kindness thanks to these kind young people.
While practicing your intentional acts of kindness, don’t be surprised if you get “caught.” A secret group of people will be out and about on the lookout for those practicing kindness and will reward those people with special stickers.
Kindness challenges are also being issued on social media to encourage and show simple ways to share kindness with others. You can follow the event at www.facebook.com/VisitBrownsvilleTN/events.