Endicott’s Third Annual Random Acts of Kindness Week Aims to Make Kindness the Norm
The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation has a mission of making kindness the norm, and its annual initiative—Random Acts of Kindness Week (RAK Week)—aims to inspire people to do a good deed in the hopes of others catching on and spreading the goodness.
For the past three years, the Community Service Office at Endicott College has supported this mission by organizing the College’s own version of RAK Week. This February 18–22, more than 75 students volunteered for a variety of projects throughout the week. Each of the projects inspired others to be kind and give back to their communities.
Students, as well as other Endicott community members, accomplished the following this year.
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Making 20 blankets for families at Horizons for Homeless Children and Family Promise North Shore Boston, Inc.
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Writing dozens of letters to the troops through Operation Troop Support
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A pop-up pancake bar and helping with game night at the Beverly Council on Aging
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An educational story time and kindness crafts with the Gull at the Beverly Public Library
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Giving out free hugs around campus
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Making 100 candy bags for the Public Safety Department and attendees of the women's Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) basketball game
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21 hours of building affordable housing for Habitat for Humanity of the North Shore
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Handing out 60 carnations and posting inspirational cards around campus
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Volunteering at entertainment hour at Landmark Senior Living in Beverly, Mass.
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Providing awareness and fundraising efforts for a variety of organizations, including American Cancer Society, the ALS Association, Pinky Promise, Boston Children’s Hospital, and Huntington's Disease Society of America
“Kindness is such an important trait, and a lot of times people do not realize its true power and potential,” says Assistant Director of Community Service, Andrea Rhodes. “RAK Week is so important to Endicott because it gives our students the chance to stop and take some time to reflect on the power of being kind. I can’t tell you how many students have said to me ‘the hugs I gave out today really touched people and changed their day for the better,’ or ‘did you see how happy those kids were when I was reading and helping them make their kindness cards?’ The best part about RAK Week is that people both on-campus and off are exposed to the idea that volunteering and community service does not always need to be something long-term to be impactful.”
The College’s Community Service Office offers a wealth of opportunities throughout the academic year for students to volunteer to help those in need. Whether it's one afternoon working with Habitat for Humanity, or volunteering for a weekly tutoring commitment, students are always encouraged and welcome to contribute their backgrounds, interests, and skills on behalf of others.
To learn more about how to get involved with the Community Service Office, visit endicott.edu.