Granby Joins 26 Acts of Kindness Movement

Granby Joins 26 Acts of Kindness Movement

The Granby Recreation, Social Services, Youth & Senior Services  Departments along with the Granby Public Library have joined together to promote the 26 Acts of Kindness Movement in Granby this spring and summer to honor the lives and memories of the 26 children and school faculty who died in the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy on December 14.  The 26 Acts of Kindness movement was inspired by NBC News Correspondent Ann Curry, who in the wake of the Newtown shootings, wondered what could be done to ease the pain of a nation distraught over this senseless act of violence.  Ann Curry sent out a tweet that read “Imagine if all of us committed to 20 acts of kindness to honor each child lost in Newtown. I'm in. If you are RT #20Acts”

Almost immediately her idea went viral, eventually evolving to 26 Acts to include the heroic teachers and faculty at Sandy Hook Elementary School.  All over the world individuals, organizations, and communities have committed to doing Acts of Kindness both big and small with the hope these actions will not only make the world a better place but honor the lives of those lost in the Newtown tragedy. 

Granby residents of any age interested in taking part in this movement are asked to stop by the Granby Public Libraries or the Granby Youth/Senior Center beginning March 1 to register for the program.  Participation forms can also be found on the Granby Rec Dept.’s website at www.GranbyRec.com.  The first 300 people to sign up will receive a “26 Acts of Kindness Are You In?” button. Those who would like to take part will be given a sheet in which to record their acts of kindness.  The Town Departments sponsoring the 26 Acts of Kindness campaign here in Granby would like participants to return their completed packets by the end of May.  The forms can be turned in anonymously. As many sheets as possible will be read aloud at Rec Dept.,  Library, Youth Services and Senior Center events this spring and summer and some of the Acts will be posted on the Rec Dept. website at www.GranbyRec.com. 

Your acts of kindness can be anything, big or small. A few ideas for kids include reading a book to a younger sibling, bringing a neighbors’ trash barrel in from the curb, etc.  Examples of things adults could do include buying a coffee for the person behind you in line at coffee shop, helping a senior bring their groceries to their car, volunteering for community event, etc.  Why not let your first act of kindness be to recruit three others to participate in the program? The possibilities are endless. 

To quickly download the participation forms click here