Thanks For Babysitting 2 Years: Random Kindness In Cartersville

CARTERSVILLE, GA — Thursday is Random Acts of Kindness Day. Cartersville residents on social media are likely to see their feeds full of #MakeKindnessTheNorm, the theme for this year.

Patch asked Cartersville residents on Facebook, "What's the nicest thing a neighbor has done for you?" A few of the responses we got were so inspirational that we thought we'd share them with you, dear readers.

• LuAnn Martin: When a sudden divorce forced me to get a full time job after being a stay-at-home mom, my next door neighbor (who had a daycare in her home) took care of my 2 year old and wouldn't let me pay her. For 2 years!
• Spike Page: It seems like a little thing but it is a big thing to me. My neighbors have included my small family into their own as we try to include them in ours. We help one another out, look after each other, and celebrate the good times together. You can't put a price on that.
• Heather Agan: My husband is a firefighter and our neighbors wife was in an accident and doesn’t speak English well at all. My husband ran the wreck and she recognized him and calmed down because she knew him. A couple days later, they had a beautiful cake made for us as a thank you!
• Rae Ballard: We always pressure wash our neighbors on both sides houses when we pressure wash ours. They get a free pressure wash job and it helps keep our property value up.
• Kathryn Self: When i was in hospital on Thanksgiving,one of our neighbors fixed a big plate of food for my husband.will always appreciate her.Thank you Teresa.will never forget you.
• Kimberly Bohannon Gowens: I have the best neighbors! They help with things that I need, but best of all they help with things that we may need at the free clinic where I work. I can’t tell you how grateful I am for them! Food, coats or medicine co-pays, my neighbors always help out! They are such a blessing to me even though I moved last year.
• Carol Burton: Helped me up when I fell
• Carla Smith: My neighbor watches for packages to be delivered while we are at work or out of town.
• Tom Dukes: Herded my loose cows (all 11 of them) back down my driveway and through the gate they forced open...while I was at work.
• Robin O'Connor Fisher: bring his large trailer to take my car home when it failed me. Same neighbor mowed our yard several times when we had covid and has taken me to get my car after repair. We do the same for him when he needs us.

The Denver-based Random Acts of Kindness Foundation's first RAK Day was in 1995. The small nonprofit's initiative caught on, was celebrated in New Zealand by 2004 and has since been celebrated around the world as a way for people to show kindness to others in small, simple ways.

Random Acts of Kindness Day is observed on Feb. 17 every year, regardless of the day of the week.

Be sure to check out the link below for some ideas on how to celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Day. And keep up the good work, Cartersville! Your neighbors appreciate you.

Related: Random Acts Of Kindness Day 2022: 17 Ways To Be Kind On Feb. 17

Patch National Editor Beth Dalbey contributed to this article.