Celebrate Kindness Day In Bolingbrook On Saturday

BOLINGBROOK, IL — Kindness Day Bolingbrook will host its community celebration on Saturday with the unveiling of their third Kindness community mural, free Kindness Bags, the debut of the "Super Sammy En Español" book, a limited edition "Super Sammy" Fountaindale Public Library card, free ice cream at Taco Dale, Barnes & Noble Kindness story time in English and Spanish and other kindness activities, according to a release from the organization.

The newest mural will be revealed at 2:30 p.m. at Bolingbrook High School, 365 Raider Way, and a public viewing will take place from 3 to 5 p.m. The mural was created by local artist and educator Donna Franks-Tapley.

"Super Sammy and many of the Kindness Ambassadors are students [at Bolingbrook High School] and this mural represents the kindness that students, teachers and staff radiate- not only at the High School- but in our entire Bolingbrook community," said Marissa Yelenosky, co-founder of Kindness Day Bolingbrook and mother to Samantha Yelenosky, also known as Super Sammy for her courageous medical journey and “Super Powers” which include Kindness and Down syndrome.

At the Fountaindale Public Library, there will be a full day of activities dedicated to Kindness Day Bolingbrook including Kindness Bags filled with goodies from area businesses that will be given out for free (while supplies last) in the library’s Children’s Services, the Teen Vortex, via the drive-thru or at the Bookmobile.

On Kindness Day, the Bookmobile will be at the Target next to Taco Dale. If you take your Kindness Bag to Taco Dale, 1196 W. Boughton Road, on Kindness Day you’ll get a free Mexican specialty popsicle or scoop of ice cream. For those that don’t have a Kindness Bag, you can get a free popsicle or scoop of ice cream with each entrée purchase, according to a news release.

Also at the Fountaindale Public Library, there will be a Kindness story time, a Love on the Leash presentation with therapy dogs and coloring sheets featuring last year’s Kindness Mural and Super Sammy. You’ll also get to meet Super Sammy and get a Super Sammy Limited Edition Library Card. The "Super Sammy En Español" book will also be available for the first time at the library to check out.

At Barnes & Noble Bolingbrook there will be a Kindness story time in English and Spanish hosted by Spanish Ladder, where the "Super Sammy En Español" book will be read, and Super Sammy will also attend, the organization said. The first 20 participants will get a Kindness Mug from Spanish Ladder. The Barnes & Noble Café is also creating a special Kindness drink for kids without coffee and giving away a special coupon for everyone attending.

“It’s been five years since the Kindness proclamation was first introduced and we have a lot to celebrate,” Yelenosky said in a release. “It’s because of the kindness our daughter received from our community, especially from our youth that she is thriving. We encourage kindness, and we want everyone to recognize the major impact Kindness can have on a person’s life and that those that receive it are forever grateful.”

You can find a full schedule of events online.

Kindness Day Bolingbrook was first introduced by Bolingbrook’s mayor emeritus Roger Claar on May 18, 2018, in recognition of the overwhelming kindness Samantha Yelenosky, a resident of Bolingbrook, received from classmates, teachers, staff and her community when she returned to Pioneer Elementary School after facing tremendous health challenges.

Her parents wanted to share their gratitude for the kindness she received and express how simple acts of kindness were critical to their daughter's recovery. It became a community celebration in 2019 and since then has been celebrated yearly, according to the organization.