Plainfield Athletes Kick Off 'Random Acts of Kindness' Week

Photo: Plainfield North soccer players Hailey Traver (left) and Caroline Henzel prepare to start on their random acts of kindness on Sunday, Feb. 12. Credit: Bobby Johandes/Buddy's HELPERS

On Sunday, members of girls soccer teams at Plainfield, Romeoville and Bolingbrook high schools showed off their greatest superpower: the ability to make people happy.

Wearing superhero capes, girls soccer players from all four Plainfield high schools spread out throughout the village, putting smiles on people's faces with simple acts of kindness, from passing out flowers to handing out Post-It notes bearing inspirational messages.

"It felt so satisfying, feeling that helping someone else's day be better could really make a difference," Plainfield South sophomore Christina Schade said.

The teammates took to the streets Sunday during an event organized by the non-profit group Buddy's HELPERS. About 2,500 girls from 80 high schools across Chicagoland -- all players in the PepsiCo Showdown soccer tournament scheduled for April -- took part. The event kicked off National Random Acts of Kindness Week as part of the Buddy's HELPERS/PepsiCo Showdown "Making A Difference On AND Off The Field" campaign.

Schade said she and her teammates started their day at Walmart, where they passed out flowers and positive notes to shoppers. They also headed to Dunkin Donuts, where they planned to purchase coffee for people waiting in line -- but found that they weren't the only ones spreading some cheer.

"There was a guy buying gift cards for two other women in line," Schade said.

At Target, the athletes continued their good deeds. "We had a really good response there," Schade said. "We actually had a lady come up to one of our groups and say we made her whole day."

And since kindness begets more kindness, a Plainfield business also pitched in, the teen said. Marco's Pizza gave the girls free pizzas to take to a Plainfield fire station.

The firefighters were more than happy to accept the delicious gesture.

"They were super surprised," Schade said.

In Bolingbrook, BHS soccer players started by visiting all five fire stations, surprising firefighters with doughnuts and cookies.

"The best part were their reactions," said senior Abbie Lund. "I don't think they're aware how appreciative people really are for their service. It was cool catching them off guard."

Students then headed to Meadowbrook Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation center, where they passed out flowers to residents. When a problem arose, the girls took quick action.

"We actually ran out of flowers and a couple of the residents were really sad," Lund said. "One of my teammates even started crying, she felt so bad. So we went out and bought more. When we came back the second time, everyone who wanted a flower got one. Some of the men we handed flowers to transferred them to the nurses, asking them to be their Valentine."

The best part?

"All the smiles made us feel great," Lund said. "My (teammates) even asked if we could do it again next week."