Kindness: the quality of being friendly, generous and considerate without expecting praise or reward.
Although being kind to one another is encouraged every day, United Way of Northwest Oklahoma, and many others in Alva, Enid, Kingfisher and Woodward, have joined forces to shine a bigger light on kindness through observing Kindness Day in Northwest Oklahoma on Friday, Nov. 18. The international observance of World Kindness Day is Nov. 13.
This special day was introduced in 1998 to promote kindness throughout the world. It is observed in many countries including Australia, Canada, India, Italy, Japan, Nigeria, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates.
“The United Way of Northwest Oklahoma has been observing this day to promote planned and random acts of kindness in the area since 2014 and have been expanding the reach into northwest Oklahoma by including Kingfisher, Alva and other communities who have kind hearts and willing spirits,” said Dan Schiedel, Executive Director of United Way of Northwest Oklahoma.
Several Kingfisher and Alva community leaders and volunteers have been meeting to discuss plans for the day and welcome everyone who would like to be involved. “We have various acts of kindness happening so far from thank you notes and goodie bags to kindness messages, paying for fountain drinks for unsuspecting individuals and more,” Cindy Harris of Pioneer said.
Various groups from the NW area are planning acts of kindness throughout the day. Some of the groups are Kingfisher Public Schools, Stepping Up, Foster Feet, YMCA, NOC, The Rotary Club of Enid, NWOSA, Carver & Fowler Kids, Pioneer, Campus Cabinet food pantry, Vance Airforce Base, Kingfisher NBC Bank, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, NWOSU Art Society, NWOSU Medical Sciences Club, NOC Baseball and Softball Teams, Cheer Squad, Northwest Technology Center, Alva State Bank, Washington Elementary in Alva, girl scouts in Waynoka, Kayla’s Kindness, Kingfisher Coalition, Food Pantries and all 26 Jiffy Trip locations.
Any club, school class, group, business, etc., who would like to be involved in the Day of Kindness and wants to be added to the overall list that will be shared with the media and others of those planning acts of kindness may contact Dan Schiedel @ dan@unitedwayenid.org. Also, anyone who wishes to sponsor the Day of Kindness in Northwest Oklahoma please contact Dan Schiedel, CEO and executive director of United Way of Northwest Oklahoma, at (580) 237-0821 or dan@unitedwayenid.org.
