Paying it forward
Students perform random acts of kindness across community
Students fromthe SpringFord Area School District helped spread holiday cheer Sundaymorning as they performed random acts of kindness throughout the community.
Dressed in red-and-white plush Santa hats, 435 students scattered across town in small groups and quietly performed good deeds for strangers.
They placed quarters on washing machines for future customers to use at 12 laundromats next to notes that read “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays.” They hid dollar bills among merchandise inside 11 local dollar stores. They handed out gift cards at local supermarkets and helped load groceries into customers’ cars. They visited nine different retirement homes and dropped off donations at three food pantries. They stopped by the Good Samaritan Shelter in Phoenixville. They helped out at Main Line Animal Rescue. They placed candy canes on car door handles in parking lots. They gave thank-you notes and candy to local fire companies and police departments and sang Christmas carols.
All of it as a way to give back to the community and brighten the day of the people around them.
The day of service, now in its second year, is not officially sponsored by the district, but it has its full support none the less. SpringFord Superintendent David Goodin said the community is a better place because of events like the random acts of kindness.
“This is really what the community is about,” he said. “What Spring-Ford is about.”
The brainchild of SpringFord parent Jill Anoia, the hope is that students will learn a valuable lesson that can’t always be taught in the classroom.
“My big thing is that I want it to be a natural thing for our kids,” Anoia said. “I want it to be where it’s not a thought. It’s – this is what we do. We give back to people. Period. This shouldn’t be a special thing. This is something that feels as normal as playing on the soccer team.”
Last year, Anoia said she wanted to take her two sons, now 12 and 8 years old, out to do 25 random acts of kindness. Other parents heard about the idea after she posted about it on Facebook and decided to tag alongwith their children. The group of about 35 students spent the day performing many of the same activities as this year. Word spread quickly of their volunteerism and this year hundreds more signed up to help out too.
“It was insane,” Anoia said. She didn’t want to advertise the fact they were planning the event, because she didn’t want the focus to get lost.
“It should be about people who put good into theworld today,” she said. “And if you can, you should do it too.”
Customers in the various stores who interacted with the student do-gooders were overwhelmed by their generosity. Many felt inspired to pay it forward themselves.
“I came in and was a little intimidated at first. I thought a basketball team was here,” said Henry Godlewski, of Norristown, at the Dubble Bubbles Laundry, in Audubon, after a group of seventh grade boys stopped by. He was touched by their kindness. “It sort of motivates me. Maybe I can do a little of that too … what a surprise. It’s very uplifting.”
Another female customer, who asked not to be named, agreed.
“I think it’s great because we live in such a fast paced world, that people of that generation are willing to give,” she said. “From what I’ve seen people of that generation are self centered.”
Ronda Branch, of Philadelphia, was surprised to see the boys give out dollar bills at the Dollar General next door.
“I don’t know what’s going on but it’s a beautiful thing,” she said. “It’s wonderful.”
Branch said a student came up to her and handed her a dollar. She asked him what it was for and he simply replied “Merry Christmas.” She said she planned to do something nice for somebody else that day because of it.
“Christmas time is not always about receiving,” she said, “but giving also.”
For students, the importance of giving seems to have been learned. Sev- enth graders John Kaputa, Braden Huntington and Breck Lotz said they enjoyed spreading the holiday spirit.
“It feels pretty good, actually,” John said. “It feels good to give back.”
“If you saw someone and they wanted to help you with your groceries, you’re going to let them,” Braden said. “You’re going to let them help you and you’re going to feel good about it. So I guess they’re going to feel good when we do this stuff.”
When the boys learned how customers wanted to pay it forward, they were pleasantly surprised.
“That sounds great,” Breck said. “It would just make the community a better place.”