Wave Strong Celebrates Kindness Week In Darien

DARIEN, CT — It’s Kindness Week and the Wave Strong Foundation, and the DHS Wave Strong Club, want everyone in Darien to take the pledge to be the “I” in kind. It’s a week set aside to celebrate the small acts of kindness that can really make a difference. Building off of the success of last year’s kindness takeovers at many of our elementary schools, Wave Strong is setting out to make this year a town wide initiative, promoting kindness in our schools, businesses and across our community to make kindness the norm.

“Last year we were thrilled to be invited into many of our elementary schools to help celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Week,” says Tracy McEvoy, President, Wave Strong Foundation. “This year, our goal is to take this townwide to encourage even more kindness across our community and to also realize that everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about, so kind because it really matters.”

Starting on Monday, February 10th, there will be kindness prompts and quotes around our schools and town as reminders to practice even more kindness than we already do. There will also be a large scale, 5 x 8 foot banner created by DHS AP Art Student, Sophie duPont that encourages others to Be the “I” in Kind.

“Art is my passion, so I was so excited to create this visual as a reminder for our community, especially the younger students around the district,” says Sophie duPont. “As a Wave Strong board member, and active member of our high school Wave Strong Club, kindness has been a key pillar of all of the work we do and this is a creative way to remind each other just how important it is.”

In addition to the school activations, local businesses, via support from the Chamber of Commerce, are also encouraged to hang posters celebrating and promoting Kindness Week. Darien High School students can be seen around town throughout the week delivering and hanging posters at local stores and businesses. The Darien Library, Post 53 and The Depot will also be taking part and reminding all their members to be the “I” in kind throughout the week.

The benefits go beyond just creating a kinder Darien. New research conducted by the University of Ohio looks at the mental health benefits, finding that performing acts of kindness may reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.

“It has been said that no act of kindness, no matter how small, has ever been wasted,” says McEvoy. “The extraordinary community of Darien can take kindness to a whole new level and make a real difference in the lives of its community members.”

Wave Strong is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization committed to breaking down the stigmas mental health and finding ways to open up this critical dialogue across Darien. To learn mo about Wave Strong, visit wavestrong.org.