Ridgefield Rallies For 'Hailey’s Day Of Kindness' As Local Orgs Expand Annual Tradition

RIDGEFIELD, CT — What began as a small tribute to a stillborn baby whose short life continues to spark long-lasting generosity is now blossoming into one of Ridgefield’s most feel-good December traditions.

Hailey’s Day of Kindness, held each year on Dec. 18, was created by Jill and Ryan Merolle in memory of their daughter Hailey, who was stillborn at full term. The couple, who now live in New Jersey, began encouraging friends and family to honor Hailey through simple acts of kindness. The idea reached Ridgefield thanks to a personal connection — and it’s been growing ever since.

“I just really admired that Jill and her husband Ryan took this enormous grief and found a way to have something good come from it,” said Kathy Graham, vice president and branch manager at Fairfield County Bank in Ridgefield. Graham’s daughter and Jill were college roommates at Marist, and the Merolles’ story struck a deep chord.

From Baby Clothes to Townwide Kindness

Fairfield County Bank was the first local participant, collecting baby clothes and supplies for Birthright of Greater Danbury, which supports financially struggling pregnant women. The bank also donates $500 each year for car seats distributed through the nonprofit. The community response was so strong that Graham began imagining a larger, townwide effort.

“I thought, why don’t I see if I can have this be a town-wide event… just people doing an act of kindness that day,” she said. With support from First Selectman Rudy Marconi, Graham reached out to Ridgefield’s civic groups — and the idea took off.

What Ridgefield Organizations Did Last Year

Last year’s Hailey’s Day of Kindness inspired a wide range of projects across town:

• Ridgefield Boys & Girls Club — made holiday cards for seniors.
• Jesse Lee Church — filled and distributed “Shoebox Sunday” gift boxes.
• Fairfield County Bank — collected baby items for Birthright.
• SOAR — delivered flowers to people spending the holidays alone.
• Lions Heart (Class of 2028) — decorated holiday-themed bags for Meals on Wheels.
• NCL Nutmeg Chapter — made bookmarks with positive messages for Founders Hall.
• Ridgefield Lions Club — cleaned historic plaques around town.
• Ridgefield Fathers Club — participated with their own service projects.
• Compassionate Ridgefield — promoted kindness initiatives townwide.

“We all know the receiver gets something, but the giver also receives something,” Graham said. “If there’s just one day we can set aside to lift someone’s spirits, it’s a good teaching tool for all of us.”

Want To Take Part This Year?

Acts of kindness can be big or small — buying someone coffee, making cookies for first responders, shoveling a neighbor’s sidewalk, or offering free babysitting so parents can shop without kids. Individuals and organizations are invited to participate.

Groups interested in joining this year’s townwide kindness effort can contact Kathy Graham directly at Kathy.Graham@fairfieldcountybank.com.

A social media #HaileysDayofKindness hashtag helps residents share what they did and inspire others — and Graham hopes to drum up even more community involvement this year.

“I’d love to have anybody that wants to participate,” she said. “It doesn’t have to be a group — individuals can do anything that feels meaningful.”

Nonprofit Ways to Give Back

Graham shared with Patch several additional Ridgefield-area nonprofits that welcome kindness-day participation or support:

• Connor Sheehan Fund — tickets available for the Sacred Heart vs. Cornell hockey fundraiser.
• The Iris Fund — donations support a Valentine’s Day project delivering flowers to new moms in area hospitals.
• Ridgefield Rotary Club — tickets now available for Taste of Ridgefield, which funds local grants.
• Born to Thrive — supports the NICU at Danbury Hospital.

A Simple Mission for a Hard Time of Year

Graham says the timing matters: “The holidays are difficult for some people — loneliness, loss, financial hardship. If we can do even one thing to make a difference, that’s what this day is about.”

Hailey’s Day of Kindness returns Thursday, Dec. 18 — giving Ridgefield one more chance to honor a little girl whose legacy has become a community tradition of generosity.