Melrose Random Acts Of Kindness Day Ready To Spread The Love

MELROSE, MA — We could all use a little kindness. This weekend one local group is making sure we get more than a little.

MelroseKind is again spearheading a sort of kindness-palooza, spreading love and cheer throughout the city, culminating in the sixth annual Melrose Random Acts of Kindness Day on Sat., Nov. 20.

The unofficial city holiday will be kinder than ever — if that's possible — one year after a much different celebration during the pandemic. You can a non-exhaustive list of the acts of kindness throughout the city below.

If there's anyone who wants to join in on the kindness, email melrosekind@gmail.com. (Two local women just committed to sending all 11 school nurses with flowers, gift cards and thank you notes. One group of high schoolers will be bringing thank you notes and gift cards to crossing guards across the city.)

Also, email and tag @melrosekind on social media with any other acts of kindness in the city.

Random Acts of Kindness Day has already fulfilled its original mission of love and inclusion defining the day. It was put together after some middle school students were targeted for bullying. Maribeth Darwin refused to let Nov. 20 be remembered for something like that.

"Had you told me in 2015 that a sad day would spark something so unbelievably and incredibly good, I might not have believed you," Darwin told Patch. "But that's kindness right there. It grows beyond our expectations."

Darwin credits friend Stephanie Nelson, whose effusive efforts are the beating heart behind Random Acts of Kindness Day.

MelroseKind is now non-profit. Donations can be made at melrosekind.com to help kindness flowing all year long. The group is considering long-term projects like a meal prepped by local gardeners, prepared by local students and served to local seniors; a kindess garden that will grow vegetables for The Food Drive; and an "adopt-a-city" program where Melrose gives another Melrose in the U.S. kindness.

Read also:

• When It Was Needed Most, 2020 Kindness Day Delivered
• Melrose's Mother Of Kindness: Local Hero Maribeth Darwin

On Saturday MelroseKind will be at the Kindness Patch, the green area next to the YMCA. Follow Your Art will are creating a new interactive mural residents for residents (made possible by the Messina Fund) and local musicians who took part in PorchFest will jam out from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Residents can come get kindness cards and buy shirts and mugs to help support MelroseKind. (The logo was designed by local artist Sara Gravante and funded by the Melrose Cultural Council.)

One of the most popular acts to return this year is a letter-writing initiative. Elementary school children have written more than 1,000 letters to local seniors, saying things like "I hope you are happy. I love," and "What was it like in Melrose when you were young?"

Thanks to grants from local foundations and businesses, MelroseKind will buy breakfast and lunch for MelroseWakefield Hospital workers and give donated Dunkin' gift cards to the overnight staff. Middle school students wrote cards and letters to patients and staff saying things like "You've got this," "Keep fighting" and "Thank you for being a hero."

More than 900 Melrose High students wrote letters to teachers who had the biggest impacts in them during their time in school growing up. Even some college students did the same. "You might not remember me. But I remember you. You always made me laugh in third grade," reads one letter. Other local schools' students got in on the letters, as well.

The Melrose High School PTO worked with clubs and teams to create posters thanking teachers. The posters will greet teachers as they enter. PTOs at every school have picked a way to show kindness to teachers on Friday.

There will be interactive murals in some schools where students can take pictures and celebrate kindness.

MelroseKind has already given $5 gift cards donated by Dunkin' to Bread of Life (100 cards,) Servant's Heart (50) and Pantry of Hope (50.) "A hot cup of coffee this time of year, to someone who is working long hours and might not have a place to sleep, goes a long way," Bread of Life's Gaby Stelmack said.

MelroseKind has been delivering thank you cards to Kindness Angels in Melrose, gifting those who do good in the city with personal notes and more than $1,000 in gift cards donated by local restaurants. Also, several restaurants will be offering "kindness cocktails," proceeds of which will benefit local charities.

Several Melrose High students have helped set up "Pay It Forward With A Gift Card" boards in local coffee shops people can buy a coffee or snack for people who have yet to arrive.

Residents are bringing breakfast to the Department of Health and treats to the Post Office, while others are bringing lunch to the library. The City Council and School Committee will show kindness to the City Clerk's office and Melrose Schools Central Administration, respectively.

MMTV and "Let's Talk Melrose, Melrose" will be treating the Department of Public Works to lunch. Hinge Fitness will spend several hours picking up litter and making donations, while FitLife and other fitness partners will host charity classes during the day.

Boy and Girl Scouts, along with other charitable organizations, will get in on the kindness, including cleaning the trails leading to Swain's Pond. They'll also join with Scott Macauley to make sure thank you cards and heart doilies will accompany Macauley's Thanksgiving vouchers for the police and fire departments.

Mike Carraggi can be reached at mike.carraggi@patch.com. Follow him on Twitter @PatchCarraggi and Instagram at Melrose Happening. Subscribe to Melrose Patch for free local news and alerts and like us on Facebook.