KINDNESS Saint Joseph raises money and spirits
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The Noyes Home for Children fostered goodwill and raised thousands for the non-profit with its first annual "KINDNESS Saint Joseph" event.
Saturday evening, the Noyes Home and over 300 of St. Joseph’s kindest residents gathered at the East Hills Shopping Center to celebrate the nonprofit’s newest initiative, fostering and celebrating kindness.
"I believe that when you focus on what you want more of, you're going to be more likely to see that and I want our world to be a more positive place," Executive Director of the Noyes Home for Children, Chelsea Howlett said. "I want our children to have hope for their future and to see the great things that are going on in our community, because it is easy to maybe focus on not-so-great things. So being able to look at those that are doing kind of acts and have them as inspiration, hopefully will motivate them to do more kind acts."
Back in October, the Noyes Home asked St. Joseph School District students in kindergarten through twelfth grade to write an essay about the kindest person they know.
“It's an opportunity for them to have a moment right where people are able to say 'thank you for being a kind person, and thank you for doing the things that you do,'" Howlett said.
After receiving over 700 submissions, 13 essays were chosen. 5th grader Destiny Hernandez-Cardenas wrote one of those winning essays about her friend, Fabiana.
“She doesn't judge anyone. She's very talkative, very nice, has a lot of energy," Hernandez-Cardenas said. "She doesn't use anyone. She's just kind.”
Along with awarding the 13 students and their essay subjects, the ceremony also awarded St. Joseph Kindness Keepers, including Lily Rice, Carol Myers and Larry Miller, otherwise known as the "Waving Walker."
"I want to thank everybody from the bottom of my heart and God bless you," Miller said. "St. Joe is kind and I see it every day when I walk. They wave back at me...I have people stop and talk to me. They're beautiful ... They're just great."
The event raised thousands for the Noyes Home with ticket sales, basket raffles and donations for the event, but it also raised awareness for the importance of being kind to one another.
