Tell Us About Your ‘26.2 Acts of Kindness’
A little bit of kindness goes a long way. That’s the basic idea behind Charlestown resident Stephanie Zanotti’s “26.2 Acts of Kindness” project—an effort to put some positivity back into the world after tragedy. And she’s hoping others will join her. “In the wake of the Newtown, CT tragedy, a kindness movement was started by Ann Curry [of the TODAY show] to do 26 acts of kindness for the 26 victims of Sandy Hook Elementary,” Zanotti said in an email. “This is Part 2. I am participating in 26 acts of kindness for the victims at the 26th mile of the Boston Marathon. Each mile of the route is dedicated to an act of kindness.” Since announcing her plans the week following the Boston Marathon bombings, Zanotti has been busy working on her acts of kindness. “My acts have ranged from signing my dog up with a therapy dog program to a cup of coffee for the next person in line to sending an Edible Arrangement fruit basket to the trauma ICU of my hospital to thank my fellow colleagues/nurses,” said Zanotti, a nurse at Brigham & Women’s Hospital. “Tonight I donated several pairs of sneakers to a friend traveling to Jamaica who always brings down a suitcase full of shoes to donate. Included was a special pair of sneakers that I wore to run the last 6 miles of last year’s marathon across the finish line with my best friend.” Zanotti has been spreading the word about “26.2 Acts of Kindness” on her Facebook page, through Patch and in other ways, and already many have responded to her call, including the folks behind the original “26 Acts” project. Charlestown resident Carrie Sunde, a Syracuse University student who recently won the title of “Miss Cambridge,” posted a photo to the Charlestown Patch Facebook page of a parking meter where she left money for people to use. Patch reader Pam D’Esopo is gathering handmade baby blankets for the patients of Boston Children’s Hospital ICU wards, she wrote in the comments of an article about Zanotti’s project. “My goal is to share the inspiration behind ‘26 Acts of Kindness,’ which is to ask ourselves during our ‘busy’ lives: how can I make a small difference today?” Zanotti said. “When people see our posts, I hope something resonates. Whether or not they can commit to all 26 acts or do one act or for one moment have their faith in humanity restored after this horrible tragedy; that is what keeps me going.” What are you doing for your “26.2 Acts of Kindness”? Share your plans, ideas and calls for volunteers in the comments section below. South End Patch
Boston Nurse Begins 26 Acts Of Kindness, Pt. 2; Urges Others to Join In
After the tragedy in Newtown, Conn., in December, in which a gunman killed 26 people at Sandy Hook Elementary School, Stephanie Zanotti of Charlestown, Mass., was inspired by the suggestion to complete 26 acts of kindness as a response. In the wake of the bombings at the Boston Marathon on Monday, Zanotti decided it was time for Part Two of those 26 acts of kindness. “I am participating in 26 acts of kindness for the victims at the 26th mile of the Boston Marathon,” she wrote on her Facebook page. Using Facebook and Instagram, she is chronicling her acts and hoping to inspire others to do the same. “It’s forcing me to think about how you can make someone’s day a little lighter, a little brighter,” she said Saturday. She stresses the acts can be as simple as paying for the person’s cup of coffee behind you in line at your favorite coffee shop or dropping off some candy at your local fire department – both things she did during her Newtown acts. So far, Zanotti has completed two acts in this new cycle: she has promoted the sale of a T-shirt designed by a friend in which all proceeds will go to One Fund Boston. And she signed up her dog Lucy, a rescue dog with only three legs, in a dog therapy program. (The t-shirt and Lucy are pictured, right.) Zanotti is a nurse at Brigham & Women’s Hospital and has seen the power of therapy dogs for patients. Knowing that several of the bombing victims have had limbs amputated, Zanotti realized her dog in particular could provide special inspiration. She said she’s speaking out about her actions to raise awareness and, she hopes, to inspire others to follow suit. The realization that the bombings happened at the 26th mile and the parallel with Newtown’s 26 school victims was powerful to Zanotti. “Unfortunately, the ’26’ theme again,” she said. But at a time when so many people want to do something in response to the events of the past several days, Zanotti’s found a way to be both creative and kind. Are you doing something special in response to the bombings? Let us know in the comments section. South End Patch