2024 is a year that is focused on building kindness and strengthening our community connections on Moote, Kimmie and Otis on 94.9 the Bull. In order to accomplish this goal, we are going to be launching a number of “Kindness Campaigns” throughout the year. The first of these campaigns was to get as many handmade Valentine’s Day cards as possible to people in assisted living and memory care facilities. Valentine’s Day can be a lonely time for many people and especially for those who are in assisted living. The objective of the handmade cards was to show love to those who need it and help teach kids what it means to be kind to others. For those in memory care, these handmade cards can lead to priceless conversations and memories which can be helpful in therapy and treatment.
We began the campaign on January 14th, and the response was overwhelming from kids, teachers, coaches, churches, and local businesses. Nearly 60 different groups and individuals (listed below) contributed cards from 1/14 to 2/5. Many of the teachers and group leaders talked about the benefit of having a concrete example of what being kind means for kids in school. It is one thing to talk about kindness, it is another to be able to create something tangible to embody kindness to give to someone in need. The total number of cards that were collected was 6,136 which would be sorted and packaged for delivery to 50 assisted living and memory care facilities.
We closed out the Valentine’s Day Kindness Campaign in a very special way by getting the opportunity to deliver the handmade cards to residents of the Village Park Assisted Living in Alpharetta with the students from the Jr. Beta Club at Taylor Road Middle School in Johns Creek. It was an incredible way to close out the campaign for this year by seeing the connections created between the two different generations. One resident that I spoke with said “This is the only Valentine that I got this year and it’ll fit perfectly on my fridge,” while another stated how great it was to see such well-behaved young people doing things for others.
Kindness is one of those concepts that we speak about a lot, but rarely have a concrete connection point for it. Seeing how happy the kids were after getting the opportunity to deliver the Valentine’s Day cards from this campaign is one of those examples. The smiles were infectious and many of them talked about how it felt great to do something for others and show gratitude for older generations. Helping to create these lasting memories and connections is what the Kindness Campaign.
Next year we have a goal for the campaign to get over 10,000 cards to 100 facilities and to engage even more groups of people to join us.
Schools
Atlanta Academy
Auburn Elementary School
Avery Elementary
Buford Academy
Clark Creek Elementary
Epstein School
ET Booth Beta Club
Flowery Branch High School
Graves Elementary
Indian Creek Middle School
John’s Creek Elementary School
Kiddie Academy of Cumming
Landmark Christian School
National Art Honor Society at Greater Atlanta Christian School
Ola Elementary School
Ola Middle School
Parker Chase Sprayberry Academy
Pate’s Creek Elementary
Razzle’s Kid Academy
River Green Academy
Riverstone Academy – Morningside
Sarah Smith Elementary School
Sharp Creek Elementary
Taylor Road Middle School
The Kings Academy TKA Beta Club
Ms. Samler’s Class
Groups
Girl Scout Troop 17944
Girl Scout Troop 20039
Children’s Ministry
Next Steps Ministries
First Baptist Church Cornelia
Lawrenceville Knights Football
Summit Family YMCA Cheerleading
Businesses
Top Golf Midtown
Northpoint Roofing Systems
J&M Pool Company Families
Booz Allen Hamilton
Jackson Glass
Gwinnett Assessors Office Government
Piedmont Urgent Care in Loganville
Individuals
Karen Tiner & her granddaughter Olivia
Tiffany Duck & her daughter
Beth Pruitt & her son
Jessica Eason’s daughter & friends
Kay Miller
Katie McBeth
Paris Pierre
Julia Magers & family
Assisted Living Facilities
Sunrise at Buckhead
Orchard at Brookhaven
Renaissance on Peachtree
Peachtree Hills Place
Aventine at the Madeline
Oaks at Tucker
Sunrise at Decatur
Charter Senior Living of Vinings
Woodland Ridge
The Oaks - Athens
The Oaks at Scenic View Assisted Living
Vitality Living Milton
Legacy Ridge at Brookstone
Marietta Life Center
Magnolia Senior Living - Loganville
Magnolia Senior Living - Sharpsburg
Magnolia Senior Living - Sugar Hill
Oaks at Stockbridge
Oaks at Eagles Landing
Oaks at Conyers
The Reserve at Peachtree City
Brookside Stone Mountain
Gordon County Health and Rehabilitation
Manor Lake Assisted Living
Highlands Senior Living
Manor Lake Canton
The Oaks at Towne Lake
Celebration Village Acworth
Brookdale Carrolton
Laurel Glenn at Carrolton
Manor Lake Gainesville
Gardens of Gainesville
Mansions at Gwinnett Park
Hope Assisted Living & Memory Care
Benton House of Grayson
Benton House of Covington
Greenwood Place
Arbor Terrace at Burnt Hickory
Village Park at Alpharetta
Discovery Village at Sugar loaf
Holbrook at Sugar Hill
The Birches at Villa Rica
Berman Commons Assisted Living and Memory Care
Sunrise at Ivey Ridge
Westhill Crossing
Brookdale Newnan
Gateway Gardens Assisted Living & Memory Care