South Carroll residents should not be surprised by unexpected smiles and "hellos" from strangers this week. Random acts of kindness, often forgotten courtesies, are on the rebound.
Led by several churches, the Eldersburg-Sykesville area is joining a national movement to elicit what is best of human nature, particularly on Random Acts of Kindness Day, celebrated nationally Friday.
The Rev. Jamie Dale, pastor of Springfield Presbyterian Church in Sykesville, is asking residents to take time out for the civilities often lost in the rush of hectic schedules.
"The idea is to encourage individuals, clubs, churches, businesses and communities to practice random acts of kindness," Mr. Dale said. "I see the day not as a cure-all, but a way to remind people in a nonthreatening way of the need to be kind."
The reminders may take root and bloom at an opportune moment, he said.
"After all, you can't plan a random act," he said.
Mr. Dale organized a committee to help spread the word and, early last month, mailed suggestions on how to promote the national observance of kindness.
Those suggestions ranged from directing a friendly smile at a stranger to shoveling snow from a neighbor's sidewalk.
"So many suggestions are simply common courtesy, which I don't think there is enough of today," said Sykesville Councilman Garth Adams, who has introduced a motion to proclaim a municipal Random Acts of Kindness Day.
Mr. Dale encouraged area churches to use newsletters and bulletins to promote the observance.
"It's low-key, low or no cost and anybody can do it," said Mary Huggins, who represented St. Joseph Catholic Community on the committee. "We are just trying to get people to be polite, maybe smile when passing a stranger or hold a door open for somebody."
Judy Christmann said the committee tried to keep the observance within the South Carroll area, but hopes in the future to spread kindness throughout the county.
"We hope to build on it for next year," she said. "In a small way this year, we hope we can make people share, maybe donate time to a soup kitchen."
Ms. Christmann served as liturgist at St. Paul United Methodist Sunday and included the idea in her "words of assurance." She read from the book "Random Acts of Kindness."
The book and its several sequels, published by Conari Press in Berkeley, Calif., offer a series of essays on kindness from strangers.
Ms. Christmann also posted a notice on her office bulletin board at the Social Security Administration in Woodlawn.
"I want people to think about kindness and incorporate the idea into our lives as part of our daily living," she said.
"We are geared to expect random acts of violence. The suggestions help you focus in a different direction," she said.
Since September, the faculty at Piney Ridge Elementary has posted in classrooms quotes from the books of kindness essays.
Teachers also encouraged students to write a brief anonymous note about individual acts of kindness and drop the letters into the school mailbox.
A few of the essays were included in afternoon announcements and newsletters for parents.
"We don't read anyone's name and there is no reward," said Norma Jean Swam, assistant principal at the Freedom Avenue school.
Many messages leave a lasting impression or at least generate smiles, she said.
She recalled one of the most endearing notes from a child who broke open his piggy bank and lent his impoverished mother money for bread and milk.
Often the children write about the simplest kindness, such as locating a classmate's lost mittens or taking assignments home to a sick friend, Ms. Swam said.
But, the practice is extending beyond the school. Last week, she read a letter from a child who walked an ailing neighbor's dog.
Those examples and a focus on kindness have had a positive effect on the school.
"We have seen a great improvement in manners and respect for others," Ms. Swam said. "Children readily clean up the cafeteria or pick up something from the floor."
Mr. Dale has asked all those who participate in the movement to follow the children's lead and write down the random acts of kindness.
"We would like to send the good news from the Sykesville and Eldersburg area to the national organizers," he said.