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It’s time to choose kindness again.

Well, that’s always a good idea at any time of the year, but during the month of February, residents of Pleasant Grove focus on kindness as part of the city’s annual Choose Kindness Month.

Every February since 2018, the month has been designated for kindness, with people encouraged to go out of their way to brighten the days of others. However, we don’t have to live in Pleasant Grove to participate and get some great ideas for acts of kindness.

“February has been proclaimed Choose Kindness Month by Mayor (Guy) Fugal and the city council,” states a post on the Pleasant Grove Community Connection Facebook page. “Join us in spreading a ripple of kindness through our schools, businesses, community and families, one act of kindness at a time.”

On Feb. 1, the special month kicked off with service projects carried out by students involved in Kindness Clubs at Pleasant Grove schools. The students put together lunches in decorated bags and included hats, gloves and kind notes. These will be given to people who are experiencing homelessness.

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Throughout the month, everyone is encouraged to choose kindness through different actions daily. These ideas for acts of kindness are printed on a calendar that is posted on social media. Some of the ideas are:

• Write a love note to someone you know who is going through a difficult time or could use some extra love.
• Give someone a hug who really needs it.
• Make peace with someone who has hurt you.
• Tell someone what makes them awesome today.
• Choose to be kind to yourself.
• Read a book to a child.

On Feb. 4, people were encouraged to thank a teacher and tell about a teacher who had a positive impact on their lives. On Feb. 5, student volunteers made kindness kits for teen girls in a local treatment center that will be delivered on Valentine’s Day.

On Feb. 24, all are invited to participate in a community service project at the city’s recreation center, 547 S. Locust Ave. “All month long, in all of the schools in Pleasant Grove, we are collecting items to go into Kindness Comfort Kits to be delivered to local hospitals,” said Choose Kindness board member Sara Allen.

The kits will contain items such as coloring books, crayons, colored pencils and fleece blankets. “On the 24th, everyone is invited to come together to tie the blankets and put the items into bags. The junior high students are writing letters to the children to be put into the bags,” Allen said. The bags will be taken to local hospitals to bring comfort to young patients. Last year, a similar project was done and 300 bags were donated.

If you would like to donate items for the comfort bags, including crayons, colored pencils and fleece fabric, the items can be dropped off at City Hall, 70 S. 100 East. On the Feb. 24, volunteers can bring items to donate or just come and lend a helping hand. The community service project will take place from 10-11:30 a.m.

Jeremy Hall

For more information and to view the Choose Kindness Month calendar, check out the Choose Kindness PG Facebook page or view it on Instagram @choosekindnesspg.

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