Celebrate National Random Acts of Kindness Day Feb. 17

For National Heritage Academies educators and students, kindness is an everyday affair

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Feb. 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Kindness is free and can leave a lasting impact. Malik Singleton, student support coordinator at Detroit Merit Academy, a partner school of National Heritage Academies (NHA), believes even small acts of kindness go a long way. He shares this message on National Random Acts of Kindness Day, February 17—a day dedicated to spreading positivity through simple, thoughtful gestures.

"People remember you for being kind," Singleton says. "So much of my life has been shaped by kindness."

Being kind doesn't have to be complicated. For kids who want to show kindness, Singleton suggests starting small. "Give a compliment like, 'I like your shoes,' or just say, 'Hi, how are you today?' Those little things really matter," he explains.

Singleton encourages adults to take the same approach. "Smile at people. Say, 'Hi, how are you today? Good morning! Hope you had a good weekend.' Asking about someone's pet or family shows you're interested in their life and them as a person," he shares.

These small actions help build strong connections and make someone's day brighter. "I see students giving high-fives, hugs, and looking out for one another. It's so nice," Singleton says.

Kindness in Schools

At Bennett Venture Academy in Toledo, Ohio, kindness is celebrated during the first two weeks of February. School counselor Brittany Cheeks leads a kindness project where teachers recognize students for their kind acts by adding links to a growing kindness chain outside their classrooms.

Cheeks also teaches kids that kindness isn't just about what you do—it's also about how you speak to others. She visits classrooms to encourage positive language and shares an example: at a recent assembly, one student read a quote, and another student responded, "That was a good job. You did awesome. Those little words can change someone's whole day," she says.

To make kindness part of the school culture, teachers have introduced activities like a "Kindness Jar," where students write down kind things they see and read them aloud at the end of the week. Schools have also embraced kindness challenges, encouraging students to complete a checklist of good deeds, from helping a classmate to writing thank-you notes for staff members.

Kindness at Home and in the Community

For parents, Cheeks suggests making kindness a daily conversation. "Ask them, 'What did you do today to be kind?' It helps build the habit of kindness," she recommends.

When it comes to random acts of kindness, Cheeks says it's the little things that matter most. "Help a younger student carry something, clean up a spill in the lunchroom, or just say something nice. Those small moments can make a difference," she says.

Want to spread kindness in your community? Try these small but meaningful acts:

• Pay for someone's coffee or meal.
  
  
• Leave a kind note for a friend or coworker.
  
  
• Help a neighbor with chores or groceries.
  
  
• Compliment a stranger.
  
  
• Donate to a local charity.

On National Random Acts of Kindness Day—and every day—take a moment to spread kindness in our schools, homes, and communities. Whether it's sharing a smile, offering a kind word, or lending a helping hand, small acts of kindness can brighten someone's entire day.

About National Heritage Academies:

National Heritage Academies (NHA) is a network of 101 tuition-free, public charter schools across nine states, serving more than 68,000 students in kindergarten through 12^th grade. For more information, visit nhaschools.com. To find the nearest charter school near you, use the NHA school finder.

SOURCE National Heritage Academies