NATICK – Kindness has never been more important.
Kindness Week Natick, hosted by SPARK Kindness, a non-profit based in Natick, Massachusetts, is a community-wide effort to shine a spotlight on the good that happens every day, and to inspire people to promote kindness through simple acts.
In partnership with organizations, businesses, and community members, Kindness Week will offer a variety of initiatives that will inspire connecting around kindness that have a lasting impact all year long.
Kindness Week is March 29 through April 4, 2020.
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The theme of the week is “Kindness Connects Us” and is a way for people to come together even at a time of social distancing.
Kindness Week includes a series of virtual events, classes and activities by numerous individuals and organizations.
SPARK Kindness is the conduit for community members to share their good deeds through the power of social media.
The week kicks off on Sunday, March 29, with a set of daily inspirations containing one of seven pillars of kindness: self, others, neighbors, schools, community, nature, and online.
The Morse Institute Library, a focal point for the kickoff, has decorated all of its windows and its lawn to showcase the theme of community kindness and connection.
In addition, the Natick Center Cultural District, in partnership with SPARK, will kick off a town-wide collaborative art project titled “LOVE 01760”that can be worked on in-home by Natick families.
A template in the shape of half of a heart will be made available for all to copy and decorate.
At a later date, all the individual heart halves will be brought together and assembled into a large scale installation allowing the town to come back together and celebrate its resilience.
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In addition, Natick Recreation and Parks has created an online form to write “Community Thank You Notes” to fellow citizens and town departments, such as the Natick Public Schools and the Board of Health, that are serving the community during this outbreak. Thank you notes will be posted on the Natick Recreation and Parks and SPARK Kindness websites.
The Natick Public Schools and the Board of Health will be recognized by community members for stepping up to serve the community during the current pandemic.
Though Natick schools buildings are closed, messages of kindness are being shared online while the district engages in virtual learning.
Free online resources are available at SPARKKindness.org including kindness reading lists, projects, crafts, activities and helpful articles.
“Kindness Week is a way for us to harness all of the good in the community to bring strength, hope and support during a challenging time. Though SPARK and our partners began planning this week long before the COVID-19 pandemic, it seems more important and relevant now than ever.” said SPARK Executive Director Christine Fortune Guthery. “Through social media, we can highlight all of the generosity and emotional connecting that is happening during a time of physical distancing.”
For a complete list of events and activities, please visit SPARKkindness.org
MassBay Community College 
Christa McAuliffe Center