West Des Moines Goes Statewide for Day of Kindness

Last year, Alumni of the West Des Moines Leadership Academy embraced the program’s priority of positively impacting the community by creating “West Des Moines Day of Kindness.” Businesses and community members alike made the most of it.

We heard stories of people checking in on distant friends to engage in meaningful conversation during a time with minimal connection. Teams of leaders dropped off treats for frontline workers. Children left drawings and kind notes in their neighbors’ mailboxes.

When team member Anna Doud and I went to a local coffee shop to start a pay-it-forward chain early that morning, we were met with the most heartwarming surprise. Someone had already started one hours earlier. Insert chills. That alone made our day!

After seeing the positive impact this event had on our community, we knew we wanted to do even more this year. Why stop at city lines? Thanks to a proclamation signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds and West Des Moines Mayor Trimble, January 28 has been declared as a Day of Kindness for all Iowans.

The Power of Kindness

We encourage you to be intentional with acts of kindness on this day — big or small, monetary or action-oriented, anonymous or direct. Kindness has such a ripple effect, and studies show that it benefits both the giver and receiver. Don’t underestimate the power of even just one opportunity to show kindness.

You can find me handing out words of encouragement through our Day of Kindness cards on Friday, Jan. 28, sporting my favorite “BE KIND” t-shirt.

Learn more at wdmchamber.com/wdm-kind, and thank you to the WDM Chamber’s Day of Kindness Sponsor, Security National Bank.

Let’s all work together to make a difference on Jan. 28, 2022. Happy Day of Kindness, Iowa!

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