26 Acts of Kindness Inspiring People Around America
In the wake of the tragic shooting at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn., a simple call to action has inspired people from all over to celebrate the lives lost with 26 acts of kindness.
The movement began, like so many others nowadays, on social media and has since spread lifting America's heavy heart. The first tweet was posted by NBC's Ann Curry, who had a simple idea of how to honor the children lost in the tragedy.
"Imagine if all of us committed to 20 acts of kindness to honor each child lost in Newtown. I'm in. If you are RT. #20Acts," Curry posted on Twitter.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
The number of acts of kindness was increased to 26 from the original 20 to honor all the lives lost in Newtown, while a Facebook page was created for people to express their support.
"It's such a universal pain we're all feeling. It's such a universal thing to want to do something but not feel like you can do anything," Warren Tidwell, who created the "26 Acts of Kindness" Facebook page, told KSL.com. "Hopefully, through this, people can find some catharsis. To feel like the good that was taken that day - we're going to put it back in the world."
There have been other similar movements on various social media platforms which has attracted nationwide attention in the days following the massacre.
"I sat there watching the coverage and I was crushed, and hopeless, and helpless. I have a 4-year-old son who will be going to kindergarten next year, and it just felt like the right thing to do," Tidwell explained.
The widespread support of this new kindness movement in honor of the fallen children has helped Robbie Parker, whose daughter Emilie Parker was killed in the tragedy, when remembering Emilie, who he described as always eager to help others.
"I can't count the number of times Emilie noticed someone feeling sad or frustrated and would rush to find a piece of paper to draw them a picture or to write them an encouraging note," Parker said.
