United Way of Becker County encouraging kindness across the lakes area next week

Detroit Lakes, Minn. (KDLM) – The United Way of Becker County is holding their annual week of kindness next week from Nov. 13-17.

The week features daily goals set out by the United Way for people to connect and help their neighbors, or other community members and organizations.

Terry Haus, executive director of the United Way of Becker County, said the whole purpose is just brightening someone’s day and how that kindness can be infectious.

“I think the idea behind kindness week is just to put out that we make (kindness) a focus this week to do something,” said Haus. “And people do it all the time, but sometimes life gets busy. We get caught up and it makes it a little bit more difficult, but we want to make this a focal point of next week to just do something. Maybe talk to your kids about it and I think that’s a great starting point. And just brightening up someone’s day can have a ripple effect.”

He added that kindness could be holding the door for someone, picking up the leaves in their yard or as simple as writing a heartfelt note to a friend, family member, or essential worker.

“When you receive a personal card like that, it really brings value when you are reading it to say, ‘wow, I really did make a difference in that person’s life,” he said. “We’ve become so efficient in doing multiple projects that it’s really easy to send a tweet, a text, an email, and for some of those people maybe it’d just be really nice to write a note to your mom, dad, brother or sister.”

Daily kindness reminders will be posted on the United Way of Becker County’s Facebook page all next week and Haus said you never know how much a random act of kindness can brighten someone’s day. Adding, these good deeds tend to cause chain reactions that create more and more good deeds, which is the goal of the week.

“A half-hour, go do something,” said Haus. “And I’m a firm believer that starts a chain reaction. And it can be anything. You never know the difference that’s going to make in some little kid’s life, some adult’s life. Magical.”

The United Way of Becker County’s Kindness Week kicks off next Monday, Nov. 13 with the goal of connecting with someone, like an old friend or neighbor.