Pass It On: Acts Of Kindness

Our county is filled with people fighting the good fight for their neighbors and the world.
Cheryl De Leon,
4 Acts Of Kindness

We all want to make the world a better place, of course, but today in particular should inspire you to do your part in some small way. It’s World Kindness Day, which was created in 1998 by the World Kindness Movement and takes place every Nov. 13. It’s a day that encourages us reach out to a stranger, compliment a friend and make a small gesture toward making someone’s day a little bit easier.

All across Bergen County, your friends and neighbors are doing their parts to do just that. In honor of World Kindness Day, a round of applause to those going above and beyond, such as your neighbors below.

  • In late October, teens from Woodcliff Lake, River Vale, Upper Saddle River and surrounding towns traveled to Washington, D.C. to take part in the CTeen Leadership Summit. They joined 150 other Jewish teen leaders from 50 schools across the country to meet and talk to policy leaders about antisemitism and ways to combat hate.
  • Mahwah resident Marlene Loccke, 66, is a passionate gardener—and she sees that garden as a way to grow happiness. Throughout the summer, arranged bouquets from the flowers she grew and delivered them to her neighbors. “I started doing it when I realized everyone should be enjoying this part of nature’s beauty,” she says. “My neighbors are always so happy to see them, and that’s exactly why I do it.”
  • After going through treatment for breast cancer, Montvale’s Anyssa Lucena, an avid rock climber and rock-climbing instructor, founded nonprofit Genuine Climbing. The organization sends women who are recovering from cancer on free, four-day, rock-climbing retreats to help empower them and help them heal. In her own words, “Cancer is exhausting. And then you go out to the woods, in nature—with other people who understand what you’ve been through—you finally get to exhale.”
  • As president of the Board of Trustees at Family Promise of Bergen County, Paul Shackford is dedicated to helping families with children who are struggling to find stable housing—and he’s been doing it for almost 40 years. For that, he received the prestigious Russ Berrie “Making a Difference” Award this year. “We’re in a position to change people’s lives,” he said, when asked what he’s most proud of.
  • Local beauty spot D.Sierra Lash Co., which has locations in Little Ferry and Glen Rock, has brought together other local businesses for The Season of Giving fundraiser, benefiting Table to Table. The goal is to raise $3,000 to help the nonprofit rescue and deliver enough food for 30,000 meals.

Want to do your own part and show a little kindness? As temperatures fall, it’s time to clear out the coat closet—and keep a neighbor warm in the process. Here are organizations kicking off their annual coat drives in November, making it easy to turn gently used outerwear into a meaningful donation.

Know a person or organization going above and beyond in Bergen? Tells us all about it on Instagram @bergenmagnj.

Categories: Bergen Health & Life