#26acts Sparks Random Acts of Kindness Worldwide
By: Lisa Mendenhall
Updated: December 27, 2012
Many people around the world are performing random acts of kindness in the wake of the tragedy at Newtown, Connecticut.
The #26acts movement was sparked with a Tweet by NBC's Ann Curry, and it's spawned into an outpouring from people who are making a difference.
It started with a simple idea posted to Twitter: what if we could honor the 26 lives lost at Sandy Hook Elementary with small acts of kindness?
Leaving a stranger an unexpected treat or an inspirational message.
Using the hashtag #26acts, people began sharing their kindness on social media.
A week later, what started as an online ripple has become a massive wave, reaching from the halls of Congress to across the globe.
"I think America was looking for ways to demonstrate their grief, their caring, their empathy and I think this idea came along and I think it's been grabbed," says Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland, who Tweeted that he gave coffee to the Capitol Police.
And as more and more people shared their good deeds online, they inspired others.
Teachers challenged their students.
In Rhode Island, Ashley Proulx's class is collecting food and books for the underprivileged.
"They have by far exceed anything that I could have expected from them," Proulx says of her students.
After giving hand-warmers to her bus driver, Stephanie Bookless challenged her co-workers to do something too.
Now the social media director at Chicago's W Hotel is sharing each of their acts of kindness on the company's Facebook page.
"We've have so many employees, so many people can do good things. Hopefully other people will pick up on it and pass it on," Bookless says.
Adding to an unexpected surge of goodwill, and there's no telling how far it can go.
CLICK HERE to see some of the #26acts people are sharing on Twitter.
