Penticton mayor declares Feb. 9 to 15 “Real Acts of Caring” week

A group of KVR Middle School students is challenging Penticton to commit to real acts of caring.

KVR students asked city council to have Feb. 9 to 15 officially proclaimed real acts of caring week.

Council voted unanimously in favour of the initiative after the students gave councillors a first-hand taste of a real act of caring by offering them donuts.

The initiative began at a Coquitlam school in 2005 and has since spread across the province. Since 2006 there have been 59 municipal proclamations passed in B.C.

This is the second year Penticton declared a real acts of caring week.

“Studies have shown that teaching students to be kind supports mental health by reducing bullying behaviours, building self-esteem, decreasing depression and improving student learning,” said one of the students.

READ MORE: Penticton youth spreading positivity through random acts of kindness

Real acts of caring, according to the students, are expressions of empathy and compassion for one another. They hope the initiative will encourage others to do something kind for someone without expecting anything in return.

“Even the little things can make the biggest differences in the world,” said Mayor John Vassilaki in support of the initiative.

The students hope that by recognizing acts of caring and kindness through an official week, citizens will become more aware of being kind to others, making Penticton a kinder, safer and better place to live.

The kids also hope their initiative will encourage people to be kind to the planet as well. They urge people to commit to environmentally-friendly practices like using reusable bags and food containers, and ditch single-use straws.

Next week the students, along with their teacher Melissa Burdock, are headed to Victoria to ask provincial leaders to declare Feb. 9 to 15 RAC week throughout B.C.

READ MORE: Generosity of Penticton residents breaks records

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