Random Acts of Kindness Week: Small Gestures, Big Impac

5, Mar 2025

The phrase ‘practice random kindness and senseless acts of beauty’ was coined in 1982 by magazine writer and editor Anne Herbert. Anne was born in 1950 and lived in Haight-Ashbury, an area notable for its role as one of the main centers of the hippie movement.

Fast forward to 1991, and a local woman noticed Anne’s phrase scrawled across a warehouse wall in her neighborhood. She shared the phrase with her husband, a seventh grade teacher, and he shared it with his students. One of his pupils was the daughter of a San Francisco Chronicle columnist, who wrote a story about Anne Herbert and the phrase. The article was picked up nationally and inspired the modern movement.

In February of 1995, the first national Random Acts of Kindness Day took place with participants joining in coast to coast. 

During Random Acts of Kindness Week, which traditionally begins on February 14, US citizens celebrate the many good deeds that help make the world a better place.

What can you do to take part in Random Acts of Kindness Week?

Random Acts of Kindness Week (RAK Week) is a great opportunity to spread positivity to those around you. Here are some creative and thoughtful ways to celebrate.

Do Small Acts of Kindness Daily

  • Leave a note for someone who has shown you kindness.
  • Send flowers or a small gift to someone who needs support.
  • Leave a generous tip for a service worker.
  • Run an errand for an elderly neighbor

Volunteer Your Time

  • Help at a local shelter or food bank.
  • Have a clear out and donate unwanted books and clothes to charities.
  • Support community events and initiatives.

Spread Positivity Online

  • Post an inspiring message or share good news.
  • Write a positive review for a small business.
  • Reach out to someone you haven’t talked to in a while.

Practice Self-Kindness

  • Take time to rest and recharge.
  • Practice gratitude to appreciate acts of kindness from others.
  • Speak kindly and treat yourself with the same compassion you show others.

Look out for your family

  • Offer to babysit so your brother or sister can have date night
  • Project-manage home upgrades such as a home elevator for grandparents
  • Tidy your parents’ yard or tend to their planting area

Even the smallest of gestures can make someone’s day! Visit this year’s Random Acts of Kindness Day website for FREE resources and further ideas for a fun #KindnessExperience.