It’s Violence Awareness Random Acts of Kindness Week in the Quinte region

Violence Awareness Random Acts of Kindness Week kicked off its 24th annual festivities Monday night at the Quinte Mall.

Violence Awareness Random Acts of Kindness Week officially kicked off Monday night in the Quinte Mall’s Kindness Court. Photo: Alex Mahar/Quinte News.

Students of all ages in the Quinte region participated in a colouring contest, poster contest, and received awards for displaying random acts of kindness throughout the community.

The opening ceremonies also featured music and a candle lit vigil for victims of violence, including Mark Fyke, a Belleville native who was murdered by a random act of violence on a class trip in Florida in 1997.

A candle lit vigil and moment of silence were held for the victims of random acts of violence on Monday night at the Quinte Kindness Court. Photo: Alex Mahar/Quinte News.

Fyke’s mother and co-chair of the program Chris MacDonald says a simple act of kindness can go a long way.

The festivities will continue all week long from March 9-15.

MacDonald says they plan to spread kindness through the community.

That kindness will begin on Tuesday when the kindness crews hit the streets committing random acts of kindness in the Quinte are.

Wednesday is blue ribbon of hope day. The blue ribbon symbolizes your stand against violence.

Thursday will be thankful day, a day to take time and reach out to those in your life that you are thankful for.

On Friday at the Quinte Mall there will be a random draw for Kindness Citizen of the Year, and Saturday is Random Acts of Kindness Day.