This year, on Jan. 21, the national day of service that honors Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday, the VISTA and Foster Grandparent projects managed by Save the Children also honored the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy with acts of kindness.

Local VISTA volunteers serving in the schools organized families in their communities by having families pledge to complete 26 acts of kindness.

The 26 Acts of Kindness movement began as a reaction to the 26 lives lost on December 14, 2012 in Newtown, Connecticut. Ann Curry, a journalist with NBC news and a former anchor of the Today Show, started the movement when she asked her Twitter followers, “Imagine if everyone could commit to doing one act of kindness for each precious life lost. An act of kindness big or small. Are you in?”

Between Jan. 21 and Feb. 15, families taking the pledge will work together as a team to complete 26 acts of kindness in their community. Acts of kindness can be large or small, ranging from monetary donations to charity to simply telling someone that you appreciate them. If you are interested in taking part, please contact your county project coordinator Pamela Brewer at 476-2518 or 233-1744, or pbrewer@savechildren.org.