Councilwoman Ruth Hopkins turned over an envelope she had received to Lansing Supervisor Kathy Miller and Bookkeeper/Personnel Officer Sharon Bowman.  The envelope contained a check for $25 to be placed in a custodial account to help pay for Lansing Pathways projects.  A little slip of paper fell out that read: 'Paying it forward: in memory of children and staff of Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown Connecticut.  Honoring Emilie Parker age 6.'

"It had a message that was 'Act #16 of 26 acts of kindness'," Bowman says.  "We thought it was noteworthy that an individual would make this contribution in honor of a child who was killed in the Newtown shooting.  It was a really special tribute.  It touched us when Kathy and I looked at it we felt moved that someone would do this."

Lansing Pathways have been created by a committee of volunteers who are responsible for the Lansing Center Trail.  Last summer local girl scouts contributed a garden at the entrance to the trail.  Contributions pay for signage, gasoline for the private lawnmowers used to keep the paths cleared, mailings and materials for the pathways.  In the fall Cargill gave a donation to Pathways, which are paid for entirely by gifts.  No tax money is used.


'26 Acts of Kindness' comes from an idea NBC News correspondent Ann Curry had last December just after the massacre in which 26 children and teachers were gunned down.  The idea was to commit one act of kindness in honor of each victim.  When Curry 'tweeted' the idea on Twitter it went viral, and it continues to do so.  The donation got Bowman to thinking.

"It made me realize what a simple act means," she says.  "It made me think about what acts of kindness I could do."

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