Spreading Smiles: Celebrating World Kindness Day
November 13, 2024 | Courtney Russell

By: Ella Yorn, sophomore at Miami University
Since being introduced in 1998, World Kindness Day has been honored annually on Nov. 13. This celebration pushes us to go above and beyond with our consideration for others.
There are many ways to celebrate this day and show kindness around campus and in our communities. Some ways to be kind are very simple and can be done on your own. Others can be done in a group to impact the greater good.
Uniting to Help the Community
The Miami site, ComMUnity Connect, posts a variety of volunteering opportunities. Local nonprofits, such as the Newman Center, Oxford Seniors, and Talawanda Oxford Pantry & Social Services (TOPSS), host Miami students as volunteers on a regular basis and are always looking for extra help. Students can easily use Oxford’s public transit to reach these off-campus locations.
Army of Kindness, a local food pantry, treats every day like World Kindness Day. Although it is not directly affiliated with Miami University, its mission is to assist students at the university who are in need of food and supplies. Its’ weekly food pantry is open to students. Those who are looking to help out the less fortunate can request to volunteer through the food pantry’s website.
Miami’s RedHawk Day of Service is a powerful initiative where participants come together to volunteer and make a meaningful difference. This annual event began in 2023 and was founded with a goal of making a positive impact throughout the Miami and Oxford communities. This event is another opportunity to spread kindness! In past years, students have done trash cleanups for the Oxford Police, clothing sorting for Thread Up Oxford, and much more. After the first event, Nyah Smith ’24, Miami’s former student body president, stated, “It was incredible to see the outpouring of enthusiasm and support from the students and faculty in wanting to make a difference in the Butler County community.”

The impact of just a few days of giving back to the community is tremendous and can be very rewarding. According to the Mental Health Foundation, studies show that acts of kindness are linked to increased well-being and improved self esteem!
Posting Positively
There are also simple ways to digitally spread kindness. The Random Act of Kindness Foundation is a social media account that strives to inspire change and make showing kindness the norm. It provides digital downloads, ideas on how to serve the community, and even simple motivational quotes. Accounts like this demonstrate how even the little things can make a difference in uplifting others.
With Love and Honor
World Kindness Day is celebrated each and every year with a simple goal in mind: spreading kindness. Whether it is giving someone a compliment, picking up trash in your community, or following a social media account, go the extra mile and use this day to make a positive impact in the world!