In 2013, the Future Business Leaders of America chapter at New Fairfield High School sponsored a Pay it Forward Sandy Hook Benefit Concert to assist families of the victims. Proceeds were donated to Sandy Hook Promise, an organization formed after the tragedy to tackle issues intended to prevent future violence and provide support to families and the community. In addition, students wrote down random acts of kindness they performed between Thanksgiving and the Christmas holidays on green hearts and placed them all on a school banner.
NEWTOWN – Last year when people picked up on Ashley Petersen’s idea to perform 26 days of kindness in tribute to the 26 kids and educators who died at Sandy Hook Elementary School, she worried the families might not like it.
“I was concerned the families might be upset by it, but then some of the families started contacting me through private messages and said they thought it was good what I was doing and they were happy with it,” said Petersen, 25, a Newtown High School graduate who attended Sandy Hook Elementary School. “So that made me feel better.”
Based on last year’s success, Petersen and her supporters are launching the second annual 26 Days of Kindness beginning Wednesday and concluding on Dec. 14.
Each day is devoted to one of the Sandy Hook shooting victims. Each day the News-Times will recognize a person who died in the shootings as part of the tribute.
Wednesday is devoted to Lauren Rousseau, a teacher at Sandy Hook.
People who participate in the 26 Days of Kindness are encouraged to perform a charitable act in the spirit of that day’s person.
Petersen will curate the event on the Facebook page 26 Days of Kindness http://on.fb.me/1EXxqkn.