For the sixth year, the Division of Student Affairs partners with the UNM Dean of Students Office, New Mexico Educators Federal Educators Federal Credit Union (NMEFCU), and new this year, LoboTHON, to celebrate National Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) week, Feb. 9-15.
This year, the UNM Student Affairs kindness committee not only hosts several events throughout the week - including some old favorites such as the Circle of Kindness (formerly, the “Pit of Kindness”) kind sayings, free hugs and compliments, candy, “Be Kind UNM” pins and Valentine card creation stations; but are also collecting donations for LoboTHON baskets to be given to patients at the UNM Children’s Hospital.
LoboTHON is a dance marathon, to be held at Johnson Gym on Saturday, March 28, benefiting the UNM Children’s Hospital and Children’s Miracle Network. Donations for the baskets will be accepted at UNM Dean of Students office, Student Services Center, Room 280, during the “Lobo Love” event on Friday, Feb. 13. Baskets can include toys, movies, games, and other items for hospital patients; however, hospital policy prohibits outside food. For more information on the baskets, visit LoboTHON.
New Mexico Educators Federal Credit Union is collecting teddy bears during their teddy bear drive for the UNM Children’s Hospital Level 1 Trauma Center and Regional Burn Center at several places including their NMEFCU University and Campus branches; UNM Women’s Resource Center, Mesa Vista Hall, Room 1160; UNM Recreational Services, Johnson Center, Room 1102; and at the Lady Lobo basketball game on Wednesday, Feb. 11, at the ticket office. Anyone bringing a teddy bear to the game that night can buy a ticket to the game for only $1.
The “Circle of Kindness” is back, which is a takeoff of the “Take a seat, make a friend,” initiative started years ago, where people have the chance to sit in a ball pit with a stranger and make a new friend. People can express their love creatively at several valentine card “creation stations” at various locations including the UNM Women’s Resource Center, on Friday, Feb. 6 all day; and the UNM Student Union Building Atrium on Tuesday, Feb. 10 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Members of the UNM community can come by and make a special, valentine for a Children’s Hospital or Carrie Tingley Hospital patient, or a NM veteran.
More information on all of these initiatives, including a link for kindness story submissions, thank you notes, and simple ideas for small acts of kindness that can make a big impact in another’s life, can all be found at UNM BeKind.