For the eighth year, the Division of Student Affairs is partnering with the UNM BeKind Committee which includes members of UNM staff, students and the community to celebrate and promote random acts of kindness starting on Feb. 1.
New this year is the Kindness Carnival with games and goodies to be held on Monday, Feb. 13 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the UNM Student Union Building.
Student Affairs is again partnering with Nusenda Credit Union and UNM campus departments to host a teddy bear drive which runs from Feb. 1–11 to benefit the Albuquerque Police Department.
“The teddy bear drive is a great way to give back to the community through kindness,” says Kim Kloeppel, COO of the Division. “The bears will be kept in APD patrol cars to be given to children in traumatic situations to help ease some of the stress.”
University Libraries has organized a "Soup and Socks" collection from Feb. 13 to Feb. 28 to benefit the Albuquerque Indian Center in southeast Albuquerque. All four of the libraries (Zimmerman, Centennial, Parish and Fine Arts & Design) will have collection boxes located in the lobby area with a goal to collect 500 cans of soup and 500 pairs of socks. Please contact Nancy Bennett at nbennett@unm.edu for more information.
Additionally, both Satellite Coffee and Nusenda Credit Union locations in the UNM Student Union Building will be hosting a Fill It Forward event where students can receive a free cup of coffee and help fill a donation jar to benefit the UNM Lobo Food Pantry. A social media challenge will also take place during the kindness events.
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 here or by calling UNM Student Affairs at 505-277-0952.
