For the 10th year, The University of New Mexico's Division of Student Affairs is partnering with the UNM BeKind Committee, including members of UNM staff, students and the community, to celebrate and promote random acts of kindness Feb. 11-15.
There are several events planned this year, but the week’s biggest event, the Kindness Carnival returns this year on Tuesday, Feb. 12 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Student Union Building Atrium. The event features a teddy bear toss—part of a larger teddy bear drive—where participants are asked to bring a new bear to toss onto to a target to benefit the Albuquerque Police Department and Albuquerque Fire and Rescue. The bears are used by officers to give to children in traumatic situations.
This year there are a record number of both UNM and outside entities taking part in the carnival. Aside from the teddy bear toss, participants will be able to paint kindness rocks, stuff a teddy bear, create cards, climb onto a fire truck, and pet therapy dogs, among other things.
In addition to the carnival, there is also a Fill It Forward/Coffee with a Badge event sponsored by Nusenda Credit Union and Satellite Coffee on Wednesday, Feb. 13 where people can come get a free refill of regular coffee from Satellite Coffee (UNM SUB location only), get to know some of our APD, AFR, and UNM police officers, and make a donation to benefit the Lobo Food Pantry. The Lobo Food Pantry will be held on Friday, Feb. 15 from 10 a.m. to noon.
There are also opportunities celebrate kindness at the Women’s Lobo basketball game on Saturday, Feb. 9 at 1 p.m.; and the Men’s Lobo basketball game on Wednesday, Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. New teddy bears will be collected at each of those games and fans will be able to either drop them in a donation bin or toss them on to the court at Dreamstyle Arena (a.k.a. the Pit).
More information on all of these events can be found on the BeKind UNM webpage, the BeKind UNM Facebook page, Instagram @bekindunm, or by calling 505-277-0952.