The Register-Guard (Oregon) article.
Idealists brave generous dose of cynicism
By Bob Welch
Register-Guard columnist
All they wanted to do was change the world, one random act of kindness at a time. Instead, they were met with furrowed brows, questioned by Eugene police and ousted by Valley River Center security officers.
“People can’t accept the fact that there are other people who just want to be nice,” says Sheldon High School senior Kelsey Hertel, who founded the school’s new Random Acts of Kindness Club. “People don’t trust each other. They think everyone’s out to get them.”
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They decided Random Act 2 would be offering free leaf-raking in neighborhoods near Sheldon: seven girls, one guy, eight rakes.
Then, unexpected resistance: “When we told one lady what we wanted to do,” Hertel says, “she said, ‘Go do your random acts of kindness somewhere else.’ ”
Another woman thought the group was trying to burglarize her house. “We said, ‘No, we’re from the Random Acts of Kindness Club; we just want to rake your leaves.’ ”
The woman wasn’t convinced. She called the police, whose log for the 11:12 a.m. report is headed, “Suspicious Subject(s).” The police arrived and interviewed the “suspicious subjects” but made no arrests.
Random Act 3 unfolded at Valley River Center on “Black Friday,” the busiest shopping day of the year. About two dozen students handed out cards saying things like “Have a nice day” and “You’re awesome.” (Chocolate mints included.) Shoppers were encouraged to take another card to give to someone else. “People’s faces just lit up,” Hertel says. “They’re, like, ‘Wow, this is awesome!’ ”
Until security guards showed up, that is. The group was given the boot under the mall’s no-solicitation regulation, Hertel says. But, Kelsey argued, we’re not taking, we’re giving. Sorry.
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Idealists brave generous dose of cynicism
By Bob Welch
Register-Guard columnist
All they wanted to do was change the world, one random act of kindness at a time. Instead, they were met with furrowed brows, questioned by Eugene police and ousted by Valley River Center security officers.
“People can’t accept the fact that there are other people who just want to be nice,” says Sheldon High School senior Kelsey Hertel, who founded the school’s new Random Acts of Kindness Club. “People don’t trust each other. They think everyone’s out to get them.”
.....
They decided Random Act 2 would be offering free leaf-raking in neighborhoods near Sheldon: seven girls, one guy, eight rakes.
Then, unexpected resistance: “When we told one lady what we wanted to do,” Hertel says, “she said, ‘Go do your random acts of kindness somewhere else.’ ”
Another woman thought the group was trying to burglarize her house. “We said, ‘No, we’re from the Random Acts of Kindness Club; we just want to rake your leaves.’ ”
The woman wasn’t convinced. She called the police, whose log for the 11:12 a.m. report is headed, “Suspicious Subject(s).” The police arrived and interviewed the “suspicious subjects” but made no arrests.
Random Act 3 unfolded at Valley River Center on “Black Friday,” the busiest shopping day of the year. About two dozen students handed out cards saying things like “Have a nice day” and “You’re awesome.” (Chocolate mints included.) Shoppers were encouraged to take another card to give to someone else. “People’s faces just lit up,” Hertel says. “They’re, like, ‘Wow, this is awesome!’ ”
Until security guards showed up, that is. The group was given the boot under the mall’s no-solicitation regulation, Hertel says. But, Kelsey argued, we’re not taking, we’re giving. Sorry.
.....
