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Year of Kindness

September 19, 2023

Do you ever wonder why it is so hard to focus on the "Good" in our world.? And whatever happened to living by the Golden Rule or Civility?

Mayor Behnken has hereby declared a "Year of Kindness" to encourage everyone in our great community to focus on Positive happenings and be advocates for Kindness.

 

February: Self Care

 

Attitude, happiness, optimism, kindness, giving and respect are choices. What choice you make, makes you. Choose wisely.

Ways To Show Kindness to Yourself

 

  • Buy Chocolate 
  • Attend church 
  • Attend a concert or athletic event
  • Listen to a book or read a book 
  • Find a self-help podcast 
  • Make time to “meditate”  
  • Go for a walk 
  • Purchase a gym membership 
  • Try something new 
  • Join or start a support group 
  • Meet a new friend 
  • Spend time with your family 
  • Listen - don’t talk 
  • Forgive someone who hurt you - rebuild the friendship
  • Cook something special for you & your family 
  • Take a cooking, quilting, sewing, dancing, guitar class
  • Dance when no one is looking 
  • Be present
  • Learn to say “no”
  • Turn off the news
  • Surround yourself with positive people 
  • Give up social media for 1 week 
  • Breathe
  • Get sleep
  • Forgive yourself 
  • Yoga
  • Treat yourself to a spa day

January: Animals 

 

He who is cruel to animals also becomes hard in his dealings with men. We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals. -Emmanuel Kant 

Ways to Show Kindness Towards Your Family

1. Treat your pet

Of course, what better way to start the day than by being extra kind to the pet in the household! Whether it’s an extra 10 minutes of playtime, a surprise trip to the beach, or a batch of homemade treats, today is the perfect time to spoil your furry buddy.

2. Pick up pet poop

Okay, picking up another pet’s poop may not be an ideal way to celebrate the day for most people. However, doing so not only allows you to help maintain the cleanliness of your neighborhood but also gives you the opportunity to prevent the spread of disease from one animal to another. 

3. Throw litter in the right place

Aside from facilitating the growth of bacteria, litter can be hazardous to animals—both terrestrial and aquatic. They can become lodged in the throats of hungry stray animals, injure wildlife, or even cause the death of water-dwelling creatures. So today and for the days to come, make a habit of throwing litter in the right place, whether it’s yours or not.

4. Offer to pet sit for a fellow pet owner in need

Perhaps a fellow pet owner has to go out of town or is dealing with an emergency crisis and needs someone to care for their pet. Offer to help them out. Since the owner already knows you, they’ll be more comfortable knowing that their furry companion is in good hands while they’re away.

5. Buy extra pet food or supplies

If you’re planning to restock on some pet food or supplies today, why not purchase extra and give them to someone who’s currently struggling financially? That way, you can help make sure that the pet receives proper care during the difficult period.

6. Help a stray dog or cat

If you see a stray dog or cat, stop to help them out. If they have a collar, check if they have tags that contain their owner’s contact information or get them scanned for a microchip.

If they’re injured or sick, take them to your local vet for a checkup and necessary medications. If no one seems to be looking for the animal, bring them to a reputable shelter or even better, foster them until they find a permanent home.

7. Always carry water and pet treats in your car

You never know when you’ll come across a thirsty or hungry stray cat or dog, so make sure that you have bottled water and some pet treats with you at all times. If you need to take an animal to the vet, treats can also make it easier for you to gain their trust and get them in your car.

8. Open your home to a shelter pet

Whether abandoned, abused, neglected, or dumped by their previous owners, millions of animals in shelters are dreaming of finally having a permanent loving family to call their own. If you’re looking to add a furry family member to the household, we highly encourage you to visit your local shelter and adopt a shelter pet. You’ll be saving a life!

9. Foster a shelter pet

If you can’t commit to adopting a shelter animal but still want to help out, then fostering one is another excellent option! Most shelters have limited space and resources, so upon reaching their maximum capacity, they’d have no choice but to turn homeless animals away. Offering to foster can help your local shelter free up some space to save more animals as you save one, too!

10. Volunteer at your local animal shelter

Most animal shelters rely on volunteers to operate normally, so offering them your time and skills is a huge help. They’re usually looking for people to lend a hand with socializing, grooming, and training animals. Some may even need help with managing their social media accounts, revamping their website, taking photos or videos of animals, and facilitating events.

11. Donate to your local animal shelter

Monetary donations are always highly appreciated in shelters, but other forms of donations are very much welcome, too! Old blankets, towels, cleaning materials, grooming tools, pet bowls, or even just newspapers are incredibly helpful to shelters. For more ideas on what you can donate to your local animal shelter, you can check out this article from DiamondPet.com.

12. Help the birds

Did you know that North America has lost 3 BILLION birds? And not just the rare species! Birds are essential to the environment because they’re in huge part responsible for pest control, plant pollination (including 5% of the plants we use in food and medicine), and spreading plant life by scattering seeds. Because of the global wildlife crisis, bird populations continue to drop.

Here’s how YOU can help:

  • Plant trees and shrubs
  • Build birdhouses
  • Put out multiple birdfeeders and bird baths
  • Prevent pet cats from hunting birds by keeping them indoors or making them wear a BirdBeSafe® collar cover. You can get one here.

13. Get involved in animal transport

By getting involved in animal transport, you can help animals get their happy ever after by uniting them with adopters or save their lives by transporting them to a shelter that can accommodate them. If you’re interested in becoming an official animal transporter, let us help you by signing up on Doobert.

14. Report animal cruelty

If you see an animal being abused or neglected, don’t hesitate to contact your local police department or animal control right away. The same thing goes for irresponsible backyard breeders.

15. Support accredited zoos and aquariums

While it’s true that there are establishments that hold wild animals in captivity solely for profit, we can’t blacklist ALL of them. Many zoos and aquariums are dedicated to providing the highest quality of care to their animals and work hard to educate visitors about animal care and conservation.

Like most shelters, they’re often faced with limited funds, resources, and manpower, and need all the help they can get. So if you have time, you can click here to visit the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ website for a list of accredited zoos and aquariums. Find one that’s around your area and offer them your support.

 16. Choose Cruelty-Free Products

Each year, 100,000—200,000 animals around the world suffer and die in laboratories due to cosmetics testing. Choosing to spend your hard-earned dollars on products from compassionate companies is one small act of kindness we can all do to support the rats, bunnies and guinea pigs commonly used in testing. Use PETA’s search function for cruelty-free companies on its website to determine if the products you use are animal-friendly or not and find alternatives. (LUSH, a cruelty-free business with amazing beauty products, is a favorite of mine!)

Also, BIG NEWS about animal testing in cosmetics has been happening lately. Since 2021 (when the federal Humane Cosmetics Act, legislation to prohibit cosmetics animal testing and the sale of animal-tested cosmetics, was reintroduced in the US), many US States have now banned the sale of animal-tested cosmetics. The timeline on the Humane Society’s website page about cosmetic testing on animals, lists all the countries who have banned animal-testing on cosmetics in the last five years and it is getting longer every day!

17. Help a Lost Dog Find His Way Home.

I have a feeling you, my dear readers, do this at every opportunity! But it’s helpful to keep in mind, especially with holidays that always have fireworks, like the Fourth of July, that many dogs and cats run away from home on days when fireworks are set off. The good news is that lost dogs usually have tags, so if you can, corral them in your yard to keep them safe from cars and call the owner. Or if you recognize your neighbor’s animal walking far from home where it should be, notify them immediately.

And one of the best ways to help lost animals by showing kindness toward them is to help them find their way home by sharing social media posts about them. The farther those posts reach, the better chance the animal has of getting back to their people! There are thousands of happy pets and owners out there who have harnessed the power of social media and acts of kindness for animals by sharing posts that brought them back together.

18. Leave Wild Animals in Their Natural Homes.

Adults usually know better, but children have a natural curiosity and often want to “capture” wildlife. If they want to bring a snail home in a jar, use the request as an opportunity to teach them about natural habitats and the kindness of leaving animals in their homes because it’s the safest place for them (unless, of course, they are in urgent need of help because of injury or sickness). If we teach kids to leave animals and bugs where they belong but still allow them to observe critters with kindness and respect, they grow up treating animals that way.

These are, of course, only a few ways to show kindness for animals, but we would love to hear about any other things you do.

If you want to learn how to help animals in all kinds of stressful situations by creating a calm environment for them to settle into—the ultimate kindness—check out our online and in-person classes!

19. Make emergency plans for your animal companions so that they’ll survive natural disasters.

20. Donate to Manchester’s Dog Park Project.

Veterinary Clinics

  • O’Brien Small Animal Clinic
  • Manchester Animal Med Ctr 

 

Advice from the Manchester Vets & Fish Shack 

Dogs and Cats

  • If you are considering adopting a pet, be sure you have the time and resources to take care of them.
  • See a vet with your pet as soon as you get them. They will tell you what shots or special care they will need.
  • Train them from the beginning. If you need help with the training, contact your vet or groomer.
  • If a pet requires grooming be sure to do it.
  • Board your animal or consider daycare if your animal requires a lot of attention.
  • Use a good flea and tick product if your pet will be outdoors
  • Do heartworm testing during the mosquito season.
  • Keep them clean, have you thought about cleaning your pet's teeth?
  • Wipe their feet after a walk, or they have been outdoors.
  • Everyone should use pet-friendly salt on their walkways.
  • Be sure they always have fresh water.
  • Use treats in moderation, and remember: NO chocolate.
  • Don't feed table scraps or bones. Use a reputable dog or cat food
  • Neuter your animals.
  • Pick up after dogs as you walk them.
  • Give them lots of exercise - a tired dog is a happy dog!
  • Treat them like you would want to be treated. Do not leave them out in cold conditions.
  • Give them lots of attention and lots of praise.
  • If you must rehome your animal, use rescues or no-kill humane shelters. Do not just release them to fend for themselves.

Birds

  • Clean their cage once a week (or more if needed), use newspaper since it is easy and inexpensive
  • Keep your bird out of drafts and away from Teflon. Did you know that if you burn something in a Teflon pan or spray an air freshener near your bird, you can kill it?
  • Tap water is fine, but be sure to keep it fresh and full. Feed and water daily.

Fish

  • For Betas and small fish, change the water once a week, this would be for tanks of 2 1 gallons or less.
  • Larger tanks can go longer but check with your dealer on how often to clean and how.
  • Ask a reputable dealer what to feed your particular fish.
  • Be sure to let the water sit for a few days before adding your fish!

Small mammals and Reptiles

  • Buy from a reputable dealer, be sure to find out what to feed them, keep their cage clean, and keep fresh water in their bottle.

Backyard Animals and Birds

  • Remember to let wild life in your yard be wild. Don't try to interact with them.
  • To help them thrive, be sure to give them open water, food, and shelter.
  • Keep screens on your windows during the winter to keep birds from flying into them.
  • Try planting some things like perennial prairie grasses or shrubs to attract birds. Ask your nursery for suggestions, and then be sure to leave them standing for the winter so they can take the seeds as a food source.

 

FOR ALL ANIMALS: Be kind, be gentle, be loving, and treat them like family.

 

 

December: Local Businesses & Workers 

Kindness shouldn't have to be earned. It should be freely given.  - Raven Kennedy

Ways to Show Kindness Towards Your Family

  • Tip the waiters/waitresses
  • Leave reviews on social media 
  • Send employer note about their excellent service
  • Purchase gift cards from local businesses 
  • Shop at the local businesses 
  • Eat at the local businesses 
  • Share/tag the local business on social media 
  • Follow local businesses on social media 
  • Say "Thank you"

Places to Dine 

  • Sunset Family Restaurant
  • Riverbend Pub & Grill
  • April’s Downtown Diner
  • Fiesta Cancun 
  • Pizza Ranch 
  • The Bread Basket 
  • Captain & Tenille’s Grill
  • Chuong Garden Chinese Restaurant
  • Blue Collar Sports Bar, LLC
  • Burger King 
  • Hardee’s
  • Subway
  • Dairy Queen 
  • Joe’s Pizza Manchester 
  • Aunt Emmy’s 
  • Scooter’s 
  • Olive That Deli
  • Hartridge 
  • Franklin Street Brewing Company 
  • Casey’s 
  • Ez Pickin’s 
  • Kwik Star 
  • Artic Fusion 

Places To Shop

  • Thompson’s Shoes
  • Finery 
  • Real Deal’s Manchester, IA
  • Treasure Alley 
  • New To You 
  • Brides & Weddings 
  • Bushel & A Peck 
  • Dollar Fresh 
  • Walmart 
  • Aunt Emmy’s 
  • Camp Courageous 
  • Dollar General
  • Dollar Tree
  • Fareway 
  • Corcoran Furniture 
  • Honey Creek Furniture  
  • Norby’s Farm Fleet 
  • Palmer’s Hardware 
  • Stay Wild Gifts 
  • Lake Design & Decor 
  • Yoga Nook 
  • 5K Sports 
  • The Quiltmaker’s Shoppe
  • Momentum Screen Prints
  • Pin Oak Golf 
  • Fish Shack 
  • QC Supply 

Flower Shops/ Landscaping

  • Posy Place Floral & Gifts 
  • Sue’s Flower & Garden Center 
  • Child’s Play Landscaping & Garden Center 
  • Supreme Green 

Self-Care 

  • Shear Magic 
  • Textures
  • Envy Salon 
  • Alley Cuts on Main 
  • Reflections Salon & Tanning 
  • Corcoran’s Barber Services
  • Snips Clips 
  • Looks Unlimited
  • Speakeasy Spa
  • TK Nails & Spa
  • Traditions Barbershop 
  • Beauty and the Beast 
  • Split Ends Salon 
  • Cost Cutters
  • Lori French
  • Castle Theatre 
  • Delaware County Recreation Center 
  • Legends Gym
  • Flexfit

Banking/Finacial/Insurance

  • GNB
  • Dupaco 
  • Monaghan Finacial 
  • Edward Jones-Edward Jones
  • Goslings 
  • Northwestern Mutual 
  • Milestones
  • F&M Bank 
  • Carr & Carr
  • Hansen Law Office
  • Mark Roeder 
  • Tracey & Tracey Lawyers
  • Lori’s Tax Account 
  • Dolan Insurance
  • State Farm 
  • Farm Bureau 
  • Swift 
  • Darrel Rich Insurance Agency 
  • Bruce Hutchinson 
  • Bill Rich 
  • Harper Insurance Agency 

Automotive

  • Boubin Automotive
  • J's Auto 
  • Georgen Auto Repair
  • DJ’s Repair 
  • Runde Auto Group of Manchester
  • Stephens 
  • NAPA Auto Parts
  • Barron Motors
  • Car Quest 
  • Golf Cart Plus 
  • Fehr Grahm 
  • Sedona Staffing 
  • Burrington Group 
  • Carls Feed Store 
  • Three Rivers FS

Home Needs

  • Don & Walt 
  • Hauser's Water Systems
  • Don’s Hardware
  • Kluesner’s Flooring
  • Gateway Appliances 
  • The Can Shed
  • Hansens Computers
  • Manchester Monument Works

Other

  • Sedona Staffing 
  • Burrington Group 
  • Carls Feed Store 
  • Three Rivers FS

Disclaimer. We make every effort to maintain an accurate and up-to-date list of businesses, but there is a possibility that we may have inadvertently overlooked businesses. If you are aware of a business that is not included in our list, we kindly request your assistance in ensuring the completeness and accuracy of our information.

Please don't hesitate to contact us to notify us of any businesses that we may have missed, so we are able to provide the most reliable information.  

November: Family 

A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees. - Amelia Earhart 

Ways to Show Kindness Towards Your Family

  • Start fresh 
  • Have family pictures taken 
  • Plan a family trip 
  • Go out for a meal together at a local restaurant 
    • Sunset Family Restaurant
    • Riverbend Pub & Grill
    • April’s Downtown Diner
    • Fiesta Cancun 
    • Pizza Ranch 
    • The Bread Basket 
    • Captain & Tenille’s Grill
    • Chuong Garden Chinese Restaurant
    • Blue Collar Sports Bar, LLC
    • Burger King 
    • Hardee’s
    • Subway
    • Dairy Queen 
    • Joe’s Pizza Manchester 
    • Aunt Emmy’s 
    • Scooter’s 
    • Olive That Deli
    • Hartridge 
    • Franklin Street Brewing Company 
    • Casey’s 
    • Ez Pickin’s 
    • Kwik Star 
  • Cook a meal together 
  • Start a family tree to show children where they came from
    • Done at library  
  • Attend church together (list churches)
    • Christ Community Church 
    • Manchester Methodist Church 
    • Our Savior Lutheran Church 
    • First Presbyterian Church 
    • First Luthern Church 
    • Berean Bible Church 
    • St. Mary’s Catholic Church 
    • theStone Church 
    • The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
    • Manchester Gospel Hall 
  • Call Grandma, Grandpa, Mom or Dad, Siblings
  • Extend your welcome to others during the holidays 

Disclaimer. We make every effort to maintain an accurate and up-to-date list of businesses, but there is a possibility that we may have inadvertently overlooked businesses. If you are aware of a business that is not included in our list, we kindly request your assistance in ensuring the completeness and accuracy of our information.

Please don't hesitate to contact us to notify us of any businesses that we may have missed so we can provide the most reliable information.  

October: Neighbors 

The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the greatest intention. -Kahlil Gibran

Ways to Show Kindness Towards Your Neighbors

  • Help with yard work
  • Bring Them Food
  • Offer a hand
  • Lend tools or equipment
  • Smile and be friendly
  • Check-In with your neighbor
  • Help an elderly neighbor or visit
  • Organize a neighborhood block party
  • Enjoy a fire with your neighbors
  • Share a night with your favorite beverages
  • Nominate your neighbor for the Nice Neighbor Award