SARASOTA/BRADENTON, FL – The week of Feb 12-18 offers an annual opportunity to unite people through kindness. First formally recognized in 1995, National Random Acts of Kindness Week is a seven-day celebration with the goal of demonstrating that kindness is contagious. It’s an opportunity for people to leave the world better than they found it and inspire others to do the same. It all starts with one act – one smile, one favor for a friend … and now we can include one cup of tea.
Since the launch of the “Kindness Community” back in December, Goodwill Manasota has teamed up with Local Tea Company to create a whole new initiative, Cup of Kindness, to keep the conversation about kindness going. The Cup of Kindness Tea, which is available for purchase through Goodwill’s website (experiencegoodwill.org/kindness) for $20 per bag, has 15 sachets of tea featuring the flavors of exotic fruits and herbs – including apple, coconut, hibiscus, rosehip and pineapple – to delight the palate.
“Each cup of tea invigorates your taste buds while making our community a better place to live,” said Michael Duranko, president of Local Tea Company. “I truly believe that ‘kindness’ should be in everything you do and this partnership was a perfect match to allow my company to give back to our community.”
The proceeds from the sales of the tea will support Goodwill’s Special Emergency Resources for Veterans (SERV) program – 100 percent of the proceeds will go straight to helping veterans and their families in need of emergency financial assistance for housing, education and food.
“The Cup of Kindness Tea is a unique way to treat yourself or a friend while giving back to our community,” said Goodwill Manasota vice president Veronica Brandon Miller. “Goodwill believes that everyone has the power to bring about positive change and make our community a better, kinder place.”
Goodwill Ambassador and former North Port, Florida Mayor Jacqueline Moore created the “Kindness Community” campaign, in partnership with Goodwill, to bring our community together and encourage acts of kindness. With the help of 100 volunteers and a handful of area businesses and organizations, the initiative has grown; now more than 1,000 people have signed the Kindness Community pledge on the Goodwill website.
To join the Kindness Community effort, sign the pledge at experiencegoodwill.org/kindness. There is an active Facebook following for Kindness Community as well, at facebook.com/kindnesscommunity; use the hashtag #kindnesscommunity.
About Goodwill Manasota
Goodwill Manasota is an industry-leading, 501(c)(3), not-for-profit organization that changes lives through the power of work. With the sales of donated goods and philanthropic donations, Goodwill is able to assist people with disabilities and other barriers to employment by providing job skills training and employment opportunities. In 2016, Goodwill Manasota served 28,207 people, placed 755 people in jobs and assisted 240 veterans as they reintegrated back into the civilian workforce. Goodwill Manasota’s economic impact back to the community is worth $92.1 million. Goodwill is one of the pioneers of the reduce-reuse-recycle movement and this past year diverted more than 40 million pounds out of the landfill. We accomplish our mission through a network of Good Neighbor Centers in Sarasota, Manatee, Hardee and DeSoto counties and our Mission Development Services (MDS) around North America. Goodwill Manasota is accountable to a local Board of Directors. Goodwill Manasota, in essence, belongs to this community and is not owned by any individual or company. For more information, visit www.experiencegoodwill.org.