NORTHBOROUGH — On a chilly Friday afternoon, there was a warm and fuzzy feeling in the Northborough Town Common as residents participated in the town’s second annual Kindness in the Common event.
Children decorated luminary bags with colorful patterns and cheerful messages meant to inspire kindness in the community. Once the sun set, the bags were arranged into the shape of a heart and illuminated, creating a spectacle that many families enjoyed.
While the spirit of kindness warmed the hearts of many, the complimentary hot chocolate also helped residents beat the wintry weather.
Suzy Cieslica, a member of the Northborough Community Affairs Committee and organizer of the event, said that Northborough was inspired by neighboring towns throughout the pandemic and wanted to create a similar event. Promoting kindness was one of the event’s primary goals.
“We’re hoping the kids are remembering what they did here today and continue to spread kindness,” she said. “We’re having them highlight acts of kindness that they may have completed throughout the week or a kind statement [they made].”
The event drew many families and also caught the attention of the town’s local representatives.
Kate Donaghue (D-Westborough) told the Community Advocate that focusing on positivity and kindness was a breath of fresh air.
“You see so many issues in the world… it’s heartwarming to see some people dedicate some time to kindness,” she said.
Meg Kilcoyne (D-Clinton) agreed with Donaghue, saying that it gave her “hope” to see kindness embraced in Northborough.
“When you forget to be kind it can lead to much broader problems,” she said. “If we forget to be kind, we can’t do anything at all.”
The Kindness in the Common event marked the end of Kindness Week, a weeklong initiative to promote kindness in Northborough.
Throughout the week, the Community Affairs Committee put on “coffee hours” with local government officials, including the fire chief, police chief, assistant town administrator, and select board chair.
The town held a fundraiser for the Sterling Animal Shelter, partnered with the Ahimsa Haven Animal Rescue, and collected infant toys for the UMass NICU and pediatrics unit.
Residents also enjoyed Bollywood dance lessons, half-off milkshakes at MOOYAH, and a book reading by local children’s author Farhana Zia.
While Northborough had a week filled with kindness, Cieslica looks to expand the event for next year.
“More people want to be involved,” she said. “Next year, we’re going to hopefully expand it throughout the month… we’re looking forward to building it even more next year.”
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