Psychology students display random acts of kindness at Lutheran Homes
What began as a discussion of random acts of kindness ended in a meaningful afternoon at Muscatine Lutheran Homes for Bev Knoernschild’s Psychology of Adjustment students, Wednesday, April 16th.
Earlier in the semester students discovered that a small act of thanks could make a huge impact on their own “happiness” level. Each student identified someone in his or her life who had not been adequately thanked. After writing a thank you letter, each student set up a time to read the letter to the recipient. In keeping with current findings on happiness, this act of thanking someone in person had an immediate positive influence on both parities’ overall happiness.
To keep the good feeling going the class decided to move out into the community as a group and eventually chose to work with residents at the Lutheran Homes. The initial plan included an afternoon of playing bingo, decorating pots and planting flower seeds, giving manicures and hand massages, and sharing root beer floats.
The project grew to thanking the staff at Lutheran Homes for all that they do. Gift bags were presented to all first shift employees and dinner with homemade desserts was provided to second shifts workers. The event would not have happened without the energy and enthusiasm of the students, the helpfulness of Activities Director Lori Goodrick and her staff, and the generous support of area merchants. Thanks to Anytime Fitness, Avon, Check into Cash, Culver’s of Muscatine, Elder-Beerman, Fareway, Elia Martinez, Milios Subs, Sprouse Distributing, Subway, and Wilson True Value.
The random acts of kindness givers, back row, from left, Kelly Peak, Chris Rowe,
Peggy Lubbers, Tiffany Winckler, Shawn Sheahan, Carmen Martinez, Bryce Kuhlers,
Chris Brockert, Angie Patino; front row, from left, Matt Hintermeister, Kate Edwards,
Calli Kahl, Instructor Bev Knoernschild, Blake Daly, Steven Ohland.
Not pictured: Morgan Swails and Allie Wolf.