HANCOCK COUNTY — Despite the chaos, uncertainty and anxiety brought on by the pandemic, a lot of good things are happening in Hancock County. Random acts of kindness. Feats of selflessness. Compassion for others. This is another in an occasional series of stories that will highlight some of the unsung moments of kindness that are bright spots in our ordeal.
Donors pay Fortville
utility bills
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Fortville residents got a nice surprise heading into the Easter weekend, when the town’s Facebook page shared that an anonymous donor had paid for the town residents’ water and sewer bills. Those who had already paid their April bill will see a credit on their May statements.
According to the post: “The gift was made by local businesses as an encouragement that we all might look out for one another, find the needs of our neighbors, neighborhoods and do our part in helping them through this uncertain and unprecedented difficult time… and the good times that will soon follow. Thank you and God bless our people and our nation.”
Residents were quick to post messages of gratitude. One person responded, “Just saying thank you to the anonymous donor(s) cannot express just how incredibly thankful I am… Thank you so much for your selfless and amazing donation. I am sure this helps to take some stress off many people’s and families’ shoulders. We are all so very blessed to live in such a wonderful community.”
Elks Lodge serves up spaghetti
The Greenfield Elks Lodge 1720 has been giving out free spaghetti lunches on recent weekends at the lodge, at 820 S. State St. in Greenfield. The lodge out 133 lunches the first weekend it offered the meal and 203 the next.
Cash donations were collected both days to purchase hundreds of drinks and snacks bars, which were donated to Hancock Regional Hospital staff.
On Friday, April 11, the Elks planned to deliver spaghetti lunches to firefighters at both Greenfield fire stations. “We are trying to support the community in as many ways as possible,” said Elks member Gil Garcia.
Pete the Cat promotes reading
Sometimes even well-intentioned talking cats are sidelined by social distancing restrictions.
Pete the Cat, otherwise known as Shannon Norwood of Greenfield, wanted to go around to local neighborhoods in her whimsical cat costume encouraging kids to read. But she and leaders of the Hancock County Public Library thought it was best not to tempt children to want to emerge from their homes.
Instead, Norwood has posted pictures of Pete the Cat online encouraging kids to read even though schools have switched to e-learning for the rest of the school year.
“I’ve had the Pete the Cat costume for years, and figured this was a great time to put it to good use. As a librarian I just really want to encourage children to use this extra time at home to pick up a book and read,” said Norwood, who was previously the librarian at Harris Elementary School in Greenfield. She now is now a librarian for Warren Township schools.
Even though kids may be quarantined at home for now, reading can help unlock their imaginations, said Norwood, who also encourages kids to make up stories or put on plays. “You can make things however you can dream them,” she said.
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Want to share a story of human kindness you’ve witnessed lately? Email us at [email protected] and include your contact information. #hancockcountykindness
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