Kindness counts

The second annual “Make Things Better” campaign is underway and Iowa State Savings Bank is asking residents to report all acts of kindness, large and small.

The campaign began Jan. 1 and will continue until Feb. 15.

Random acts of kindness can be reported to ISSB in person, by phone, on the bank’s Facebook page or by email. For every act reported to one of the ISSB branches in Creston, Corning, Mount Ayr or Lenox, ISSB will donate $10 up to a total of $5,000, which will be distributed to Creston Area Food Pantry, MATURA in Creston, Corning and Mount Ayr and the food pantry at the Lenox Neighborhood Center. The “acts of kindness” cards can also be found at the food pantries.

Hannah West, marketing officer for ISSB, said the acts of kindness can be reported by anyone — the person who did it, someone who witnessed it, or the person who was helped by the act — and it doesn’t matter what the act was.

“Sometimes people think, ‘Well, I didn’t save anybody’s life. I’m not rescuing cats from a tree.” That’s not what we’re looking for,” said West. “If they’re out there, that’s excellent, We’ll take that, but the smallest acts are contagious, too — you let someone go in front of you at Walmart when you have a cart full and the person behind you is holding one thing. Those little acts of kindness. That’s what we’re looking for because all of that spreads and makes a very big difference in our communities.”

ISSB CEO Adam Snodgrass said the campaign was originally inspired by Iowa State Savings Bank’s mission statement: Be Fair. Earn Respect. Have Fun. Make Things Better.

“The ‘Make Things Better’ campaign is a tremendous way for ISSB to lead by example in our local communities and carry out our mission,” said Snodgrass. “Donations to local food banks make things better for a large population of people in need of assistance. The response to last year’s campaign was an overwhelming success, and the initial response to the 2019 campaign has already been very positive.”

Food pantries provide food and personal care items to help low-income families. They rely on donations to keep their shelves stocked. In December, the Creston Area Food Pantry served 1,297 individuals who struggle with hunger.

The food pantries have needs for donations all year long.

“As humans, we eat everyday so the need never goes away,” said said Mary O’Riley, Creston Area Food Pantry Board Secretary and Treasurer.. “Around the holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas, is when people generally think of others and are in a giving mode. Generous people in the community definitely helps our operation keep going.”

Last year, ISSB received more than 600 acts of kindness and donated $5,000 to The Learning Center for the purchase of new computer equipment.

“What we found last year is it’s so fun to hear positive comments when a lot of times you see a lot of negative stuff out there,” said West.