March 28, 2024

A ‘profound impact’

Kindness ripples through the community with “Pay It Forward Week” at SWCC

The simple act of performing a kindness for someone without the expectation of something in return can have a profound impact that ripples out into the world. This is the idea behind Pay It Forward (PIF) Week, which begins today at Southwestern Community College (SWCC).

One of our psychology instructors started it via a class project. It was a social psychology class and it was about pro-social behaviors with their assignment, so specifically just doing something good for somebody else.” said Cait Maitlen, director of admissions and executive director of the education foundation at SWCC.

Many students and community members who are involved in PIF Week are wearing wrist bands, which are symbolic of the movement.

“The whole point of the wrist bands was to do something kind for someone else, then pass them a wrist band and ask them to pay it forward,” said Maitlen.

Since its inception in 2009, PIF week has grown from small student projects such as community cleanups to community involved events, such “Meals from the Heartland, where SWCC students, staff and community organization partner with the Union County Development Association’s Lead UC program participants to package meals for delivery to malnourished people in Iowa, across the United States and around the world.

Maitlen said the purpose of PIF week is twofold. Not only do those involved with the program aim to create a rippling effect of kindness throughout the community, but she said SWCC wants to give back specifically to those that support SWCC and its students.

To show their thanks, SWCC students and staff participating In PIF will help Creston Rotarians with a community clean up on North Cherry Street.

“The reason for that is because the Creston Rotary Club gives scholarships to students who have filled out the education foundation scholarship each year, so they have a really strong tie between some of those students and we just want to try to help them in that regard,” said Maitlen.

Aside from hosting “Meals from the Heartland,” other activities SWCC students and staff will take part in this year include a Hurley Creek clean-up and participation in the National Eating Disorders Association Walk in Des Moines.

The events planned for the week aren’t exclusively for the students, faculty and staff of the college. SWCC invites the entire community to get involved in one or more of the activities being held throughout the week, or remember to “pay it forward” in their own way.