Kindness clubs grow in popularity

LANCASTER, Pa. (AP) — Susan Hagen remembers wanting to do something to spread a spirit of kindness after 9/11, shocked that “someone could hate so much.”

So the Ephrata native and Lancaster resident began performing at least one good deed a day.

That included when she was in the hospital recovering from surgery.

Even then, she cleaned up a hospital waiting room and picked out flowers from a get-well batch she had received and gave them to her hospital roommate, an older woman who hadn’t gotten any.

Each day since making her vow, she has solidified her resolve to try to spread the cheer even more.

“I feel like we’re all just kind of plopped on this earth, and all we have is each other,” Hagen said. “So why not help each other through it?

“Because when you show kindness to others, life becomes easier, it becomes more wonderful.”

Hagen, 47, was energized two years ago to form an official “Spirit of Kindness Club” here, spreading good will around the Lancaster area.

Its dues are to do something nice for someone each day, Hagen says.

At a time when the rush-rush world sometimes seems dark and cold; with the economy, busy schedules and just plain selfishness making people unwilling to help others, Hagen’s efforts are a beacon of light.

The Spirit of Kindness Club’s mission statement calls for “living by example through caring, kindness and courtesy ... [to] help make our nation and world a better place.”

So far, there are eight members, who meet quarterly.

The club, although still small, holds various events — such as sponsoring an upcoming talent show for residents at Ephrata Manor retirement home — that promote the idea of kindness.

“This is just a start,” says Hagen, a registered nurse and professional magician who says she’d rather avoid publicity for herself but loves to spotlight the club’s goals.

“With the times that we live in, and things like cyber bullying that we face, we need something like this more than ever.”

The club has had two young ambassadors, Liz Martin of Ephrata and current ambassador Emily Raush, a senior at Penn Manor High School.

Raush, who turns 18 next week, loves to promote acts of kindness at community events.

“It truly does make you think about it more,” the teen says, and “there’s a joy that you get inside of you, that you’re helping someone and just making the world a better place.”

Emily’s mom says Hagen is an inspiration.

“It’s not about being a rocket scientist or solving the country’s economic problems, it’s about being kind,” Martha Raush says.

She points to Hagen and says, “Her mind is always thinking, ‘How can I brighten somebody’s day?’

“So many people, when they give, sometimes they’re doing it to get recognition ... but she’s the opposite,” Rausch says. “She just wants to bring joy to people. It’s about time she gets some recognition.”

Hagen says kindness is its own reward.

“I have been a happier person since I’ve started giving,” she says.

Along with doing one act of kindness each day since making her vow in 2003, Hagen has reached the goal of greeting a stranger every week.

There are chances every day to help others, Hagen says, all you need to do is use your imagination.

It could be helping a mom trying to put groceries in her van while struggling with three fussy kids, or taking the grocery cart back to the store for someone who looks like he is struggling.

Hagen also has mowed the lawn of her neighbor — a single mom who went on vacation and came home to find her yard freshly trimmed.

She has also sent flowers without signing her name, cleaned up a shelf of items at a store that someone knocked over and didn’t pick up, and visited with an elderly stranger at a nursing home.

Hagen also keeps small toys in her purse, “so that if a young child is having a tearful day, I give it to them, which soothes ‘the moment’ and helps the mom get through her shopping trip with more ease.”

Adds Martha Raush, “Imagine if 10, 100 people, whatever, decided every day, ‘I’m going to do one kind thing,’ it will just change our world for the better.

“Now, I can’t go to the grocery store without seeing someone who’s about to return their cart and I’ll say, ‘Oh, I’ll take that for you!’”

It’s not always easy to be kind and patient with, say, someone blocking your way when you’re in a hurry.

Hagen adds with a laugh, “I’m not Mother Teresa ... but that’s when I really try to draw myself back” and realize people could be facing all kinds of health and other problems that make them get in the way, or else get impatient.

Hagen and her husband, Brad, who is co-owner of Sterling Custom Cabinetry of Lancaster, have three sons: Joshua, 21, Wesley, 19, and Cody, 16.

Her husband and sons were, with her, the first members of the Spirit of Kindness Club, she added.

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