The why behind #RestoringKindness

#RestoringKindness

If you’re reading this, you’ve likely noticed the hashtag #restoringkindness floating around and chances are you’re curious about how it all started. For the explanation, read on.

The idea to challenge Madison and the surrounding communities to start restoring kindness is grounded in how Kent and Lynn Rawhouser, owners of A&J Specialty Services, Inc., view life and business.

Kent and Lynn founded their emergency restoration company more than 30 years ago. One of the things they love most about what they do is the ability to come into people’s lives when they’re at an extreme low and help them get back on their feet.

When your home floods, you find a major mold problem in your business or a fire rips through your home, it leaves a large amount of stress in it’s wake.

Kent and Lynn have always seen the task of cleaning up the flooded basement or taking care of the mold problem as more than just a job. It’s a chance to restore a life. To remove stress. To get someone back into the swing of things.

It’s always been about more than work, it’s about serving people.

So as their team began brainstorming for more ways to care for the community, the idea of restoring kindness began to take shape.

The idea that, for no money at all, businesses and individuals could join a campaign to do kind things for strangers and expect nothing in return. That in a day and age of social interaction, those acts of kindness could be tracked, shared online and talked about, encouraging both those who are restoring kindness and those receiving the kind deeds.

Everyday, A&J sees what kindness and service can do. It’s contagious and life-giving. But why limit those acts of service to restoration disasters? Why not encourage everyone to do their part in restoring lives?

So the campaign #restoringkindness was launched. There’s a hashtag attached to the

campaign because we believe stories of kindness, shared online can inspire change and action. We want to hear what you’re doing. We want to hear what’s being done for you and we want to encourage others to start restoring kindness too.

Already, businesses and individuals all across south-central Wisconsin and some across the nation are committing to join the movement this July. We hope you will too!

To learn more and get ideas for how to start #restoringkindness visit our Restoring Kindness page!