Room at the Inn volunteers Gabriel Gonzalez, left, Executive Director Nick Emmendorfer and Ashleigh Esch wash the windows of local businesses on Washington Street for Spread Goodness Day. Not pictured, Nicole O’Malley and Austin Rule. Room at the Inn chose window washing as their act of kindness in honor of local icon Phil Niemisto who passed last year. Niemisto spent countless hours cleaning up the downtown area and Room at the Inn wanted to continue his mission, said Executive director Nick Emmendorfer. “Traditionally, Room at the Inn has been on the receiving end of the generosity of this community, today is an opportunity for us to give back and show appreciation,” Emmendorfer said. (Journal photo by Trinity Carey)

By CECILIA BROWN

Journal Staff Writer

MARQUETTE — Spread Goodness Day activities reached across Marquette County and beyond for the second year in a row on Friday, with people around the globe performing acts of kindness, large and small.

In Marquette, Spread Goodness Day creator Anna Dravland and volunteer Katie Jacobs were busy around the community, they said.

“Everywhere we go, there’s just a different energy everywhere. Somebody will see the (Spread Goodness Day) sunglasses on my head and they’ll go ‘Happy Spread Goodness Day,'” Dravland said, noting she’s thrilled to see so many people recognizing and participating in the day.

The pair started the day off bright and early, heading to the Huron Mountain Bakery at 5:30 a.m. to spread goodness by picking up the tabs for the first couple patrons’ coffee and donuts.

“You don’t really think about all the different ways that you can make someone’s day or spread goodness around, but you really can do those things through just the smallest of actions,” Jacobs said. “And to realize that something that seems so small can make someone feel so cherished or so loved is probably one of the most rewarding things that I’ve witnessed happen in Spread Goodness Day.”

Then, they stopped at Sandy Knoll Elementary School where Christian Verardi from Edward Jones had donated 400 pairs of Spread Goodness Day sunglasses for students, and Dravland gave a presentation that received thunderous applause.

“I can’t even describe what it was like in that gym … it was amazing, it was so powerful,” Dravland said.

After, they headed over to the Empty Bowls fundraising event at the Marquette Alternative High School, then went to Super One Foods and had a bag of groceries donated with their purchase. After that, they went to spread goodness at Travel Marquette and the Room at the Inn Warming Shelter.

The pair then went to UP Health System-Marquette for a “Spread Goodness Day surprise,” and helped Theresa Sell and Encore Financial distribute hundreds of flowers to nurses to thank them for their contributions to the community and those in their care. The group had also dropped flowers off to nurses at all the local clinics earlier in the day, Dravland said.

Then, it was time to head down to the Marquette Commons, where Select Realty was holding a Spread Goodness Day celebration zone, complete with music by Jerry Mills, sunglasses, cookies, a photo backdrop with a photographer ready to help participants commemorate the day, and even a video diary produced by Bennett Media to record acts of goodness by attendees.

“We were trying to think of something big to do this year,” said Darlene Martin, owner and broker at Select Realty. “And we really could all go out, and of course do what we try to do every day — spread goodness. But we thought how about a headquarters where people go and they can come here and have their picture taken and tell their story, and kind of do a log of what people are doing.”

Jacobs, who became initially involved with the project last fall to help with logistics and technological aspects of Spread Goodness Day, is glad she’s had the opportunity to be by Dravland’s side as a volunteer throughout the project.

“It’s just amazing, I don’t know how else to describe it,” Jacobs said. “I love being a part of it and it’s really taught me a lot.”

Dravland is also thankful for the ongoing support and partnership of Bennett Media, she said, as they created many visuals, including a promotional video, for the event.

“In my opinion, I treat them as a partnering presenting company because they have made it possible for me to present my event in a much more visual way … I don’t necessarily think we could have had the same reach and success if we didn’t have their content behind it,” Dravland said.

She’s grateful for the support of all who have helped her, from volunteers like Jacobs, to sponsors and partners, to all of the community members who got involved, she said.

“It’s impossible for this to be successful without the community and all of the people engaging with it and doing goodness,” Dravland said. “This whole entire event — yes, I created a platform — but I did it with volunteers, I did it with a lot of support and assistance, and Spread Goodness Day is nothing without everybody. It’s nothing if it’s just me.”

Dravland looks forward to counting the many acts of goodness recorded Friday — and holding the next Spread Goodness Day, which is slated for March 13, 2020.

“It’s going to be a very good Friday the 13th,” Dravland said with a smile.

Cecilia Brown can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 248. Her email address is cbrown@miningjournal.net.