March 5 – March 9, 2018 | Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) Week
RAK Week is a time dedicated to connecting members of the MIT community through small acts of kindness.
The Department of Chemistry is thrilled to be participating in the Mind Hand Heart Initiative’s Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) Week, which will run from Monday, March 5 through Friday, March 9, 2018.
RAK Week is a time dedicated to connecting members of the MIT community through small acts of kindness. We hope to not only encourage people to connect with each other, but also to connect with support resources on campus. RAK Week will be a fun, light-hearted week meant to encourage us to support one another because MIT is not a place one can handle alone.
The Institute-wide schedule of events can be found here. In addition, below are is the agenda for the Department of Chemistry RAK Week initiatives. All members of the department are encouraged to participate in this highly spirited and enjoyable event!
CHEMISTRY SHOUT OUTS
Is there a member of the staff, faculty, or student body that you’d like to draw attention to for a job well done? Fill out this webform and a congratulatory message will be included on the Lobby Screens and the department’s Facebook Page for all to see.
Be sure to get your submissions in by Monday, March 5 so that they can be displayed throughout the course of the week!
MONDAY, MARCH 5 – RAK WEEK TECH CASH CARDS
The first 100 people to come by the Chem Ed office (6-205) or Chemistry Headquarters (18-392) beginning at 9AM on Monday, March 5 can pick up a $10 Tech Cash card with which to do something nice for another person. Submit your tech cash card sponsored Random Act of Kindness here, and enter to win a prize for a RAK well done!
TUESDAY, MARCH 6 – THANK YOU BALLOONS
Is there someone in the Department you’d like to celebrate? Beginning at 10AM while supplies last, come to Chemistry Headquarters (18-392) or the Chemistry Education Office (6-205) and pick up a balloon to add a pop of festive color to their desk area!
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7 – GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY
Take this opportunity to perform a Random Act of Kindness by providing a donation that will be given to the CASPAR Emergency Service Center at 240 Albany St., Cambridge, MA. The Emergency Center is a shelter program of Bay Cove Human Services for adults experiencing homelessness in the Cambridge area. The ESC is a 107-bed facility which serves over 1,000 unduplicated clients per year. The CASPAR ESC was built by MIT, and continues to enjoy an excellent relationship with the Institute. You can learn more about the history of MIT’s relationship with the ESC here.
Donation boxes and note-writing materials will be set up in Buildings 18 (18-478) and 6 (6-203 / Graduate Student Lounge) from 10AM – 3:30PM. Stop by and drop off a donation to help someone in need, or take a moment to write them a kind note.
Suggestions for donations include: Hats (baseball and winter), gloves and scarves, Blankets, Umbrellas, Men’s and women’s socks (unused/unopened white cotton socks with a polyester blend), Sweatpants, Pajama pants, Underwear and boxer shorts (M and F, size Medium and up), Unisex T-shirts, size Large and up, (Clean, preowned T-shirts are perfectly OK!), Flip flops, Deodorant, Feminine hygiene products, Bars of soap, Bodywash, Shampoo, Conditioner, Lotion, Facial moisturizer, Shaving razors, Unopened toothbrushes and Unopened toothpaste.
THURSDAY, MARCH 8 – SEND SOMEONE A CANDY GRAM
Is there someone in your life you’d like to thank or reach out to? Notes are sweet, but notes AND candy are impossible to top. Note writing stations will be set up in Buildings 18 (18-478) and 6 (6-203 / Graduate Student Lounge) from 10AM – 3:30PM.
FRIDAY, MARCH 9 – BRING A COFFEE BREAK TO A FRIEND
Stations of coffee and treats will be set up in Buildings 18 (18-478) and 6 (6-203 / Graduate Student Lounge) from 10AM – 12:30PM. Come by to grab a morning pick-me-up, and then bring one back to someone else!
RAK Week is also a great opportunity to submit your fellow Chemistry Department members for other recognition awards, at the School of Science and Institute levels:
SCHOOL OF SCIENCE SPOT AWARD
Spot Awards are intended to acknowledge and demonstrate appreciation and recognition for the exceptional contributions of individuals and teams, large or small. The monetary value of these awards is relatively small, but their value is immeasurable. Nominations can be made at any time and award-winners will receive a token of your appreciation soon after.
The MIT Awards Convocation honors MIT students, faculty, staff, and community members who have made outstanding contributions to the shared life of the Institute. The awards recognize many of the qualities we hold dear at MIT: excellence in academics and teaching, public service, community building, achievements in the arts and athletics, leadership, and entrepreneurship. Though the venue has been moved from Killian Court to 10-250 to the Samberg Center today, the spirit has remained the same. Nominations for the 2018 Awards Convocation are now open! The nomination deadline for most awards will be on Monday, March 19, 2018. Nominate a MIT community member today!
