By Johnny Jackson

jjackson@henryherald.com

Local schools, businesses and nonprofit organizations are, this week, spreading the message that “kindness works.”

The “Kindness Works — Pass It On” campaign is under way in Henry County during the internationally recognized World Kindness Week, Nov. 9-15.

The campaign was the brainchild of Kit and A.J. “Buddy” Welch. The couple created the campaign in 2004, just months after they lost their 12-year-old son, Hunter, to Prader-Willi syndrome, a complex genetic disorder that causes cognitive and physical disabilities.

“We stressed kindness in our home,” said Kit Welch. “He was always good about thinking of others and just enjoyed helping people the best he could. He loved children. We read a devotional every day before school about kindness.”

Kit Welch said she was inspired by the kindness people demonstrated to her family after Hunter’s death.

“After all this happened, every one was so kind to us,” she said. “It just overflowed, and I wanted to that feeling for everyone.”

She said she found out later that the global observance of World Kindness Week was the week following Hunter’s birthday. Hunter was born on Nov. 5, 1991, and would have been 18 years old this year, she said.

Kit Welch said since embarking on the grassroots effort to spread kindness, dozens of community organizations have joined a growing list of advocates for the “Kindness Works” message. She said area schools and Boy Scout troops, in particular, have been increasingly involved.

“[Children] seem to be falling in love with