Local businesses participate in Random Acts of Kindness Week

CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) - This week, people across the Lowcountry are being challenged to do good! It's the first-ever Random Acts of Kindness Week in Charleston.

Organizers hope it reminds everyone that doing a little good can go a long way.

"We thought 'how can we create something that allows people to give back and to focus on the good?'," said  Josh Garwood, co-founder of Nobly.

Garwood and his two friends, Jason Benjamin and Jared Hellman, are hoping their fellow Charlestonians will pay it forward.
They've created the free app called Nobly. It's a platform where anyone can share a random act of kindness that they've given or received.

"This idea is that something so small, as opening a door or buying someone lunch, can extend across cultures and countries and impact so many more people," said Garwood.

With help from local businesses, the Nobly founders are taking this movement beyond their app and into the community, with Random Act of Kindness Week.

Ryan Workman, owner of Bay Street Beirgarten, says his downtown restaurant is one of several that will be surprising customers all week.

"We're going to be giving away, randomly, tickets to the Stingray's games, RiverDogs games, passes to play golf gift, certificates to other restaurants around town," said Workman.

Their hope is simple: those who receive will do something nice for someone else, creating a domino effect of kindness around Charleston.

"We're hoping that we can create a movement, a chain of good deeds that can extend beyond this week," said Garwood.

If you do a random act of kindness, make sure to share it with your friends and family. Use the hashtag #ChsRAKWeek.

Participating businesses include Bay Street Beirgarten, Charleston Riverdogs, South Carolina Stingrays, Woodhouse Spa, South Carolina Aquarium, Charleston Wine + Food Festival, North Charleston Coliseum, Elysium Salon, The Links At Stono Ferry, King Street Marketing Group, Tavern & Table, The Alley and The Becket Agency.

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