In response to the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, people are committing random acts of kindness in honor of the shooting victims.
It started with a Tweet from Ann Curry, of NBC News: “Imagine if all of us committed to 20 acts of kindness to honor each child lost in Newtown. I'm in. If you are RT. #20Acts.”
The impact is being felt in a community that is mourning.
A resident of Arizona called Carminuccios Pizza, on South Main Street in Newtown, and bought 1,000 slices of pizza over the phone to be donated to anyone who went into the restaurant.
Whether the person made the donation because of the movement or just wanted to help is not known, and it is just one example of many in which people have reached out to Newtown and made similar donations to try to help ease the pain in some small way.
The Wishing Well ift Shop, on Church Hill Road, posted words of thanks on Facebook after a woman bought several items.
"I don't know who this stuff is for, but I know that all of this is really hurting your business, so I just wanted to help you out," she said, according to the post.
Curry wrote about the movement on NBCNews.com and said tens of thousands of people responded on Facebook and Twitter. The pledge has since increased to 26 acts to also include the six adult women who were killed inside the school on Friday.
The response has been global, including in Connecticut, where residents from each corner of the state are in mourning.
Schaghticoke Middle School in New Milford put out the call on Twitter.
Some are committing to do 26 random acts of kindness by the end of Dec. in honor of Newtown victims. Will You?#26Acts#26ActsofKindness
— Schaghticoke MS(@SMS_CT) December 18, 2012
It is also taking off at New Milford High School.
NMHS students came up big today! I had numerous requests for Newtown fundraisers all day long- in halls, over email, at lunch, etc. #26acts
— Dr. Chris Longo (@DrChrisLongo) December 18, 2012
A man in Ontario placed a call to a Newtown restaurant and paid for meals, according to one Tweet.
Friends had their meal paid for at a Newtown restaurant by a man who called from Ontario @nbcnews @anncurry #26Acts
— Gina McDade (@McDGG) December 18, 2012
One woman decided to buy a cup of tea for the police officer behind her in line at the drive-through in Danbury.
Just bought a cup of tea for the #Danbury cop behind me at @dunkindonuts drive thru#26acts #thankyoufirstresponders
— Anne Cox (@anne246) December 18, 2012
Some have tweeted that they are sending cards to soldiers, in memory of the young victims. Others are making donations to help children overseas.
While there are many public pledges, others are no doubt being done privately and quietly by people who just have the desire to bring a smile to someone's face after so much sadness.
Photo Credit: AFP/Getty Images