It pays to be kind.

On New Year’s Day, Iowa State Savings Bank (ISSB) launched the “Make Things Better” campaign. The purpose of the campaign was to inspire acts of kindness within the communities they serve. For each act of kindness reported, ISSB pledged $10 – not to exceed $5,000 – to be donated toward area food banks.

“We set the goal at 500 acts of kindness, but we received 1,250 acts of kindness, which is amazing. Absolutely amazing,” said Hannah West, ISSB marketing officer.

Because of the community response, bank administrators were inspired to increase their contribution by $1,000.

Between Jan. 1 and Feb. 15, West said ISSB heard of stories ranging from children making Valentine’s Day and “get well” cards for friends and family to neighbors helping neighbors by shoveling snow or bringing elderly neighbors food.

“I think the best part is how inspiring it is and how kindness really is contagious,” said West. “It’s fun to hear positive stories, instead of negativity that is floating around on social media or out in the public.”

West said there were a number of reported acts of kindness that stood out to her. Some of the stories shared include:

• an individual drove to Creston to purchase gas, and donated an additional $10 for more gas, for a family who ran out of gas on Highway 34.

• a family took in another after their home was lost in a fire.

• a student asked his mother to take money out of his bank account to donate toward a child currently in the hospital.

• a man’s billfold was found and returned to his front door.

“Part of our mission statement is to make things better,” said West. “I feel like we’ve really helped push that forward by encouraging people to spread the kindness and pay it forward. If someone is kind to you, it makes you want to spread that kindness to someone else.”

West said the money raised through the campaign, $6,000, is being distributed to six different food pantries in southwest Iowa – Creston Area Food Pantry, MATURA in Creston, Corning and Mount Ayr, and to food pantries in Diagonal and at the Lenox Neighborhood Center.

“We’d just like to thank the community for their overwhelmingly positive response,” said West. “If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t have had this kind of success. We really appreciate the community for stepping up and providing all of these acts of kindness.”