Random acts of kindness that include visiting someone in a nursing home or buying a cup of coffee for a stranger are expected to take place throughout the community March 21 in honor of World Down Syndrome Day.

Bradford resident Jennifer Taylor, whose 5-year-old son, Preston has Down Syndrome, has organized the local event for the past few years. Taylor said the international event is held on the 21st of the third month as individuals with Down syndrome have three copies of the 21st chromosome.  

“Locally we are challenging the community to celebrate by not only wearing blue and yellow, but also by performing a random act of kindness for another individual, friend or complete stranger,” Taylor said. “Acts of kindness can range from writing a letter to military personnel stationed overseas, buying a cup of coffee for the person behind you in the drive-through or donating to a charity of your choice.” Other acts of kindness can include helping a neighbor with yard work or visiting a senior citizen in the nursing home.  

“So many times these little things can totally turn a person’s day around,” Taylor said. “It’s also a great way to bond our community and inspire others to spread kindness as well.”

Taylor, who conducts a Down syndrome support group in the area with her husband, Eric, said their son, Preston, and his friends with Down Syndrome inspire them with their hard work and “uplifting personalities.”

Taylor said all of the campuses with the Bradford Area School District will ask students to wear blue and yellow, if possible on March 21.

“St. Bernard Elementary Middle School has also put together a kindness tree and is encouraging 100 percent of their students to participate in the Random Acts of Kindness challenge,” she noted. “I love that this day is teaching our children not only about acceptance, but also being kind without expecting anything in return.”  

She said people in the community who have children with Down syndrome include the families of Jillian Fox and Jonah Schmidt. Their siblings responded to a few questions about their special family member.

Jessica Fox, 13, said her special sister, Jillian, 10, is fun to be around. The girls have an older brother, Justin, and stepbrothers, Logan and Dylan Walker.

Jessica said she and the other children in the family get along well with Jillian who is no different than the other kids. Jessica Fox said her favorite thing to do with her sister is to jump on the trampoline and they especially like the Sky Zone trampoline park in the Buffalo, N.Y., area.

In addition, all of the siblings think Jillian Fox is “funny, silly and smart.”

Their funniest memory was when Jillian Fox was doing the bottle flips game and “nailed it.” Her family said she did it perfectly, just like any other 10-year-old.

When asked what she tells her friends, Jessica Fox said they are used to her special sister, and if they don’t understand, she tells them, “Hey, she has Down syndrome.”

Dylan Walker said his friends also think it is cool that Jillian Fox, who is very popular in school and the community, is unique.

Evan Schmidt, 15, said he and his brother, Jonah, 13, get along “like typical brothers.

“We have our ups and downs just like any other siblings,” Evan Schmidt said. “We are always doing something together and have a lot of fun with each other.”

Evan Schmidt said his brother has a really good sense of humor and makes him laugh every day. The two brothers play basketball and video games together as well as ride four-wheelers.

“Jonah has taught me a lot,” Evan Schmidt observed. “He has taught me to be a more patient person and to be compassionate. Jonah has taught me to never give up and stay positive because he has to work so hard to accomplish a lot of what he does.

“He has taught me to appreciate what I have and what I can do such as play sports,” he continued. “Jonah has taught me more than I will ever teach him, he makes me a better person.”

Evan Schmidt said his friends completely accept his brother, support him and “have his back.

“Sometimes I think they like him more than me,” he admitted. “One thing I would like people to know about my brother is that he is more like everyone than he is different. He has the same feelings we all do and can do what everyone else can — it  just takes him a little longer and he learns a little differently.”