ITHACA, N.Y. (WENY) -- "Be kind” is a simplistic, positive phrase that can be spotted anywhere in the area, especially Tompkins County, if you look hard enough. Ithaca resident Darrell Harrington is known as “Mr. Kindness” to many. He talked about why he wanted to spread kindness from local to national heights. 

“If you take 10 people and one of them is negative or mean, the other nine are very nice or kind...and that's one thing I saw," he said. “For me I was like, 'Oh my god, I'm meeting all of these phenomenal people over me making a sign.’” 

During the early days of the pandemic, Harrington wanted to do something to make people smile in the neighborhood. He used some of his scrap wood to make a six-feet-high, four-feet-wide red heart with the words "Be kind" painted in the middle. 

 

"When I first made it...it was just, if someone drives by my house and sees it and smiles, that's worth it,” he said. “That was the whole reason why I did it.” 

The kindness hearts began to spread like wildfire as soon as they started showing up in people's yards and on the back of cars. Harrington said the talk in community, with the help of social media, helped the hearts spread nationally.  

“Obviously, you know...Ithaca is a melting pot and a lot of people come through here,” he said. “I've had people from Texas to Florida to Atlanta...we just sent one to Vegas...I mean pretty much there's one in every state now. “ 

 

Harrington said his "Be kind" efforts raise money for charities and non-profits. He also loves to give back to the community in small ways, especially when someone looks like they could use a heartfelt boost. 

“There was a point where someone we knew went through a tough time so we just drove out to the house, pounded a heart into her yard and left a bunch of swag,” he said. 

Has Mr. Kindness always been kind? Harrington said it something he was taught at a young age. 

“I think I've always treated people well,” he said. “My grandparents and my parents taught me that...but, we're all human...we all make mistakes.” 

Harrington said he will keep spreading his kindness with those big hearts as long as he can.