Two boys are on a mission to spread kindness after nine people were shot and killed in Dayton, Ohio, last weekend in the city's popular Oregon District.
“There were nine people killed in our city and we’re spreading good things around to different people representing the nine people killed,” said 10-year-old Jayvaun Butler. “We feel like everybody can be kind if they just choose to be kind.”
The mission? The #DaytonChallenge. Nine days of random acts of kindness, a day for each of the nine victims killed in the Dayton shooting.
“We feel like it’s the right thing to do,” Butler said. “No matter what age you are, you can do anything.”
Butler and his friend Mason Moore, 9, said they were inspired by another boy in El Paso, Texas, who created a similar challenge following the mass shooting there.
“We were inspired by Ruben Martinez, who was doing the El Paso Challenge for the 22 people killed,” Moore said.
“We were wanting to do a Dayton Challenge for the nine people who were killed in the Oregon District,” he said.
THE #DAYTONCHALLENGE:
Day 1: Pay forward to one person in line in the drive thru.
Day 2: Give two people a hug.
Day 3: Write and send three anonymous praise letters
Day 4: Open the door for four people
Day 5: Give five high fives
Day 6: Introduce yourself to six new people
Day 7: Give seven items to a local food bank
Day 8: Give out eight genuine compliments
Day 9: Tell nine people how much you love them
Since the shooting Sunday morning the boys said they've discussed the news with their mothers.
They hope others are inspired to join the #DaytonChallenge too, lifting the spirits of fellow Daytonians one day at a time.
"It's gonna get better," Butler said.
