T-L Photo/ ROBERT A. DEFRANK
The Ohio Valley Mall is celebrating kindness this month and encouraging the public to think of each other and exercise kindness.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — The Ohio Valley Mall is celebrating kindness this month with reminders for the public to think and act well for each other.

“We are asking our shoppers to come and sign the ‘kindness pledge’ at Center Court. It’s to plant the seeds of kindness,” Spokeswoman Candi Noble-Greathouse said.

She said the mall is also holding scavenger hunts of a sort, for tokens of kindness.

“Walk around the mall and you might find a rock that’s hash tagged #kindnessrocks and when you find a rock, you can take it to customer service and redeem it for a prize.”

In addition, the mall also has a “kindness squad” that might observe shoppers who perform a good deed.

“They will give you a voucher, and you can get a prize as well,” she said.

She said the Ohio Valley Mall hosts such programs every year.

“This is the first time we’ve done kindness rocks. We’ve done anti-bullying. October is anti-bullying month. We’ve chosen to be kind,” she said.

The mall’s mascot is Blue the Pumpkin and is featured in displays, as well as a design on one of the rocks.

“He’s blue and his stem’s a little broken, and he doesn’t look like a regular pumpkin. We’re encouraging diversity and acceptance,” she said. “For everybody to embrace everybody’s differences.”

Sponsors include Belmont County Tourism, Trinity Health System, and the sheriff’s office.

“It’s a program that the mall kicked off,” Belmont County Tourism Director Barb Ballint said. “Reaching out to the youth and the community. Just letting them know to be aware of kindness.”

More information can be found at the mall’s social media platforms and ohiovalleymall.net

The last week of the month will include a food drive. Canned goods can be donated at the mall customer service office, the county tourism office or Tilt Studio. Those who donate will receive a free treat bag. There will be 100 given away. The food will be donated to the United Way of Upper Ohio Valley.