The city of Lewiston is declaring Wednesday Act of Kindness and Gratitude Day to mark one week since a gunman killed 18 people in their city.

City Administrator Heather Hunter released a letter to the community Tuesday urging everyone to “offer an act of kindness.” 

“It need not be a grand gesture; in fact, sometimes it’s the small acts that have the most significant impact, like help a neighbor with their trash, let someone cut in front of you in line, make someone laugh, share your umbrella, compliment a stranger, simply smile at the next person you see, or leave a sweet not on someone’s vehicle windshield,” she wrote. 

Hunter, who has worked for the city for 34 years, thanked all the first responders, dispatchers and municipal employees for their support in the last week. 

She also described the other helpers, from restaurants and bakeries that offered food, businesses that opened to help victims, hospital staff who cared for the injured and support from sister city Auburn. 

She asked those who perform an act of kindness or gratitude to share it on social media using #OneLewiston and by tagging the City of Lewiston’s official platforms. 

“This will not be a one-time event but rather an annual occasion for our community to come together and celebrate the spirit of kindness and unity,” she wrote. 

A gunman who entered a bowling alley and a bar four miles away took the lives of 18 people on Oct. 25. 

Maine State Police identified the victims as: Ronald Morin, 55; Peyton Brewer-Ross, 40; Joshua Seal, 36; Bryan MacFarlane, 41; Joseph Walker, 57; Arthur Strout, 42; Maxx Hathaway, 35; Stephen Vozzella, 45; Thomas Conrad, 34; Michael Deslauriers II, 51; Jason Walker, 51; Tricia Asselin, 53; William Young, 44, and his son Aaron Young, 14; Robert Violette, 76 and his wife Lucille Violette, 73; William Brackett, 48; Keith Macneir, 64. 

After a two-day manhunt, police found the body of suspected shooter Robert Card, 40, of Bowdoin, in a box trailer in Lisbon, dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. 

Gov. Janet Mills today said she visited the Family Assistance Center in Lewiston set up to help survivors and family members of victims. 

“I am deeply grateful for all those from across Maine and the nation who, without a moment’s hesitation, have fully dedicated themselves to caring for the families of the victims at the Family Assistance Center,” said Mills stated in a press release after the visit.