09/07/2026
On Friday, we boarded the The Belle of Belgrade and traveled through the towns and places that meant so much to our mom, Ann. Along the way, we tried to spread a little bit of the kindness she gave so freely throughout her life.
Our first stop was River Run Pet Retreat to Paws for Kindness. The owner, Jen (or “Jenni,” as Mom would call her), embodies so much of what Mom stood for. She cares deeply about the people and pets around her and is always willing to open her home to those who need a safe place to land. It felt like the perfect place to begin our day.
Next, we stopped at the Pittston Town Office — Where Kindness Worked. Ann spent 25 years as Town Clerk here. She remembered every familiar face and cared about the people who walked through those doors. We brought flowers for the town clerk Val and paid in advance for 10 dog tags. Mom was always reminding people to register their dogs, and she would even go the extra mile to call them if they hadn’t done it yet. It was just one of the many little ways she looked out for people.
Right next door, we visited the Randolph Fire Station, bringing homemade cookies made special by Lorraine Hart, buckets of candy, and lottery tickets as a small thank-you for the men and women who serve and protect the town.
Then we headed to Randolph Poly Clean to Lighten Someone’s Load. We dropped off rolls of quarters, detergent, and dryer sheets, hoping to make people’s day just a little easier.
From there, we headed to the beloved Goggins IGA — one of Mom’s favorite places to shop, especially on Tuesdays, she always appreciated the senior discount. We paid for people’s groceries, handed out gift cards to employees, and shared homemade cookies with customers, the pharmacy, and the bank. Goggins generously donated gift cards, which Lynn, Lance, Laurel, Larry, Anna, and AJ each used to surprise someone in the store with a little unexpected kindness.
Ann loved supporting local businesses, and she also loved a good lobster roll, so it was only fitting that we stop at Rolls on the River. We brought flowers for co-owners Claire and Tracy and paid for lunches for the next couple customers. Rolls on the River generously donated a meal for someone else as well, helping us continue spreading the kindness that Ann was known for.
Our family made sure to sing all of Ann & Larry’s favorite songs between each stop. We miss them both so much.
And, of course, no Ann Chadwick kindness tour would be complete without ice cream.
Our final stop was the Ice Cream Shoppe — but the kindness certainly didn’t end there.
We all enjoyed ice cream, sang Happy Birthday to Ann, and made sure that everyone who happened to be there while we visited was treated to ice cream, too. It was the sweetest way to end a day that was all about her.
A huge thank-you to Lyndee and the Belle of Belgrade Bus for helping us bring this idea to life. We are so grateful that you helped us create a day we will never forget.
And to every single person who donated, supported us, or helped make these acts of kindness possible — thank you will never be enough. Because of you, we were able to make so many people smile, brighten someone’s day, and carry Mom’s kindness into the communities she loved so much.
And to everyone who chose to spread kindness on Friday, whether you were with us or somewhere else: thank you. ❤️
There truly was no better way to honor our mom.
Same time next year? Mark your calendars for September 4, 2027. Until then, be like Ann.
