EPHRATA — A Moses Lake resident’s hard work and persistence have convinced the state of Washington, Grant County and soon possibly Moses Lake and other towns to declare a kindness day and week.

Elisia Dalluge sat down with Grant County commissioners on Tuesday to secure their signature for a proclamation naming the week of Feb. 16-23 as Kindness Week and Feb. 17 as Kindness Day.

The county’s action mirrors a statewide community proclamation signed by Gov. Jay Inslee in January, Jan. 24 to be exact, which Dalluge notes was her birthday.

Dalluge hopes that the proclamation will encourage a concerted period of both random and planned acts of kindness among community members, which she said could help combat societal issues regarding suicide, mental health and bullying.

The proclamation states that “every person … is capable of making a positive difference in the world by expressing kindness towards others in a number of ways, and through acts of kindness, we can promote healthy behaviors and positive dynamics throughout our community.”

Moses Lake’s city council will be considering an identical proclamation at the next council meeting, scheduled for Feb. 10, and Dalluge said she hopes that other cities and organizations in the county will follow suit.