Did a stranger lend a helping hand when you were stranded on the side of the road or surprise you by paying for your coffee or dinner? We want to hear about it! The City of Arlington is launching a new initiative aimed at promoting and showcasing kindness in our community.

The recently formed Community Relations Commission was tasked by Mayor Jeff Williams and the Arlington City Council to develop a way to draw attention to people doing good deeds here. As part of the new "Experience the Kindness of Our Dream City" campaign that launched today, residents and visitors are encouraged to report random acts of kindness through the City's free mobile app, Ask Arlington.

The City of Arlington's kindness initiative aspires to spread awareness about the importance of kindness around the community by getting residents to think of ways to be kinder and to help others. That effort could be as simple as opening the door for someone or mowing the yard of an elderly neighbor.

Click here to report an act of kindness through the City's website.

The Commission, a 15-member group of residents appointed by the City Council earlier this spring, will work to spread awareness of the City's core values of compassion and kindness by promoting amicable relations and fostering understanding between different cultures and communities.

"I love this city because its diversity is apparent everywhere I go," said Devan Allen, who serves as Commission chair. "While our differences should be celebrated, the kindness initiative will give lifelong residents and those new to the city, as well as those just visiting, a great opportunity to participate in a meaningful and unique sameness - working together to give and receive kindness."

Members hope to raise awareness by promoting activities and programs available to residents, including numerous volunteer opportunities Arlington departments offer throughout the year. The Commission also looks forward to future collaborations with local school districts and colleges, city departments, and other community stakeholders.

Today, Williams challenged residents to report 400,000 acts of kindness over the next year. The initiative is a way to promote unity within the city, and the Ask Arlington app is an easy way to log and celebrate those deeds, he said.

"The initiative - and the mobile app - is a way to put helping your neighbor and being kind at the top of everyone's mind," Williams said. "It's also an opportunity for us to take our can-do spirit to a higher level."

The app allows users, who can remain anonymous, to upload photos and videos to provide more information about the act of kindness.

"We want to capture all of those acts of kindness so that they can be shared with others and hopefully inspire more and more people to do the same," Marketing Communications Manager Jay Warren said.

The Ask Arlington app can be downloaded from the Apple or Android app stores. Once downloaded, open the app. Then tap on the "Submit a Request" button to report an act of kindness.

PSA: Using the Ask Arlington App