Community Kindness Event benefits United Way

Fitness is a good cause in its own right, but VIBES had community members flexing their muscles for something bigger.

The fitness studio held its fifth annual Community Kindness Event Sunday, raising money in support of United Way of Steele County (UWSC).

VIBES co-owners Katie Berg and Stephanie Hanson took turns leading exercises on the front lawn, guiding the class through a workout, yoga routine and meditation.

Berg said the event encourages people to socialize and make new connections. While they do aim to boost participants' wellbeing, she said the main focus is on making a difference in the community.

"They’re getting that fitness in. They’re getting a little work out in. They’re getting mindfulness in, but the biggest piece for us is the community piece of it," said Berg.

Every year, VIBES puts out a questionnaire at its studio and online, asking community members to pick which local organization will receive the proceeds from the event. This year, they raised $780 for UWSC.

To further their mission, they've brought other businesses into the event. Hy-Vee donated water and snacks for the class, Steele Threads provided matching T-shirts and participants also received a gift to take home courtesy Souba Greenhouse and There's No Place Like Home daycare.

Daycare provider Lisa Korbel led her kids, dubbed the "Kindness Crew," in decorating planters for each participant, which were topped with flowers from Souba.

Berg said this is the first year they've involved There's No Place Like Home in the event, and they hope to keep adding new community partners each year.

UWSC Donor Development Coordinator Kellen Hinrichsen said his organization was "very honored to be chosen" as the beneficiary.

"Being there outside and seeing all these people set up and taking part in this specifically to help the community is a wonderful thing," said Hinrichsen. It was a very good feeling. It very much brightened my Sunday.

Hinrichsen said he was excited to establish a new partnership with VIBES. He also highlighted how the event's spirit of partnership ties into UWSC's mission.

"That is really at the core of what we do in many different ways, not just with organizations, but with businesses, with people. We want to have that partnership that can be longstanding. We don’t believe that any one person, organization, whatever, can solve all of the problems in the community, but if people come together, then we can work as a team — we can work as a family — to fix the problems and to make the area a better place for everybody to live," said Hinrichsen.