📚 Kindness Is Always Worth Making Time For

Nikki Duhamel’s RAK Story.

Meet one of FM Talent's true RAK Champions.

One of the most rewarding parts of FM Talent's Random Acts of Kindness initiative is watching kindness become more than a one-time event.

Sometimes...

It becomes a tradition.

And for Nikki Duhamel, it has become a way of life.

This year marks Nikki's third consecutive year participating in FM Talent's Random Acts of Kindness campaign—a milestone that has officially earned her the title of one of our very own RAK Champions.

But what makes this year's story especially inspiring isn't just what Nikki did.

It's when she did it.

As many parents know, planning your child's wedding can quickly become a full-time job. Between schedules, vendors, family gatherings, and countless last-minute details, most people would have every reason to say, "I'll catch up later."

Nikki chose something different.

Right in the middle of preparing for her oldest daughter's wedding, she intentionally carved out time to make a difference in someone else's life.

That decision speaks volumes.

A Hidden Treasure in Newark

While exploring downtown Newark, Ohio, Nikki discovered a place unlike any other.

Kicks and Mix isn't just a bookstore.

It's a gathering place...

A creative space...

A labor of love.

Owner Dianna Spain has dedicated herself to building something truly special for her community. Often working seven days a week, while also embracing the joys of being a grandmother, Dianna hosts book clubs for adults and children alike and creates beautiful artwork from recycled books that fills the store with warmth and imagination.

Like many independent businesses, however, Kicks and Mix has faced significant challenges since the COVID era.

Without the ability to hire additional employees, the bookstore now depends heavily on volunteers to help keep the shelves full and the doors open.

When Nikki learned their story, she knew exactly where her Random Act of Kindness belonged.

More Than a Donation

Using FM Talent's RAK gift, Nikki made a donation to support the bookstore.

Then...

She rolled up her sleeves.

Alongside her daughter Aurora, Nikki spent the day volunteering—sorting incoming books, carrying boxes, organizing shelves, and helping prepare thousands of books for future readers.

Their time together wasn't just about giving back.

It was about creating memories.

This has become a family tradition they both look forward to every year.

And perhaps that's one of the greatest gifts of all.

The Legacy of Kindness

One day, Aurora will likely remember these moments far more than she remembers what was on the wedding planning checklist.

She'll remember spending time alongside her mother.

She'll remember helping strangers.

She'll remember that kindness isn't something you fit into your schedule...

It's something you build into your life.

That's the kind of legacy that lasts.

Celebrating a RAK Champion

At FM Talent, we often say that small acts create lasting ripples.

Nikki's story reminds us that those ripples become even stronger when kindness becomes a habit—and when it inspires the next generation to serve alongside us.

To Nikki:

Thank you for reminding all of us that even during life's busiest seasons, there is always time to make someone else's day a little brighter.

Congratulations on becoming one of FM Talent's RAK Champions. Your commitment to serving others continues to inspire all of us.

We'd Love to Hear Your Story

Every Random Act of Kindness has the power to inspire another.

Share your story with us at:

📧 FMTalentCorporateOffice@fmtalent.com

Then visit our RAK 2025 Blog to discover more incredible stories of kindness from across the FM Talent family.

Together, we're proving that kindness isn't just something we do.

It's who we are.