It started with a simple question posted on a social media site: “What if we could honor the 26 lives lost in Newtown with good deeds?”

Many people around the country are now performing random acts of kindness in the wake of the recent school shooting in Newtown, Conn.

The #26acts movement was sparked by a Twitter post from NBC News personality Ann Curry, and it has since turned into an outpouring from those wanting to make a positive difference in the world out of such tragedy.

The effort has even caught on right here in Monroe County.

Danielle Renow called the Republic-Times newspaper last week to report one such random act of kindness experienced on Christmas Eve.

Renow said that around 5:45 p.m. that evening, she made a last-minute shopping stop at Market Place in Columbia. She was almost to her car in the parking lot when a red car pulled up in the spot in front of hers and a young girl and boy got out.

“They approached me with a jar in hand and I just assumed they were taking last-minute donations,” Renow explained.  “I was trying to get my wallet out of my purse and the girl said, ‘No! We want to give this to you!’  My reply was ‘Pardon me? You want me to have it?’  She said, ‘Yes!  It’s a random act of kindness!'”

With that, the youngsters handed Renow the jar, wished  her a Merry Christmas and left.

There was $50 in the festively decorated jar, and a note was attached that read: “Merry Christmas!!! This is a random act of kindness from a local 12-year-old girl. Enjoy and have a wonderful New Year! Be kind to others.”

The good deed certainly wasn’t lost on Renow.

“I will definitely be paying it forward,” she said. “That little girl showed me that there are good people left in this world.”

Those interested in more random acts of kindness can search under the hashtag “26acts” on the social media websites Twitter or Facebook.