Nicki Simpkins found a unique way to celebrate her 30th birthday. Instead of receiving presents, she gave them — 30 of them. For the 30 days leading to her birthday on Jan. 27, Simpkins, a Benton resident, performed one random act of kindness each day. The gestures varied from ordering a pizza for family friends who were moving, to hiding $1 bills in the toy department of a local store for children to find, to buying diapers for the Pregnancy Resource Center in Benton.
She encouraged family and friends to join in, and thanks to Facebook and a feature on THV 11, some strangers became inspired by the mission. The 30 days made Simpkins, who is assistant controller at Pinnacle Pointe Hospital, as happy as the countless others she touched, and she has pledged to continue to make an effort to brighten others’ days.
“It’s an amazing feeling,” says Simpkins, a Blytheville native and University of Central Arkansas alumna. “When you do something nice for people, it comes back to you tenfold. You’re supposed to help others in need. God is telling me to help those in need.”
Q: Why did you decide to celebrate your birthday this way?
A: Well, I originally wanted to do 30 things for myself, like enter a 5K race, because, at the time, I wasn’t into fitness. I wanted to do some things I hadn’t done before. But then my husband, Jared’s, grandpa died and everything that was said at the funeral was about how good of a person he was. I started thinking about what people would say about me when I pass. I wanted people to remember the things I had done for other people and not [for] myself. I had done some random acts of kindness and recorded it on my blog, when I had one, so I decided to do that.
Q: What did your family think when you told them you didn’t want gifts?
A: My parents were really proud of me and relieved they didn’t have to buy anything for me for my birthday. I think they were just really happy, but I don’t think they thought I would follow through with it. Being on Facebook held me accountable. Facebook helped a lot.
Q: What were some of the reactions you got from your random acts?
A: My favorite was when I [left] money and a note at the car wash. The guy who found it knew it was me because I was washing my car in another bay. He was hanging out of his truck window waving at me. He was really, really grateful. That was cool because I left lottery tickets at a gas pump, but I don’t know who got those or if they blew away. It made me feel good to see the guy’s reaction because he was super excited. I also made my brother-in-law a picture of his cat, wife and daughter so he isn’t as homesick when he is away from home in Little Rock for a 10-week training. That way, his family is always with him. He really appreciated that.
Q: How did the piece on THV come about?
A: A girl I went to high school with actually contacted [THV]. I guess it touched her, so she let them know. I was sitting in church one Sunday and got a text from her. I was trying to be good, so all I could see was, “I hope you aren’t mad, but … .” She had given [THV] my contact information so they could reach me. She thought I might be mad. I wasn’t at all. If I could help inspire someone to do something nice for somebody else, I was all for it.
Q: What kind of reaction did you get after the segment ran?
A: A couple of strangers followed me on Instagram because of it. THV put the story on their Facebook page, and there were a lot of people who said sweet things. There were also some people who said some negative stuff — that I was only out to glorify myself. They said some things maybe not knowing there was someone else on the other end who might be hurt by it, but you take the good with the bad.
Q: How many random acts have you done since your birthday?
A: The other day, I took dinner to a family who had the flu. It’s the little stuff. I wouldn’t really classify that as a random act of kindness. It doesn’t have to be a huge thing. I’d say two or three.
Q: You are a member of a few volunteer organizations in Saline County. Why did you choose to be active in those organizations?
A: I got involved with Habitat for Humanity because of what they stand for — an aspect of the American dream. Owning your own home is such a tradition and source of pride and feeling of accomplishment, and for an organization like Habitat to help make those dreams come true is just amazing. I don’t work on the builds, because that would not be good for anyone involved due to my lack of coordination. But I help with fundraisers when I can, whether it’s baking cupcakes to sell for Mother’s Day, donating an item to an event or rounding up art items for their annual Home is Where the HeArt Is event. I became involved with Junior Auxiliary of Saline County because I knew some friends who were in it, and they really seemed to be connected to the community, especially with JA’s mission for helping children. And I was not disappointed at all. I met some of the kindest, most giving and selfless women and was lucky enough to connect with them and become friends with them.
Q: Is it difficult to juggle those commitments with your family and work obligations?
A: When I got pregnant, I had to slow down. I was doing something every day. I didn’t want to sacrifice time with my husband and son. Our family also lives far away, so we have to have some time to travel to see them. I am starting to get more involved now. I want to set a good example for my son.
Q: What other hobbies or interests do you have?
A: I love to make cupcakes. We like to go out to the movies, out to dinner, and I love the Razorbacks.
Q: Did you grow up doing a lot of volunteering? Were your parents influences in that area?
A: My parents are incredible, and the most supportive parents a girl could ask for in her life. My dad is one of the kindest and friendliest people you will ever meet; he never meets a stranger. I grew up watching him help whoever needed it and always having a kind word and positive attitude for everyone he met. In high school, I was involved with the Arkansas Scholars program and part of the requirements for the program were service hours as well as academic criteria. So in the summer, I would help a friend’s mom deliver food with the local food shelter to the elderly, give swimming lessons at the local park and other activities. It gave me such a rush of joy and a feeling of purpose that it was definitely something I wanted to continue doing.
Q: How are you going to celebrate your 31st birthday?
A: I’ve thought about that. I thought about doing the random acts of kindness again and updating Facebook, but it may be played out. Maybe I will just do it on my own and not make such a big production. Maybe I’ll try to do something big. Right now, I’m focused on 30 and pretending I’m in my 20s.
Q: You grew up with your husband and went to college with him. What has that been like?
A: Having known Jared all these years and being together since we were teenagers has been awesome. I can reference a certain place, event or person from back home and he knows exactly what, or who, I’m talking about. Attending [the University of Central Arkansas] together was great. We were both business majors (him in management and me in finance), so we took a lot of our core business classes together. He still talks about how I saved him from horrible grades in accounting and statistics. I think what has kept us together and happy all of these years is that we’ve grown up together and grown in the same direction. We have the same dreams, goals and aspirations for our family. It’s awesome to have a spouse who has been by your side through all of your big life accomplishments and has been your biggest cheerleader the entire time.
Q: What was it like growing up in Blytheville?
A: I loved growing up in northeast Arkansas, specifically Blytheville. It is a diverse mix of people, a land of farms and hard-working families and still gives you that warm feeling of a place that isn’t consumed with the materialistic aspects of life, but the simple and important aspects of family, friends and love. There was actually a time late last summer that we were seriously considering moving back that way, but felt that God was telling us that it wasn’t the right time right then. But I think someday that’s still a possiblity, to be closer to family.
Q: What do you like most about living in Saline County?
A: I like being close to the hustle and bustle of [Little Rock] but not being thrown into it 100 percent of the time. Having grown up in a small town, I know the feeling you get when everybody knows everybody else and is willing to help out when there is a time of need. And living pretty much in between the restaurants and shopping of Little Rock and the horse races in Hot Springs is a pretty sweet gig.