Man uses bus to spread kindness throughout country

NAPLES, Fla. A man is on a mission to spread kindness through messages painted on a bus he drives around the country.

Bob Vortuba leaves Naples on Friday for a 10,000-mile journey to raise awareness about children with disabilities, among others.

“Sometimes it just takes a smile. Sometimes it just takes a few words,” Vortuba said.

The 2007 Virginia Tech massacre prompted Vortuba to start the effort he calls “One Million Acts of Kindness.” Over 450 people have written heartfelt messages on the bus.

This year’s tour, which will bring him back to Naples on Dec. 10, will be his eighth. He plans stops at schools, businesses, churches and other places he believes he can have an impact.

Each tour raises awareness for a different cause, but Vortuba’s overarching goal is to promote kindness.

“It’s looking for opportunities all day long to be kind and to think kind thoughts for others,” he said. “I think we’ve gotten away from that much too much in our country and much too much in this world.”