The Kindness Bus rolled into Newtown on Monday, June 27, and could be spotted in the Caraluzzi's parking lot and Sandy Hook Center.

Many residents pulled over to take photos of the bus that is decorated from bumper to bumper with quotes about kindness. All the phrases have been handwritten in vivid paint that attracts the eye from a distance.

Some inspiring lines across the bus include "Be aware. Be connected. Be Kind," "Peace is possible," "Be the light of love," "Spread kindness to everyone, every chance you get," and "You have the power to positively affect millions of people… please don't wait another moment."

One Million Acts of Kindness Founder Bob Votruba, 62, drives the multicolored bus all across the country from Cleveland, Ohio, to inspire people to do acts of kindness. He sometimes brings his Boston terrier, Bogart, with him on trips, too.

He started his "kindness mission" back in April 2007 after the Virginia Tech shooting. Three days after the tragedy, Mr Votruba drove seven hours from Cleveland to Blacksburg, Va., and said he was profoundly moved by what he saw when he arrived.

"It was on my visit to the campus, during those four days, that I witnessed tens of thousands of people go through the memorial on the drill field. Parents, brothers, sisters, friends, classmates with their hearts torn from a loved one taken from them - and in many cases many loved ones," Mr Votruba said.

As a father of three children who were in college in Colorado at the time, he felt compelled to do something to make a positive difference and to give his life fully to a charity.

On his drive home from Virginia Tech, Mr Votruba got to thinking about what he could to do make an impact.

"What came through me was kindness, but with a twist; to have kindness as a goal in one's life and that's what One Million Acts of Kindness is. It is a pledge with one's self to say: I'm going to try to be kind during every situation, during every day."

Mr Votruba now visits schools, college campuses, businesses, rotaries, church groups and anyone who is interested in the mission of One Million Acts of Kindness.

He addresses a number of topics such as bullying, adolescent suicide, domestic violence, and childhood sexual abuse.

"I never knew how much [these issues] existed before I started traveling the country… There is such a wish and want for kindness in one's life."

He said his favorite audiences to speak with are parents and children because he likes to be able to connect them to have a dialogue about kindness.

"What I do is encourage parents and children to walk around the bus and pick out a quote of kindness to embrace as a family," Mr Votruba said. "Maybe take a picture of a quote and frame it."

On this trek, he has already spent two days in Easton and the two days prior to that in Darien. During his time in Newtown, he planned to connect with a few moms with children in the school district who contacted him to come to town.

After a few days visiting Newtown, he plans to spend four weeks in the Hamptons riding his bike for eight to ten hours a day. He cycles as a way to further spread awareness about issues children are facing. His bike is adorned with signs that say "Riding 26,000 miles for children" and "Stop the bullying of children."

The bus, as well as his bike riding, is meant to make a positive statement, one that is meant to inspire.

He said One Million Acts of Kindness "was born out of a tragedy, but we can make good from good and we can make good from negative. It's just deciding as an individual going forward, who you want to be and what you want to give to this world.

"There are really so many opportunities to connect with kindness all day long."

To learn more about One Million Acts of Kindness, visit www.onemillionactsofkindness.com.