From activist to author: Ruby Kate Chitsey's book-signing event focuses on changing lives through kindness

By Addie Jones, Media Intern - Harrison Regional Chamber of Commerce

Local non-profit founder and teen humanitarian looks forward to book-signing upon the release of “Kindness Is My Hobby: How to Change the World Right Where You Are.”   

Ruby Kate Chitsey, a sophomore at Valley Springs High School, is the founder of Three Wishes for Ruby’s Residents, a flagship program dedicated to uplifting seniors and providing nursing home residents with small gifts. Since its inception and garnering nationwide attention, the organization has fulfilled over 40,000 wishes. 

Chitsey’s journey began around six years ago after making frequent nursing home visits with her mom. After witnessing the unmet needs of elderly residents, many of whom only have $40 to live on each month, “Three Wishes” was born. Chitsey, along with her Board of Directors and “Kid Board,” work tirelessly to bring joy and happiness to the lives of seniors.  

Part of the inspiration for this non-profit came from the bullying Chitsey faced when she was younger. “Three Wishes” was a way for Chitsey to transform her struggles into kindness. 

“I was bullied at a really young age,” Chitsey said. “I think that’s really what inspired me to inspire others with kindness. I was able to take something where I was really sad, and I went into a nursing home and made people’s lives better and it made me really happy.”

Having already changed thousands of lives, Chitsey is taking her mission one step further with her new book, which is both a documentation of Chitsey’s activist journey and a guide for others looking to make a difference. In the book, she shares her experiences and provides practical advice on how to get involved with volunteer work.  

“People ask me all the time, ‘Ruby, how can I get into volunteering? How do you do what you do?’” Chitsey said. “Writing this book was almost an explanation of how you can do everything that I do and help all the people that I help.”

To celebrate its release, Chitsey will be hosting a book-signing event on June 13th at 4:00 p.m. at the Boone County Library. This event promises to be an evening filled with inspiration and community as the signing brings together like-minded individuals, including youth looking for ways to spread kindness. 

For more information on “Three Wishes for Ruby’s Residents,” Chitsey and her future plans, please visit 3wishesproject.org.