In order to spread kindness in the community, the Victoria Foundation is encouraging people to participate in Random Acts of Kindness Day.
Marked on Feb. 17, the day is a way to encourage people to do something nice for someone with no expectation of it being reciprocated.
“Kindness has the power to pick us up in difficult times,” says Sandra Richardson, CEO of the Victoria Foundation. “Random Acts of Kindness Day illustrates how one act of kindness can create a ripple effect of positivity throughout our community.”
The day was first established in New Zealand in 2004, and the Victoria Foundation has been recognizing the day since 2015.
The Victoria Foundation says there are ways for both kids and adults to participate, and provide the following ideas:
For kids:
- Help with chores around the house.
- Return someone’s cart at the grocery store.
- Leave a kind letter in a library book.
- Help build a bird feeder.
- Leave happy notes around town.
For adults:
- Hold the door open for someone.
- Raise or donate money to a local charity.
- Phone a friend or relative you haven’t talked to in a while.
- Leave a 5-star review for your favourite local business.
Matthew Williams, communications and media relations specialist with the Victoria Foundation, says earlier in the day the Victoria Foundation was handing out daffodils at the James Bay library branch to help spread kindness.
“Random Acts of Kindness Day is important to remind us about kindness in our community, and not just to encourage us to take those little actions of kindness that can spread throughout the community, but to remind us that they’re there every day, throughout the year,” Williams said.
“We could all use a little bit of kindness to remind us that it’s there in the community, and we may not see it every day but those little acts that we do have a big impact.”
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Laura Brougham
