Spreading Christmas cheer
Summerside teen hides cards with messages of kindness and support around the city
With her absolute love for Christmas, it’s hard for Katie Stordy not to share the spirit of the season.
Three years ago Stordy began hiding Christmas cards around the Summerside Atlantic Superstore — she was a cashier there, hoping the little gesture would bring a smile to whoever found them.
“The first two years I probably hid about 50 to 70 cards, each season. But I started earlier this year so I’d actually have enough to spread around the city.”
She also did something similar for Valentine’s Day.
As a kid, the now 19-year-old Stordy recalls wanting to do something for her community.
“But when you’re little, you don’t know what you can do or even if you can do something. But now that I’m older I really wanted to do something.”
Stordy has hidden about 100 to 150 cards with notes, poems and little messages of support, kindness and reminders to spread love and joy this holiday season. Most are in the Granville Street area. The cards are addressed “To Whoever Finds Me.” Next year she plans to grow the initiative and spread the cards in the uptown and downtown districts. “Sometimes the holidays can be rough. I even notice that for myself. So if I can bring a smile to someone at this time of year, that’s great.”
Finding one of the hidden cards did just that for Pacey MacIssac. “I found one at the Shoppers. I read the little note and I have to say it brought a smile to my face. It’s so nice to see this spread across the city.”
Last year Stordy put gift cards in some of the envelopes. “But once people learned about the gift cards, they began to look for them because of the gift card. But that’s not what it was supposed to be about, so I’ve refrained from doing that this year.”
She said the act isn’t completely selfless.
“I love seeing when people find them. I’ve had people come through my lane at the Superstore after finding them and it was great to see that it brought a smile to their face.
“My boyfriend and I made a game of hiding them this year, we’d try to sneak them in someone’s cart, so they’d find it when they shopped.”
Stordy hopes the cards have served their purpose, spreading the spirit of the holiday season while encouraging people to continue the love, kindness and generosity of the season all year round.
“Kindness, love and everything else that comes around this time of the year isn’t something we should pack up once Christmas has passed.”