A new level of kindness emerges
For many people, it is all too easy to see the bad in the world – especially during turbulent and uncertain times like the past year when we’ve been faced with a global pandemic. People have lost jobs or loved ones; isolation and feelings of sadness resulting from this new ‘normal’ can be difficult, even on the best of days.
But sometimes people dig deep and help where they can – focusing instead on being kind and in finding the good in others. These are the stories that deserve to be shared.
I personally believe that spreading goodness and cheer is a much better alternative to being negative all the time. I first experienced the concept of ‘ paying it forward’ a few years back. My dad and I had gone through the drive-through at Tim Horton’s and when it was our turn to pay at the window, we were told the driver in front had taken care of our order. I’ll never forget how happy that little act of kindness made us both feel. We were in awe that a stranger would do something so kind and unwarranted. Amazingly we were inspired to do the same to others… that’s how simple it can be and how easy kindness spreads.
Ryan Carpenter, a digital artist from Hamilton, recently posted on his social media about an organization he chose to support over the holidays.
“My dad always joked that all I was getting for Christmas was socks and underwear. Turns out there are a lot of people in dire need of items like this, so I went and bought a whole bunch of them for the good people at Helping Hands Street Mission,” he wrote.
Carpenter, 35, says he was debating about donating anonymously and not sharing his good deed, but figured it might lead to another donation so he went for it. It’s a good thing he
did. Over 60 people reacted to his post and a good handful were inspired to also donate to the cause. Located in Hamilton, Helping Hands Street Mission supports people dealing with social, financial and spiritual poverty, offering safe social space; free clothing and hygiene items and connecting people to appropriate resources and support services.
Trina Leitzke of Georgetown says that although it may be human nature to focus on the bad, if we have some faith, we discover there really are more good, than bad people in the world. She personally will be volunteering on Christmas Day to help deliver meals and treats with local chef Brady Davies who will be cooking individual turkey dinners for more than 175 people in that community. Davies, who was featured in an article in the Georgetown Independent recently, has partnered with several local businesses to pull the feat off. Davies will be working out of Uncorked on Main – a local restaurant with help from Rod and Janelle Pasma as well as staff of McMaster’s Meat and Deli and Mill Street Cheese.
Leitzke says she is happy to play a small role in helping others during the holiday season. “I love that people do for others at Christmas. I believe it’s always important to be kind. We never know what’s going on with people and if we can help, we should do it. We need to see this continuing throughout the year for those who have fallen on temporary bad times,” she adds.
Monique Larocque is a Hamilton mom and an educator as well as an independent consultant with Epicure – a service based, direct sales company specializing in providing healthy meal solutions and kitchenware to people across Canada. As a leader with the company, she has participated in the company’s fundraiser drives and feels that it is particularly important to recognize the hardships and struggles that families are facing – especially considering the impact that COVID has had on so many.
“I felt it only natural to reach out to my friends and family to see if they would be willing to join me in sponsoring a family and provide them with meals to start the new year off. I was blown away with how quickly people responded,” she said in a recent interview.
Corporately, Epicure is on track in 2020 to donate three quarter of a million meals to families in need through Food Banks Canada and Feed America.
Carrie Barfoot, an Epicure executive director whose branch consists of almost 500 independent consultants across North America, says that many organizations have benefited from the company’s fundraiser efforts. Food banks, shelters, humane societies, mental health organizations, front line workers and other charities have all been recipients over the years.
“We come together to help others. Not for recognition, but to help build our communities and feed families when they need help the most,” adds Larocque.