The Parksville Qualicum Foundation (PQF) encourages residents to participate in Random Acts of Kindness Day on Feb. 17.
On Friday, PQF members and Youth 4 Youth volunteers will be at Quality Foods locations in Nanoose Bay, Parksville and Qualicum Beach handing out treats between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m., according to a news release by PQF.
Staff at Coastal Community Credit Unions in Nanoose Bay, Parksville and Qualicum Beach will hand out goodies.
“All across the globe, people are finding ways to pay it forward with the #KindnessExperience movement, which aims to build a world where kindness is the norm, intentionally,” the release read. “On Kindness Day and all through the week, we encourage you to buy someone a coffee or just offer them a smile. You never know how much you might change someone’s day—or even life—by the kindness you offer.”
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In the last 20 years, researchers have been studying how emotions like gratitude, love and joy affect a person’s well-being, and improve lives, the release said. Research is showing that a lot of good that can come from intentionally expressing uplifting emotions to the people we encounter in our day.
Among the benefits that people experience from acts of kindness are: improved immune system functioning, decreased stress levels, a sense of connectedness and feelings of meaning and purpose.
Here are some ideas to consider as you go about your day:
- Be a friend to a lonely neighbour
- Connect with a conversation
- Donate a book to your nearest library
- Be kind to your server
- Have a judgement free day
- Check in with a senior
- Give a compliment
- Sign up to be an organ donor
- Pay it forward at the drive-thru
- Ask someone about their day
- Write a positive comment online
- Say something positive about yourself
- Cook a meal for someone
- Share your knowledge
- Donate towels or blankets to a shelter
- Show gratitude and laugh often.
Parksville Qualicum Foundation is actively supporting neighbours to strengthen connections and build community through its grants programs.
— NEWS Staff, submitted