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World Kindness Day is an international observance introduced in 1998 by the World Kindness Movement. At WINMAR®, we believe in family and supporting our communities. Our teams across Canada enjoy participating in World Kindness Day in unique ways. We hope you’ll join us this year in bringing kindness to your community.

Can Kindness Change the World?

Kindness is what binds people together, and with COVID-19 keeping people apart this year, it’s more important than ever to come together through kindness. Plus, there are benefits for everyone involved, givers and receivers alike!

Did you know…

• That kindness is actually scientifically contagious? Just like a yawn, watching someone perform an act of kindness produces hormones in the body that make us want to “pay it forward.”
• That people who donate to charities are more likely to be happy overall?
• That the reward centre of the brain recognizes being kind in the same way it recognizes receiving kindness?
• That both mental and physical pain can be reduced through kindness?

(source: https://www.dartmouth.edu/wellness/emotional/rakhealthfacts.pdf)

Acts of Kindness in Canada

Here are a few examples of incredible acts of kindness that have been witnessed across Canada in 2020:

The Porch Food Bank in Oakville, Ontario

When the Film.ca cinemas in Oakville, Ontario, were shut down due to COVID-19, they made good use of their public location by setting up a food bank for the community. In front of the cinema were labelled bins where people could drop off or pick up much-needed donations like food, clothing, toiletries, and infant care products.

Spirit Producers Making Hand Sanitizer Donations

Across the country, producers of spirits switched production of their primary products to the production of hand sanitizers. Many have made these contributions into donations, including the Georgian Bay Spirit Co. in Ontario, which manufactured and donated over 25,000 bottles to organizations.

Bringing Joy Through Music

While people were isolating in the early months of COVID-19, Isabelle and Jacob brought their mobile stage to senior residences in Montreal to bring them comfort through musical performances.

(source: https://randomactsofcanadian.com)

Get Involved!

You don’t need to perform a grand gesture to participate in World Kindness Day. Even small acts of kindness can change someone’s outlook or make their day.

Be the change in your community with a few of these ideas:

• Donate to your local food bank
• Smile at a stranger on the street or say good morning
• Text, call, or email someone to simply tell them how amazing they are
• Pick up litter by spending 10 minutes cleaning in your neighbourhood
• Dedicate 24 hours to spreading positivity on social media
• Leave a generous tip
• Send flowers to a friend
• Donate old electronics to an organization like Reboot Canada
• Go through your home and collect unused items to donate to local organizations and charities

You can also generate awareness about World Kindness Day. Share it with others so they can participate. This can also help gain more attention for the unofficial occasion, which may one day be recognized officially by the United Nations.

Be kind, stay safe, and have fun!