SPOKANE, Wash. – A group of four local organizations decided to create a day dedicated to being kind, so mark your calendars for November 21, Spokane’s first annual Kindness Day!
“Kindness is an action, pay it forward,” Light a Lamp Founder Angella Southerly said.
From leaving a thankful note for those delivering your mail, to cooking dinner for your neighbor, to simply saying ‘hello’ to a stranger, there are millions of ways to be kind.
As we head into the season of giving, four local organizations, West Spokane Wellness Partnership, Greater Spokane Substance Abuse Council, Target Zero, and Light a Lamp, thought of a way to show the ones we love, or those we don’t even know, that we appreciate them for who they are.
“[We] got together and said ‘hey, we really want to do our first annual Kindness Day in Spokane, Washington,’” Southerly said.
And so, the planning began! The four organizations are hoping this Kindness Day in Spokane will be the first of many to come.
“Recognizing local heroes, so we were all in,” Southerly said.
Specifically, kindness will be delivered to a job that may sometimes fly under the radar but never goes unappreciated by parents: Elementary School crossing guards.
“So tomorrow, they are going to get a surprise in the morning at quite a few of these schools,” Southerly said.
A basket full of goodies; from much needed handwarmers, to bracelets inscribed with sweet affirmations, and hot chocolate and apple cider.
“A conduit that lets them know they are appreciated, and their work really matters, and that we are thankful for them keeping our kids safe,” Southerly said.
Crossing guards from 67 schools across Spokane, Spokane Valley, and Mead, will see this kindness first-hand on Tuesday. 12 volunteers were busy traveling around the region on Monday, making sure these baskets got to each school safely – ready to be picked up by someone deserving.
For some volunteers, this kindness is a full-circle moment:
“I have two kids and they both went to some of the schools I was delivering baskets to earlier,” Rick Scott, with Greater Spokane Substance Abuse Council, said.
“We love this town, and we love the people, and it’s just so neat to get to know more people when we are doing things like this,” Southerly said.
And not only will our local crossing guards feel the love on Kindness Day, but Light a Lamp is also handing out gift baskets to people who have been nominated by friends, family, or coworkers across the region, for simply being exceptional.
While November 21 can now be known as Spokane’s Kindness Day, we’re hoping this story can serve as a reminder that being kind, can happen every day.
And if you recognize someone on Tuesday or are recognized by someone else, we’d love to know! Share your photos on social media with us, and don’t forget to use the hashtag #SpokaneWAKindnessDay2023 – we’ll share some of your photos on air!
