Helping to kick off the Lloydminster and District Co-op’s Kindness Wins campaign are from left, Lorelee Marin, Beyond Boders Circle of Change (BBCOC) board member, Lloydminster Community Youth Centre reps Camille McDaniel, Teri Quewezance and Aiden Mark, with BBCOC board member Riley Gilroyed, Kindness is Power student, Turner Harnett and Kindness Wins merchandise artist, Brandi Hofer. Proceeds from the sale of products support anti-bullying programs and related initiatives. Geoff Lee Meridian Source
Smiles and cash go hand in hand.
The Lloydminster and District Co-op is selling new Kindness Wins merchandise at Co-op gas bar and grocery store locations to spread community goodwill.
Proceeds from this year’s sale support various anti-bullying and training initiatives by kindness charity partner, Beyond Borders Circle of Change (BBCOC).
The non-profit coalition of community-building organizations works to create a connected community where all individuals feel respected, proud, safe and cared for.
“This is a time that we need it more than ever. Mental health is a major priority in our society,” said BBCOC board member and social media guy, Riley Gilroyed at the media launch on Feb. 1.
“Campaigns such as Kindness Wins have such a great impact, not only in our community, but it is somewhat of a snowball effect. When people see that, it can be contagious.”
This is the 13th year of the Co-op sponsored Kindness Wins program that has become a fixture on the community event calendar.
“It’s very important to us. Part of our brand and our values is the inclusion of everyone,” said Co-op marketing coordinator, Emelie Currie.
“This is just a basic program that tells exactly how we feel about people and how we treat people.”
It’s modelled after Pink Shirt Day to be celebrated at local schools on Feb. 15 to encourage Lloydminster and area residents to stand up for kindness, inclusion and respect.
“It’s important to remember Kindness, inclusion and respect is important to not just the Kindness Wins campaign, but in general, and have that in your life,” said Currie.
She says the Co-op is hoping to raise at least $10,000 from the sale of Kindness Wins products and purple T-shirts, designed by Lloydminster artist Brandi Hofer with a building blocks concept in mind.
“Building blocks are the foundation of who you are as a person. You need to love yourself first because you cannot pour from an empty cup,” explained Hofer at the launch.
She says it’s been lots of fun and the products are already selling out.
“I am so honoured to be part of such a beautiful project to help raise that money for anti-bullying and trauma programming in our community,” added Hofer.
A two-day trauma counselling for healing and resilience course was one of the success stories Lloyd Co-op and its partners helped fund a year ago.
It was attended by more than 100 professionals who learned tools to help our community heal.
The Co-op’s BBCOC partners that make it happen include the Lloydminster public and Catholic school divisions, Alberta Health Services, Saskatchewan Health Authority, Lloydminster Community Youth Centre, and Lloydminster Sexual Assault Services.
This year, Kindness Wins aims to provide a $200 grant to each school in the Lloydminster public and Catholic school division for kindness projects that benefit them and the community.
Funds will also go to the Kindness is Power (KIP) anti-bullying campaign delivered by high school students to all divisional Grades 5 and 8 classes.
KIP rep Turner Harnett, with Lloydminster Comprehensive High School leadership program, spoke a little bit about the impact of the anti-bullying presentations his team does for elementary and middle school students.
“Sometimes we’re only supposed to go for 45 minutes and we end up being over an hour long from how many kids are so inclusive and indulge in the presentations,” said Harnett.
“As well as leadership, we are already planning Pink Shirt Day and different activities all through that week.”
Youth centre rep, Aiden Mark, also touched on some of the community-based kindness activities they do, including a recent community skate in mid-January.
“We’ve had a whole lot of kind acts that day and just seeing people have a good time and spreading kindness around,” said Mark.
