‘Tis the season to think of others, which is exactly what blogger Marc Smith is doing through his 30 Days of Kindness initiative.
Vancouver blogger Marc Smith is well known for his 30 Day Adventures, during which he picks a theme and writes about it for, well, 30 days.
Smith says as much fun as his travel/food/wine and tourist-in-your-hometown adventures are, his favourite series stems from an idea he conceived three years ago: 30 Days of Kindness.
“At this time of year people are really open to the idea of giving,” said Smith. “But they’re also busy. I just help get things going.”
To that end, Smith explained he doesn’t personally complete all the acts of kindness performed during the 30 days, but instead uses his blog to bring attention to what others are doing as well. Smith said the acts can be as small as paying for the coffee of the person behind you in line or the efforts of a large group dedicated to raising money for non-profit organizations, such as this year’s AIDS Vancouver Grocery Drive.
On Wednesday, Smith surprised marketing specialist Leeann Froese, her husband/business partner Andrew von Rosen and the staff at Town Hall Brands with a chocolate tasting at their office courtesy of Courier contributor and chocolate expert Eagranie Yuh.
“Leeann does so much for so many people, I thought it would be nice to pay some of that back,” Smith told the Courier prior to the surprise.
Von Rosen, who recently assumed the role of president of the South Vancouver Little League, has raised more than $5,000 for the Movember movement and frequently contributes his graphic design talents to their son Nate’s elementary school. Meanwhile, Froese is a Cub Scout leader, an active member of Les Dames d’Escoffier and co-chairs the parent advisory council at Nate’s elementary school.
As a company, Town Hall gives to the Vancouver Canadians Baseball Foundation by donating $5 per run the team makes each season, with proceeds dedicated to helping children from low-income families play baseball. Most recently, the couple and Nate participated in A Good Book Drive, an annual initiative that asks people to buy books special to them and donate them to less fortunate children.
Meanwhile, 30 Days contributor Cathy Browne recently held a drive to collect items, including gloves, mitts, socks, scarves, toques and personal hygiene products, for Directions Youth Services, an organization that works with street youth.
Smith is hoping other individuals, co-workers or groups of friends will get involved in 30 Days of Kindness by going to his website, locking in a date and organizing an activity. Smith is happy to help brainstorm ideas with anyone in need of inspiration.
To check out the acts of kindness Smith and others are involved with, visit 30dayadventures.ca. Share your acts of kindness at [email protected].
The winner of this week’s gift draw of seven beautiful gardening and cookbooks is Cathy McQueen. Check out Holiday Hub to enter draws each week now through December.
ENTER TO WIN
This week’s draw includes two children’s snow lift passes for Grouse Mountain good now through April 30, 2015 – valued at $165 each – and four tickets to the Dec. 7 matinee of Christmas with the Bach Choir at the Orpheum Theatre.
Simply “like” The Vancouver Courier Newspaper on Facebook and leave a comment under this post naming an act of kindness you’ve done or someone has done for you. The deadline for comment is midnight Dec. 3. The draw will take place Dec. 4 and the winner named in the Dec. 5 edition of Holiday Hub.
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