If a Tri-City student hands you a free coffee or a cookie, don't be shocked - just say, "Thanks."
At least, that's what the students at Maple Creek middle school in Port Coquitlam would like as they embark on a wave of kindness activities as part of Real Acts of Caring (RAC) month.
In fact, the students - more than 107 of them who are part of the school's RAC club - are doing nice things for people without being asked all year to make their community a nicer place. But for February, with Valentine's Day smack in the middle, is a major focus for Real Acts of Caring, which have swept through the entire district.
On Tuesday, the students brought Valentine's cards and flowers to residents at Eagle Ridge Manor in Port Moody while, in Port Coquitlam, Terry Fox secondary students and staff will hand out cards and say nice things to one another, among other things. At Mountain Meadows in Port Moody, students are holding cupcake sales to raise money for the SPCA, taking part in Pink Shirt Day (a national anti-bullying event) and pledging to be kind to one another.
They also pledged to help out in their homes more and be more patient with their siblings (See photo below).
It's all part of a program started nine years ago by Harriette Chang, an SD43 counsellor, although a similar initiative called Random Acts of Kindness is across North America. Students recently asked municipal councils in Coquitlam, Port Moody, Port Coquitlam, Anmore and Belcarra to make proclamations for RAC week.
On their own, students are also doing nice things for fellow students, family members and even complete strangers.
Recently, Aaliyah Yuag helped a woman who lost her cart in a Coquitlam grocery store. "It makes you so happy," said Yuag of the gesture, noting the cart was eventually found and the lady was relieved.
"Sometimes, they don't expect what we're doing and they don't want to be RAC-ed," said Nicole Tisshaw, while at other times the act of kindness brings surprising results.
When one elderly gentleman was handed a cup of coffee, he started to cry, and the boy who handed it to him did, too, said Chang, who said both the elderly man and the youth "needed a moment" to recover.
"Our kids feel better than the recipients," Chang said.
So if you get RAC'd this month, don't be shocked - just do something nice for someone else.
