Empathy

I challenge you to ask yourself, do you really know your neighbors? I am willing to bet that most of you will shake your head and say NO. We have become a recluse society due to busy schedules, time restraints and technology. I remember when I was a young child I knew everyone; our parents knew everyone and if we didn’t we sure made a strong attempt to introduce ourselves. We never worried about children out with friends, I may be dating myself but I can remember a time when we didn’t lock our doors at night, unfortunately now that time has passed.

 If we take a look around the world this year as in every year and learn so many stories of the power of the human spirit and kindness. I am not sure why but in this world of extreme poverty, hatred  and change, people seem to always restore my faith in humanity with their compassion. Sure we hear the stories from around the world but more often than not one spot that seems to get missed is our very own communities.  

I am using this year’s pre Christmas address to make mention of my very own community, sure my friends that follow in England, Germany, Australia and the United States may not have ever heard of Clayton Heights in Surrey BC and if you have its because we seem to be the butt of everyone’s jokes but hopefully after this you will know a little more about the wonderful people that live in my community and realize Surrey is a fantastic place to live.

This year our community has been no different than anywhere around the world and has been rocked with many different challenges from theft, fires, drug related crime, homelessness and poverty . We have also been witness  to  the tragic passing of a young man who’s kindness  touched so many people due to a freak accident during a wind storm, through it all the people each and every time surrounded ,supported and rallied to lift its own back up off the mat and on to their  feet.

I am so proud of my community and some of the people that have gone to great lengths to help others, most they have never met before. One great example I was able to notice was in the last week alone this community has been able to find and fill  no less than 20 Christmas trees for single or struggling parents in an attempt to bring some well needed Christmas cheer to families through just 1 single post on a community Facebook page. A single mom and her child will have a fantastic holiday season, not because of the donations raised but because they feel loved and wanted by their community and so many more stories.  Sure on this Facebook page you have your cynics, your comedians and those who are simply oblivious to the challenges of the world around them but when worse comes to worse and someone is down this community has shown that no matter who you are, what color your skin or what background or religion you come from you are made to feel like family.  The world needs more of this behavior 

As for a Fraser Valley Secret Santa update on the holiday season I am pleased to relay that we have once again started sending out our “Letters from Santa” to those children who want a personalized letter from Santa. Glass block requests have come in again this year with the money once again going to children’s charity. I have also started to collect food to drop off at our local community food bank, if anyone in our community wants to donate food just let me know and we can pick up or feel free to drop off and we can make sure that as many people as possible have a warm meal and full bellies over the holiday season. I encourage my followers where ever you are around the world to take just a few minutes and a couple dollars and use it to drop a food item into a Christmas hamper box in your local grocery store or food bank. We can make a difference.

Getting back to my initial opening statement, I may not know you all  by name , by face or by smile but I think I have gotten to know my neighbors by heart. I appreciate and Thank you for the help you have given myself and others. From my Boys and I ,  we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy holiday season    

  

Kindness Starts Here

Hello world:

I am pleased to announce that thanks to Redwood Plastics Corporation in Langley BC, Fraser Valley Secret Santa will  once again be able to engage in Random acts of Kindness in our communities and around the world. We will also be able to start and promote our community food bank fundraiser with the Sale of our new T shirt Line, all proceeds from sales will be directly funneled back into our local food banks. $1.00 donated has the buying power of $3.00 for a food bank.

Most people and even myself at times forget that the food banks in our cities feed just as many people in June as they would in December. With the state of our economy the way it is, the need for helping each other has never been greater.

The Act of kindness to a person you have never met is one of the most awkward things that anyone can do, especially for the first time. Most people’s first reaction when receiving a Random act of kindness is “OK why is this person doing something nice for me, and what do they want”. There does not have to be a reason, simply having the ability to make someone smile is one of the greatest gifts that you could give to anyone, and it’s free. Who knows the smile that you give to someone may be the only one they see all day. 

Over the last couple of years we have been able to create several pay it Forward scenarios, so many in Tim Hortons drive thru’ s , Starbucks gift cards that have been handed out 2 for 1 , I would give one to you and ask you to give the other to a random stranger for no reason. We have been able to give away BC Lions tickets to people just for spreading kindness , though kindness is its own reward , FVSECRETSANTA is all about acknowledgement for those who give selflessly of themselves and back to their community.

Starting in August we as a whole can give back by working together. Our new T shirt campaign will be launched, all proceeds from sales will directly be put right back into the community.  I know not everyone can afford to buy a shirt or donate to FVsecretsanta but you can help with a simple click of a Button, a follow on Twitter, get your friends to follow, a LIKE on Facebook an even as simple as talking to your friends about it, the more people that know the better chance we have of reaching our $200,000 donation goals whether that be in Gift cards for random drops, clothing items for the homeless and especially food to feed the hungry. Your ability to share kindness in this manner is easy and Priceless.

I hope to find more corporate and private sponsors as this year we will continue our “Letters from Santa” campaign, sending hand written letters and gifts all around the world. Last year we sent letters and gifts to Australia, Japan, USA , UK and Canada. 

Working together for one common goal is an amazing feat of strength , lets be strong .