The Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake has kicked off a new project to try to spread some joy during increasingly more challenging lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The “Shine and light, spread kindness” campaign asks residents to commit to one act of kindness every day. It could be something simple like sending a friendly text to a friend, giving compliments to people you live with, or even doing a silly dance to brighten someone’s day.

“This kindness campaign provides a beautiful opportunity to remember and celebrate who we are as a community. Even as we go through this difficult time together, let’s continue to shine our light and spread kindness out to the world. Everyone desires kindness and respect,” Lord Mayor Betty Disero said in a news release.

Chief administrative officer Marnie Cluckie echoed her sentiments.

“I always marvel at the way a simple smile or kind word can brighten my day,” she said.

“Kindness is truly powerful and now, more than ever, kindness really matters. Many people are hurting, frustrated, confused, lonely, anxious, sad, and the list goes on. While we are all in this pandemic together, we are all experiencing the effects of it differently. It is essential that despite the frustrations we’re experiencing, that we choose to be kind to ourselves, and kind to each other.”

To see how to participate, visit notl.com/kindnesscampaign.

Some suggestions of kind acts are listed below:

Thursday, April 22 – KINDNESS THROUGH STEWARDSHIP 
**EARTH DAY**

• Order a reusable coffee mug and/or water bottle. 

• Plant a garden. 

• Conserve water. 

• Avoid travel by vehicle. 

Visit notl.com/earthday for more information. 

Friday, April 23 – KINDNESS THROUGH ACTION 

• Call a loved one and ask them how they are doing. 

• Support a local business and leave then a positive online review

• Smile (up through your eyes and above your mask) and say hello (from a safe distance) to someone you pass by. 

• Let the other driver merge into traffic with a wave and a smile. 

Saturday, April 24 – KINDNESS THROUGH SELF-CARE 

• Eat a healthy snack.

• Go for a walk. 

• Spend time meditating. 

• Complete a task you’ve been putting off. 

Sunday, April 25 – KINDNESS THROUGH THOUGHT 

• Replace a negative thought with a positive one. 

• Write a list of things you are grateful for. 

• Reflect on your day and find the good. 

• Reflect on the kind of person you want to be. Could you be kinder? 

All Week Long – KINDNESS THROUGH APPRECIATION

**Volunteer Week**

This week is also volunteer week and we want to highlight the many good and kind deeds happening in our community. Niagara-on-the-Lake is a community full of kind, thoughtful, compassionate, and generous people who are willing to go above and beyond to serve their fellow community members. These are the people who shine their light brightly for all to see! Know someone like this? We would love to hear about them! Enter them in our Volunteer Appreciation Week – Star Volunteer Recognition initiative by completing a quick online form. All Star Volunteers will be celebrated and acknowledged on the Town’s social media pages on Friday, April 23. 

KINDNESS FOR KIDS!

“Kindness is a gift everyone can afford to give.”

Kids can participate too! Parents/guardians are invited to print off the activity sheet below and encourage their child(ren) to participate with them in Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Shine Light, Spread Kindness Campaign. Why not make it a family affair!