UNITY - A movie released in 2000 based loosely on the novel of the same name, Pay It Forward, set the tone for a movement that has taken over North America.
It outlines the gesture of a goodwill movement known as pay it forward that is meant to help change the world for the better. The concept has a person or group provide a good will gesture to another person or group without ever expecting to be recognized or receiving anything in return, with the hope the recipient will, in turn, pay it forward.
Some say this movement has branched into a similar action referred to as RAK or random acts of kindness. Nonetheless, some Unity residents say, despite some the divisiveness created by opposing views on the pandemic, they feel that P-i-F and RAKs have blossomed in their community.
Residents say there has always been actions like this in Unity, however since the start of the pandemic they have experienced and/or noticed more of these gestures than ever before.
Last year in December alone, multiple actions in this theme took place with many of them geared toward seniors who seemed to have been hit the hardest by the pandemic, cutting off their crucial connections to family and friends and others. A mail campaign received a great response for senior centres, as did Kayla Meredith’s undertaking of the mini trees project that were delivered to senior centres as well. The continued actions of a couple different groups in the theme of adopt-a-grandparent continued despite the additional precautions required as a result of the pandemic.
Kayla Meredith, who orchestrated the mini-Christmas tree creations and delivery last year, says, “I am hoping to do them again this year because I felt like they made a difference for recipients. We delivered trees to the Kerrobert Hospital, the Unity long-term care centre and Parkview Place.
“Although finding the time before had always been a little more difficult, but when COVID-19 hit, I knew it had to be done because so many people were going to spend Christmas without family.”
Meredith says she had created a project like this in Sunday School when she was younger, and her own family made them for teachers as part of their family. Prior to her dad passing away he had spent a couple of Christmases in the hospital and Meredith remembers feeling that his room was so glum at Christmas time.
Families jumped on board to help out as it was an opportunity to get kids involved in a pay it forward project and see and/or read about the results. This gesture offered a real connection with thecommunity and its people. Meredith hopes to expand this project to Wilkie Hospital and perhaps even Macklin running off the great response the project had last year.
“Teaching our children, the importance of giving back, especially to our seniors, was a great outcome from this project,” she says.
The local food bank said that while the pandemic may have increased demand on their supplies it also increased generosity for donating to their inventory, both financially and in product.
Kin Club president, Amanda Whyte, says of their RAK efforts, “Originally it started as a way to honour 100 years of Kin in Canada. Then COVID hit and we decided that the need to stay active in the community and support efforts in our community was even stronger. The committee had an overwhelmingly positive response from all the recipients. We did our best to make it a surprise, but we also made sure to touch base with someone first to make sure whatever we were giving (baking, gift certificates to local businesses) would be appropriate given the COVID restrictions.”
“It was a very gratifying experience to bring smiles to so many faces, a few tears. A mixture of thankfulness and exhaustion, were also had. In some cases, we inspired others to pay it forward.”
The club said that each month they aim to recognize another group of dedicated, essential workers in the community. When they were able, they also tried to connect with events like Fire Safety Week and National Teacher’s Appreciation Week.
Whyte adds, “We are all stronger together. It's important to recognize everyone and the role they play to make our community a wonderful place to live.”
Unity Credit Union has been no stranger to RAKs. In fact, they celebrated their 75th anniversary was by performing 75 random acts of kindness that involved not just donations but some hands-on help by their team. This year, as part of their 80th anniversary subdued celebrations, the team from UCU delivered dozens of decorated cookies to senior centres, the local daycare and school staff.
Rise and Grind said,” We are incredibly fortunate to have such an awesome community that has done these RAKs since we’ve opened. Typically, we get the most interest in paying it forward during the Christmas season, but it still periodically happens throughout the year. We have a pay-it-forward gift card that we just reload when the opportunity presents itself.”
This business adds, “It’s truly heartwarming to see someone light up when you get to tell them that their drink has been taken care of already and they’re usually always excited and say something along the lines of 'his never happens to me.' It’s always fun and heartwarming to be a part of. We love when we get to be the vessel for other people to spread a little sunshine.”
UCHS students continue to hold monthly spirit days that often benefit a local or provincial charity in their efforts to pay it forward. This is part of the mandate of their Activate team, that represents kindness and inclusion.
After a storm ravaged the town this past summer, a full-fledged work party of children and parents who would be part of that weekend’s provincial tournament taking place at the diamonds, took part in cleaning up branches and debris that resulted from this storm. One coach told us it was their way of helping town crews and paying it forward with an in-kind gesture that would benefit everyone that would be involved in the weekend’s activity.
For Halloween 2021, resident Allison Leslie offered to take treats to those kids that were isolating as a result of COVID exposures in their classrooms. Dozens of residents also offered to donate treats for this gesture.
For several years, the Lions Club say they had an anonymous donor pay for the last remaining Christmas trees on their lot for those who were coming to get one. In turn, they often said recipients of this surprise would state that they would then be returning the favour somewhere else in the community.
Actions aren’t always monetary and some of them are indeed random, but nonetheless, so many residents say they have noticed the difference these small acts can make on both the recipients and the community overall.
