Students Hand Out Free Goodies To Stranger's In School's Biggest 'Kindness Project' Ever

March 17, 2023

For the last 7 years, third grade students at an elementary school in British Columbia have performed acts of kindness for strangers in Chilliwack.

It's part of Watson Elementary's Kindness Project.

Credit: Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress

The project first started back in 2017 when teacher Jen Thiessen and fellow teacher Kyla Stradling came up with the idea.

"The idea with the project, when we first started it, was being that spark of kindness and it would make that wave of people who want to continue doing it," Thiessen told Coast Mountain News.

Over the years, either one or two Grade 3 classes from Watson would take it on. But, this year five classes took part (all the Grade 3 students, plus some kids in Grades 2 and 4), making it the biggest one to date.

The students raise money for the project by selling cupcakes. This year they raised $1,400.

Then they go to local parks and hand out flowers, chocolates, dog treats and coffee to strangers. Some stay back and put together care packages for homeless people.

Each of the goodies given out that day came with a hand-decorated card featuring a quote on one side, penned by Kevin Heath: "No act of kindness is too small. The gift of kindness may start as a small ripple that over time can turn into a tidal wave affecting the lives of many."

And it worked.

"Kindness coffee is always the best," one woman said, adding that she was going to buy someone else a cup of coffee.

Not 10 minutes later, a man came up to Thiessen and handed her a $20 bill.

"This is for next year’s project," he said.