Students sneak to school on weekend to decorate it for teachers and other acts of kindness by Albertans

Throughout the month of December, CBC stations across the country invite you to help Make the Season Kind as we celebrate the kindness of others with special programming and a coming together in support of local charities. 

In Calgary, for 35 years, residents have been donating to the Calgary Food Bank through CBC/Radio-Canada's annual Food Bank Drive, raising more than $20 million. Last Thursday, CBC Calgary's Blitz Day officially hit its goal as part of our annual drive to raise spirits — raising $1 million in donations for the Calgary Food Bank but let's raise even more.

Share your story with us of how you showed or received an act of kindness this year by Dec. 24 and — as part of our Food Bank Drive — be entered to win a local prize pack. We'll share more of these heart-warming acts that have been shared with us in the days ahead, on CBC Calgary radio programs Calgary Eyeopener and The Homestretch, CBC Calgary's website and social media. Here are some of the wonderful stories we've received so far:

From Dorothy M:

"During the summer holidays, we had a friend of our child staying with us for three weeks to give the mom a break. She is an artist and teaches dancing. Due to COVID, all of her work was put on hold. Financially, it is very challenging for her and a dentist appointment for her child was cancelled because of lack of insurance. While her child was with us, he developed a really bad toothache. Our go-to dentist in Calgary was fully booked but referred us to their other office in Cochrane. There we met the amazing Dr. Jen Coutu, who was curious about the fact that I rather than the mom brought the child in. When I told her the story, she did not only take amazing care of the child whose tooth needed to be extracted but also took only a fraction of her usual fee for her amazing work and waved the fee for the anesthetics completely. What would have been a $400 bill was lowered to $100. It brought tears of joy to my eyes as I have never experienced anything like it from a medical professional in Canada. She helped my friend a great deal."

From Janice Quade:

"For about a year now, I have been feeling called to live a life more of service. My act of kindness is that I am donating my services as a birth support doula to pregnant teens and young women who may not have anyone to support them throughout labour and delivery. If anyone sees this post on your website, or if it is read live on the radio, I am willing to have anyone in need of birth support contact me through my website."

From Susan Johnson:

"I was in the grocery story the other day at the checkout. there was a young mother ahead of me with three small children. The kids were very tired and ready to go home. I could see this young mother was at the end of her rope with these kids. I entertained the kids while she finished with her grocery order. She also did have enough money to pay for her order so I paid the remainder then helped her out to her car with her groceries and kids. She was very thankful for my help. I told her it was my pleasure because I got to feel like a grandma for a little while. We then both had a bit of a cry. I wished her a Merry Christmas. This was all done with COVID in mind."

From Kaitlyn Hanson:

"I was the recipient of an act of kindness this December! I am a junior high teacher at Millarville Community School — a small kindergarten-Grade 8 school southwest of Calgary. I have been teaching my Grade 7 and 8 classes virtually from school for the past three weeks, and I know the students are really missing their friends and teachers. Two Mondays ago, as I pulled up to the building, I noticed that the outside of the school had been entirely decorated for the holidays, with beautiful evergreen boughs at all the entranceways and paper snowflakes with holiday greetings taped on the windows and doors. Our principal, office staff and junior high teachers all had notes taped on our windows, too! Turns out that a group of Grade 8 students and their parents had driven to the school over the weekend to decorate the building and brighten the spirits of all the staff, as well as the younger students at school who are still learning in person until the end of this week. (I probably should also mention that this act of kindness took place before the restrictions on outdoor gatherings were tightened!) I have also had students leave me contactless gifts in my car while it is parked in the school parking lot, and it means the world to know that they are thinking about their teachers as much as the staff at school continue to think about/worry about/look out for them. It truly feels like a community. In a year where teachers and students have seen so much upheaval, and at a time of year when everyone is feeling the weight of restrictions and the worry about what is to come, this simple act of kindness from teenagers meant the world to our school staff. I am grateful to them for making my spirits a little bit brighter this holiday season!"

From Chelsea Oliphant-Rescanski:

"We live in Acadia and I have been working from home since March. One of the things I miss the very most about working downtown in our office is coffee time with my team. It was our time to take a break, catch up, share successes and challenges both personal and professional. I miss this time and my team so much. Our neighbour in Acadia has also been working from home since March, and he really enjoys Tim Hortons coffee. Whenever he heads to the Tim's drive-thru, he picks one up for me as well. Knocks on the door. And leaves the coffee sitting on top of my car. We wave to each other from a safe distance. This small but kind gesture has become a highlight of my week, it's always a surprise when he does it but when I hear a knock on the door while I'm working at home, I know it's our neighbour and it makes me feel so much less isolated! I really can't thank him enough."

From Cori Archer:

"Very, very difficult time for my family. Health issues and financial struggles really taking a toll on this single mom. I want to teach my three to reach out and not feel sorry for ourselves, count our blessings. I got my artistic daughter to paint a canvas picture, and we took chocolate pretzels and mugs to an older senior couple. The hubby had a stroke and has limited mobility. They seemed to really be appreciative, uplifted! Peace and blessings to you!"

From Michelle Weilermann:

"An elderly lady named Donna used to live in my housing complex, and four years ago I started walking her fat little Min Pin, Buddy, when I walked my dog. Two years ago, she moved into an apartment downtown. I felt a little sad until I realized she was moving across the street from my office … so I began walking Buddy on my lunch hour. Buddy and I hoofed it many miles over many lunch hours. My office moved three blocks further away in September, and I'm working from home most days. The lunch hour walks are shorter and not as often, so I take him to the dog park when I'm on vacation. Donna is severely limited in her mobility, and Buddy would not get outside most days if I didn't come for him. I also keep an eye on her during these little visits, and bring her homemade muffins and jam. She is a widow and has no children. Buddy is the light of her life. I tell Buddy that he's the fattest, ugliest dog I've ever seen, and he just looks adoringly at me while trying to lick my face. He practically loses his mind when I come to get him. I may be helping Donna out by walking her little dog, but in the end, I'm getting such love in return."

From Monica Flores:

"I organized a food and baby essentials drive for Made by Momma among my friends. But the real kindness came from them because I expected a couple of cans or pasta packets per household and I filled the trunk, back seat and front seat in my car! What touched me most is that at least 1/3 of those households are tight in money because of COVID: layoffs, reduced hours, forced closures, and still they contributed. I am so proud to be their friend."

From Josefina Langkowski:

"I have been laid off since the middle of March. To pass the time, I made cards and mailed them to friends who are in the same position, and to seniors who have to stay home. I also crochet: I made a soap bag and a Christmas card, gave it to my elderly neighbour who lives alone and [is] sometimes confused. She told me I made her day, the soap bag is hanging in her bathroom, as air freshener, and that my card is cute. I would have sat down with her for tea, but now isn't the time, so a call is good enough for her."

From Don Zimmer:

"My family and I received masks early in the pandemic from my sister who is a quilt maker. Not only wouldn't she take any payment for masks that she made for family or friends everywhere — she also sent everyone a second mask so there would always be one on hand. I know how busy she's been with this chore and it is much appreciated by many besides my family. She did this as an act of kindness to her family and friends. Oh yea, she also made the masks with materials that matched each person's interests (mine was bicycles, my wife's was a pattern with rocks because she loves rocks). To add an additional challenge, she got a new cat this fall who loves to chew the elastic while she's not looking. She's involved in the Manitoba Prairie Quilters and they regularly support charities through their work, ongoing programs (ABC Quilts, raffles and their President's Challenge)."

From Kat Stone:

"This spring, I was finishing up my family medicine residency. I was working on a geriatrics unit in an Edmonton hospital. This was when COVID was becoming a concern and we were entering the first lockdown. I had ran to the hospital that morning. I broke my glasses when I got to the hospital that morning. Despite my best efforts, I couldn't achieve a Harry Potter look and my glasses were non-functional. Without my glasses, I can see enough to get by, but reading is much easier with them. When my optometrist realized I couldn't leave work, he volunteered to come to me. My optometrist drove across the city to the hospital to deliver new glasses frames and switched the lenses in the front lobby for me because he wasn't allowed into the hospital. I broke the glasses that morning, emailed at 8 a.m. and he was there by noon! Thanks, Varsity Optical!"

To read more heart-warming stories like these, see: 

Again — you can share your story with us of how you showed or received an act of kindness this year with an online form here or by using the hashtag #CBCFeedsYYC on Instagram or Twitter. You can also share your act of kindness by calling and leaving a message for the Calgary Eyeopener at 403-521-6209 or the Homestretch 403-521-6244. The contest ends Dec. 24.

Whichever way you choose, you'll be entered to win a local prize pack, which include: 

• A limited-edition CBC Calgary x Local Laundry holiday crewneck.
• A 36-piece box of salted caramel chocolates from Master Chocolate.
• Julie Van Rosendaal's Dirty Food cookbook.
• An Inspirati tea towel.
• A Milk Jar diffuser.
• A $50 gift card to Bowtie Pizza.
• A 12 oz. bag of One Gray Knight coffee beans from Fratello Coffee Roasters.
• A limited-edition One Gray Knight coffee mug.
• CBC Calgary winter swag (blanket, toque, scarf, mittens, retro socks).

Click here to donate to the Calgary Food Bank.

See the full schedule of events, contests, auction items, partners and more for the CBC/Radio-Canada's annual Calgary Food Bank Drive here.