Saskatoon mom teaches kindness with coffee and cocoa

Saskatoon's 20th Street West is peppered with trendy shops and restaurants, but it also has a reputation for being rough.

It makes me and my kids feel very happy.- Cheryl Regel

So, when Cheryl Regel called out "free coffee or hot chocolate" it was greeted with smiles.

"I just want people to feel welcomed, and loved," she said.

Regel has been handing out coffee, hot chocolate and treats in the city's Riversdale neighbourhood for a couple of years. She said it's not only a way to give back, but also a way to teach her kids about the importance of kindness.

"It's a good thing for my children to grow up just understanding that it is important to give," Regel said.

She said she wanted to teach her sons that even if the world's problems seem overwhelming, small efforts can make a big difference.

"I just wanted a way for my children to connect to the community, in a simple way."

Coffee, cocoa, community

Regel and her children Cruz, 6, and Chili, 4, handed out dozens of steaming cups of coffee and hot chocolate to people passing by on Thursday. Among the grateful recipients was Effie Ben.

"To see people offering what they can, from their heart, to add to people's lives by giving their life, I'm thankful to be a part of it," said Ben.

Although Regel's goal is to teach her children compassion and generosity, while building community, she fully recognized that they receive a lot in return.  

"It makes me and my kids feel really happy," she said.

Regel also hopes her family's gesture might inspire others to find their own way to think small, and find a way to ease suffering in a world full of challenges.