I spoke with Amanda Carrington about the Bow Valley Kindness Fairies.

 

Rob: Tell us a little bit about the Bow Valley Kindness Fairies.

Amanda: It’s an online Facebook group. You join the group, you add your address and a brief list of things you like, and then you pick somebody from the group. They could be just a random person, somebody you don’t know. You buy them a gift. Big or small, it doesn’t have to be extravagant. Then you go and drop it off at the house. What we tend to do is we drop the gifts off at the front door, we knock, and then we’d run as fast as we can, and that person, just a complete stranger, gets a beautiful gift. Then they go to their Bow Valley Kindness Fairies group, and they usually post a photo and say thanks so we can all share in the joy. It’s just a really good feeling.

Rob: Where did this idea come from?

Amanda: I just wanted to spread a little bit of joy. I think everybody’s having a tough time now, and I thought this would just be a great way of cheering people up and just getting some joy spread out there.

Rob: My wife Lauren is one of the people who’s been having a lot of fun dusting people. It’s really fun for the dusters to put together these gifts, isn’t it?

Amanda: It really is, and that’s the best bit. Getting a gift is always really nice and surprising, but actually putting together the gift, and putting so much thought into it and then delivering the gift, it’s just so much fun.

Rob: You received an anonymous donation to allow you to dust a lot more people?

Amanda: We did. Local mom Rachel Howse posted on the group that she wanted to get a small group of us together and kind of pool our donations. Somebody saw this and donated a huge, huge chunk of money. So Rachel was great and organizing all this, and because of that very generous donation, we managed to get out probably just over 40 packages to people in the last few days, and it’s been great. It’s just a wonderful feeling.

Rob: This group is still active? People can still join?

Amanda: People just go on Facebook and request to join. We’re inviting people from Canmore, Banff, and Exshaw right now. It’s very active. You can see all the photos that people post constantly throughout the day.

Rob: You’ve been keeping quite busy. You founded Stone Soup Canmore the Bow Valley Kindness Fairies. Why is it important for you to contribute to our community in this way right now?

Amanda: This is just one little way that I can help. I know what it’s like being isolated and going through tough times. This really brightens people’s days. It’s just a small way I can help. Community is so important and we live in such an amazing community in Canmore.

Rob: Amanda, thanks for tell us a little bit more about this awesome initiative and you’ve been such a rock star during this pandemic. I look forward to hearing more about what you’re doing.

Filed under: Canmore