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Scattering kindness in Minnesota on Plus It Forward Day
Credit union members and employees demonstrate kindness in all sorts of ways on October 13.
ST. PAUL, MN (November 6, 2014) — Sarnia Street in Winona proved to be an interesting place to drive on Monday, Oct. 13, as people wearing purple shirts with “Plus It Forward” on them held up a series of signs: Knock, knock. Who’s there? Canoe. Canoe who? Canoe help us spread kindness?
The people were employees of Affinity Plus, and this was one of their ways to scatter kindness on the credit union’s Second Annual Plus It Forward Day.
“We wanted to make people smile,” shared Dave Larson, Affinity Plus President and CEO. “Our goal was to give them that pick-me-up moment during their day so they would feel encouraged to Plus It Forward to others.”
Plus It Forward is, in a very simplistic definition, a movement to encourage kindness. Its boundaries have not, and will not be determined, because the hope is that it becomes something that reaches people across the state, country and world.
“While Plus It Forward was created by Affinity Plus, our hope is that people who have never heard of Affinity Plus will get involved and be impacted by these intentional acts of kindness. Spreading kindness is something that anyone can do, and the ripple effect created by these acts of kindness will be immeasurable,” said Kate Lee, Affinity Plus Marketing Manager.
The Plus It Forward website contains information about the movement and serves as place for people to share their stories about what they did to Plus It Forward, or read what others have done. There’s even a “You’ve Been Challenged” card that site visitors can print out containing a unique tracking code. As people give or receive Plus It Forward acts, the card gets passed along so people can see the ripple effect of the initial act of kindness and each subsequent act.
All Affinity Plus employees participated in Plus It Forward Day from the credit union’s 27 branch locations and departments. Plus It Forward teams were created and each put together plans for the day to ensure it was packed with ideas to scatter kindness. Here’s a list of branch teams with brief descriptions of their plans:
· Alexandria: Delivered flowers to residents at care centers, worked with students to create and distribute thank you card for police and fire departments, volunteered at the humane society, delivered canned goods to the food shelf.
· Bemidji: Worked with 3rd and 4th grade students to create and distribute thank you cards to community heroes.
· Brainerd: Coordinated craft projects for residents at a care center, and visited with the residents.
· Cambridge: Performed a variety of Plus It Forward acts such as distributing thank you cards to community heroes, taping popcorn to movie rental machines, handing out quarters at Laundromats and more. Partnered with local high school to reward students for practicing safe driving habits.
· Coon Rapids: Volunteered at Loaves and Fishes to prepare and deliver meals to those in need.
· Duluth: Served coffee to police and fire departments, and recognized teachers who are known for performing acts of kindness and helped them carry out their next act.
· Eagan: Worked with preschool students to create bookmarks that were distributed throughout the community, delivered flowers to residents at care centers, delivered thank you cards to community heroes, and volunteered with Last Hope Animal Shelter.
· Faribault: Hosted an event, “Day in the Park”, to bring together members of the community for a dog walk, and volunteered at the Hope Center.
· Fergus Falls: Performed a variety of Plus It Forward acts such as washing cars, delivering water, and walking dogs at the humane society.
· Grand Rapids: Volunteered at Habitat for Humanity and Second Harvest Heartland, delivered flowers to residents at care centers, and delivered donuts to members of the community.
· Hastings: Hosted a “Plus It Forward Game Day” at the local veteran’s home, spent time with residents at a care center visiting and playing games, delivered thank you cards and cookies to community heroes.
· Lakeville: Volunteered at Eastview Elementary School to help teachers and staff complete projects.
· Mankato: Delivered much-needed items to the YMCA Big Brothers, Big Sisters, hosted a blood drive in partnership with the American Red Cross.
· Minneapolis: Volunteered at Hope Lodge, Peace House, Special Olympics Minnesota, Fairview Hospital, Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, and Open Arms to help their staff and volunteers complete projects.
· Moorhead: Assisted students in performing yard work for those in need, performed a variety of Plus It Forward acts for employees at the Minnesota State University – Moorhead campus and people in the community, and cleaned up the downtown area and parks.
· Rochester: Hosted a car wash, bagged groceries and helped customers with carry-out, stocked and organized donations at a food shelf, performed a variety of Plus It Forward acts such as giving away free hugs, handing out flowers, and visiting with residents at care centers.
· Roseville: Volunteered at Habitat for Humanity, and delivered thank you posters, lunch and snacks to police and fire departments.
· St. Cloud: Delivered thank you cards and treats to community heroes, performed a variety of Plus It Forward acts for St. Cloud State University students, and hosted a Plus It Forward scavenger hunt.
· St. Paul: Delivered thank you cards to the police department, volunteered at an elementary school, gave bus tokens to riders, hosted a Plus It Forward scavenger hunt, and volunteered at Habitat for Humanity.
· Winona: Worked with students to create and deliver thank you cards to community heroes, performed a variety of Plus It Forward acts such as leaving quarters on vending machines, handing out flowers to people so they had one to give and one to keep, and held of signs in public areas with positive messaging.
“Plus It Forward is a genuinely good thing,” states Larson. “It’s kindness. It’s holding open a door, it’s giving someone a compliment, it’s leaving a dollar in a vending machine for the next person. It’s so simple, but it can become a powerful force of good, and let’s hope it does.”
Anyone can participate in Plus It Forward. To get started, people should visit the website to read the inspirational stories, then go out and do something kind and share their story under the “Plus It Stories” tab.
Further information about Plus It Forward can be found at www.plusitforward.org.
About Plus It Forward
Plus It Forward was created by a group of passionate members and employees of Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union to encourage people to spread kindness and inspire others to do the same. The Plus It Forward website and “You’ve Been Challenged” cards provide tangible pieces to support the movement. The website serves as an archive for stories shared by those who perform and receive acts of kindness and allows site visitors to print a “You’ve Been Challenged” card with a unique code. As the card gets passed from one person to the next, those who have performed and received acts of kindness include the code in their story to track the ripple effect one act of kindness can have. For more information about Plus It Forward, visit www.plusitforward.org.