Even a small kind gesture has the power to lift spirits so Sudbury.com is sharing your kindness stories.
In light of COVID-19, our news feeds have become overloaded with breaking news and daunting headlines.
While we are committed on keeping the community informed with the latest news, Sudbury.com wants to highlight the helpers and focus on the positive things that are happening in our city.
Here are this week's kindness headlines.
A message of gratitude
The Sudbury Kindness Rocks Project left messages of appreciation for frontline workers at the Health Sciences North by placing colourfully painted stones outside the hospital.
Thank you Lia!
Lia and her mother are members of Magical Paws Pet Therapy group. Since February, they have regularly visited Finlandia Village with their canine friend Luna.
Lia misses visiting all residents of the Village with Luna and her mom and figured the residents must miss them too, so she spent a day creating special greeting cards for all the dog lovers in the Nursing Home.
Keeping our city clean
Callie Démoré, along with her friends Kaylie and Kyle Bellefeuille, decided to give back to the community by cleaning up graffiti off the building and signs at Greater Sudbury's Kalmo Beach.
Food packages for families in need
Triple Star Acre Farm in Blezard is helping families by giving away meat packages every Friday during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We realize this past month and the many weeks ahead will be challenging and uncertain times for many," the farm said on its Facebook page.
Each week, Triple Star Acre Farm is giving away food packages that include a whole chicken, steaks, pork chops, sausages, fresh brown eggs and a fresh bread.
"We hope it will help in these unprecedented times."
If you know someone in need, visit the farm's Facebook page to find out how you can help.
Sewers unite to provide hospital with more than 1100 home-made cloth masks
To help keep the community healthy and safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, Health Sciences North partnered with Sudbury Steam Cleaners and issued a challenge to all Northeastern Ontario sewers to make as many cloth face masks as possible.
These masks are being given out to all approved visitors, patients who are going home, as well as members of the broader community. More than 950 have been given out so far.
Click here to find out how you can help.
ProStitch supports essential workers with reusable isolation gowns
Jarlette Health Services, which operates the Elizabeth Centre long-term care home in Val Caron, would like to recognize the incredible team at ProStitch in Sudbury for making reusable isolation gowns for use in long-term care homes and retirement lodges.
"We will be receiving 2,000 gowns for our dedicated and tireless teams to use as they continue to extend our tradition of excellence in care to our residents." Jarlette Health Services said in a post on its Facebook page.
"We have had the opportunity to work with so many wonderful and creative vendors in these past few weeks and we are grateful for their commitment to support essential services."
RV's for Health care workers
A Facebook group called RV's for Health care workers arranged temporary homes for health-care workers in an effort to keep their vulnerable family members safe from COVID-19.
Find more information on how you can help visit the group's Facebook page.
Mucho Burrito shows support for frontline health care workers
Mucho Burrito Fresh Mexican Grill, located at 1250 Lasalle Boulevard, asked the public to nominate front line health care workers who could use a free lunch delivered to their workplace.
"We know you work hard, and we want to make sure you and your coworkers are well fed," the local business said in a Facebook post.
"We wanted to do something extra special to show how much we truly appreciate not just the hard work, but the risk that health care workers take each and every day to keep the rest of us healthy and safe."
The winner of the draw was Jenn Messier who works in the respiratory care department at Health Sciences North.
Glencore Donates $50K to help keep the Sudbury Food Bank running
Glencore’s Sudbury Integrated Nickel Operations (Sudbury INO) donated $50,000 to the Sudbury Food Bank specifically to help cover operational costs.
“We are pleased to be able to increase our support to Sudbury Food Bank during this challenging time,” said Rob Roeterink, Sudbury INO’s Strathcona Mill director, who also sits as member of the Food Bank board of directors. “As a long-time partner, we value the work that Sudbury Food Bank does. We witness the incredible community need that the dedicated team and volunteers work to provide for, year over year.
“The Food Bank continues to make a difference to thousands of families in the local community, and the pandemic situation makes the challenge and the need even greater. This is further proof that the work of the Sudbury Food bank is critical, and is at the heart of the Sudbury community. We thank the entire organization for their tireless work.”
PPE fundraiser
Sudbury business R. Plumbing held a personal protective equipment fundraiser for health-care providers. Countless local businesses came together and raised $4,000 to deliver 7,000 dust masks and 5,500 gloves to those working in the front lines.
Truckers salute frontline health-care workers at HSN
On April 18, a convoy of big rigs rolled passed Health Sciences North in a trucker tribute to the efforts of health-care workers on the front line of the COVID-19 pandemic. Watch the video below as dozens of trucks drove past the hospital blowing their air horns in salute.
Sudbury Police salute at HSN
Greater Sudbury Police showed their support and solidarity for the health care workers at Health Sciences North on April 8. See video below.
A big thanks to the @SudburyPolice for their show of support and solidarity tonight! Much appreciated. 💙🧡
— Health Sciences North (@HSN_Sudbury) April 9, 2020
Merci au Service de police du Grand Sudbury pour son geste d’appui et de solidarité ce soir. Nous vous sommes reconnaissants. pic.twitter.com/fiinTn2uYd
Let the Pioneers Choir 'put a little love in your heart'
Residents at Pioneer Manor put a little love in our hearts with a video showing their appreciation for all health care and frontline workers. The video, which you can see below, is a compilation of residents, staff and choir volunteers all lip synching to Jackie DeShannon's hit song Put a Little Love in Your Heart. The video was produced by choir director and Sudbury musician Joanne Polack (also known as JoPo).
Sudbury girl struggling with isolation gets an amazing visitor
Like many parents, Sudbury mother Bianca Charrette has been seeing the impact the pandemic is having on her three-year-old daughter, Tiffany. Not only is Tiffany missing her friends, her concern and anxiety related to COVID-19 has been giving her nightmares.
Dressed as Queen Anna from Disney's Frozen, local performer Kassie Taylor made Tiffany's day with a special Disney-themed message about isolation.
Watch the video below to see Tiffany's reaction.
If you live in Greater Sudbury and would like to book a special social distancing visit with Elsa or Anna outside your home, email Kassie Taylor at [email protected] or send her a private message on Facebook here.
Finlandia Village 'twists' their way through the pandemic
Finlandia Village posted this video of its residents on Rivitalo Hill who are keeping their spirits up while sharing their dance moves and practicing physical distancing.
Sudbury family sings light-hearted COVID-19 rendition of 'Don't Worry, Be Happy'
Sisters Faith and Alysha Rivette made a COVID-19 rendition of Bobby McFerrin's "Don't Worry, Be Happy."
Their father Chad Rivette said his daughters came up with the idea in hopes the song would bring joy to their friends and family during these difficult times.
"We are a very close family," Rivette said. "It’s been hard not being able to see one another, so this was a way for them to reach out to their friends and family to brighten their day."
Read even more good news that has happened in Greater Sudbury in the past month here, here and here.
If you received an act of kindness, no matter how small - we want to hear about it!
Do you know a quiet hero that is going out of their way to deliver happiness to his or her neighbours? Tell us about them!
Share your act of kindness story and photos using the hashtag #COVIDKindness or email your stories to us at [email protected].
Together we can create some good news in our community.
