Surprise coffees, helping less fortunate and other random acts of kindness by Calgarians

Throughout the month of December, CBCstations across the countryinvite you to helpMake the Season Kindas we celebrate the kindness of others with special programming and acoming together in support of local charities.

In Calgary, for 36years, residents have been donating to the Calgary Food Bank through CBC/Radio-Canada's annual Food Bank Drive, raising more than $21million. This year, fromDec. 3 to 24, join us virtually for special broadcasts, events, auctions and online sales while helping us reach our goal of $1 million to the Calgary Food Bankfrom the comfort of your home.

• Clickhereto donate to the Calgary Food Bank

Put a smile on yourface and the faces of others by sharing your story of how you showed or received an act of kindness this year, and be entered to win a local prize pack. Your act of kindness may even be featured on CBC Calgary.Maybe you or someone you know picked up groceries for an elderly neighbour? Organized a virtual play date? Got a call from a long lost friend that made your day? Sewed homemade masks, or sent coffee to your local front-line workers?

No act of kindness is too big or too small.

Here are some of the wonderful stories we've received so far, with thanks to all who wrote or called in to CBC Calgary and even more, to all of those who are carrying outthese random acts of kindness in the community. We'll share more of these heart-warming acts that have been shared with usin the days ahead, on theCalgary Eyeopener, The Homestretch, the CBC Calgary's website and social media.

From Val Lumi

"I received an act of kindness from my sister, Aurora. I was having a rough day and I spoke with her briefly in the morning.Later that day,I received a call from an UberEats driver. He told me mycoffee delivery was in the lobby. I didn't know what he was talking about. When I went down, I realized what it was. My sister had asked a Starbucks barista to write a sweet message and had ordered me a latte and a bag of coffee beans. She had then ordered Ubereats driver to drop it off. I started crying immediately. She is so thoughtful and knows exactly what to do to make people's days."

From Dawn Baisley

"My daughter stopped today to help a homeless girl, around her own age. The young girl was sitting on a curb, warming up her feet with a candle that appeared to be garbage, old and the glass wasbroken. My daughter gave her warm mittens andtoque off of her hands and head, a blanket from her car and asked her if she was hungry. She drove to McDonald's and bought her the chicken burger and coffee she asked for. I'm a very PROUD mother."

From Heather Parker

"On a walk with my husband, we noticed a man standing in the middle of the street talking to a person in a truck. He looked familiar so we walked over. It was an acquaintance who used to volunteer at my former place of work. He had slowly been losing his eyesight and was mostly blind now. The sidewalks were very icy and he'd lost his bearings and was asking for directions. I decided to walk him most of the home to help him navigate the icy sidewalks without getting lost again. It was a lovely walk back with reminisces."

From KamalJohal

"Today I went into Walmart in Royal Oak and I saw a lady with a sign asking for some financial help. It was very cold and I did not have any cash on me. So I finished my shopping and I was about to leave the store but then I felt like I needed to help this person so I bought a gift card. I gave it to her and said I wish you a Merry Christmas. I think this was the best part of my day. Gratitude is the attitude to take care of each other."

From Carrie Hopson Stewart

"We shovel our neighbours walk when it snows!"

From Ivy Hoffman

"My act of kindness was assisting an elderly man at the grocery store. The gentleman was quite bent over, walking very slowly, pushing the grocery cart to his vehicle. I asked if I could help load his groceries and return his cart. He was so grateful for my assistance, which was a mere matter of minutes. It felt so wonderful to help someone, especially in a time when we're avoiding others. It was a gift that went both ways."

FromJennifer Batycky

"We have a lovely Grade 9 student, Gemma, who organized a school-wide season of giving in our school. It included donations from each grade level of items to support the Calgary Calgary Drop-In Centre. The Griffith Woods school community responded with enthusiasm and we have thousands of items from bus tickets, to chapsticks to socks and toiletries to bring to the drop-in centre this week. Gemma has organized the classrooms to help write cards of kindness and create packages to hand out to those in need."

From Annea-Mari Whitnack-Goodeagle

"This story is about an act of kindness my daughter Emily did last week. Her father and I asked her to go please shovel the sidewalk and pathway like we usually do. She shovels our sidewalk, and also threeneighbours' sidewalks too. She meets the third neighbour halfway shoveling and says hello. Then Emily shovels another neighbour's walkway leading to their gate. As Emily was shoveling their path, the neighbour Janice opens her door and tells Emily 'Thank you for shoveling.'Emily replies 'No Problem!'After she was done shoveling. She came home and was excited to tell me about the 'thank you'she got. It was just a thank you, but it really made her day."

WATCH | Calgarians make a coffee run to help the Calgary Food Bank

Cars line up for coffee to kick off CBC's food bank drive

3 years ago

Duration 1:08

One Gray Knight coffee is back and Calgarians lined up bright and early to get theirs and contribute to the Calgary Food Bank.

Again you canshareyour storywith us of how you showed or received an act of kindness this year with an online formhereor 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 at403-521-6209 or The Homestretch403-521-6244.

You'll be entered in a chance to winprize packs that include:

• Julie Van Rosendaal'sCookies I Have Lovedcookbook.
• A limited-editionMilk Jarcandle.
• A $50 gift card toBowtie Pizza.
• A 36-piece box of salted caramel chocolates fromMaster Chocolate.
• A chocolate gingerbread person fromcochu Chocolatier.
• A wooden CBC-engraved tree ornament.
• A 12-ouncebag of One Gray Knight coffee beans fromFratello Coffee Roasters.
• A limited-edition One Gray Knight coffee mug.
• CBC Calgary winter swag (retro socks, toque, scarf, mittens).

Deadline to enter to win is Friday, Dec. 17, at noon MT.

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