The City of Delta is making it a little easier for the public to help local non-profits through a colourful new initiative.
Kindness Meters have been installed in various locations as part of the launch of the Kindness Counts Program this Saturday, Nov. 13, coinciding with World Kindness Day.
The initiative is a partnership with the Delta School District, Delta's Community Resilience and Economic
Recovery Support Team (CRERST) and the Delta Community Foundation.
Aimed at supporting community resilience and promote public art, the program sees the repurposing of five decommissioned double-headed parking meters obtained from another municipality to collect spare change for local service groups.
To promote and encourage youth engagement and public art, local high school student artists were invited to design and paint the meters while incorporating the themes “We Love Delta” and “kindness”.
The meters will be located at the North Delta Social Heart, Sungod Recreation Centre, Ladner Village,
City Hall and the Tsawwassen Town Centre.
The artworks have been created by Ava Burbank from Burnsview Secondary, Kyla Dooley from Seaquam Secondary, Claire Peters from Delta Secondary, Jill Baccay from Delview Secondary and Ella Koehn from South Delta Secondary.
“Over the last 20 months, I have seen firsthand how Delta residents have come together to support each other through this pandemic,” said city manager Sean McGill in a news release. “I have seen how small acts of kindness do count, and how much kindness can build community spirit during a difficult time. Delta’s kindness meters are a feel-good initiative aimed at giving back to local organizations helping those in need across our community. Not only will the meters collect donations, but they will also serve as beautiful pieces of public art, thanks to the incredible work of Delta’s student artists.”
The Delta Community Foundation will manage the collection and distribution of Kindness Meter donations on behalf of and at no cost to Delta.
To promote the Kindness Counts Program, Delta is also unveiling a video, which will be shared on social media on World Kindness Day.
The Kindness Counts social media campaign runs from Nov. 13 to 30 and will feature a daily suggested random act of kindness, as well as a social media contest aimed at showcasing how Delta residents and businesses spread kindness across the community.
Mayor George Harvie said he’s excited to see the community-based initiative’s launch to spread messages of positivity and start conversations about how to be kind to ourselves and others.
Delta School Board chair Val Windsor said the project is a wonderful way for students to share their creativity and love for the community, while at the same time helping to support local charities.
Delta Community Foundation vice-chair Carlene Lewall said the initiative speaks to the heart of why the organization has served Delta for the past 35 years, supporting local charities with donations from the community.
