The Helping Hands Society of Cochrane and Area is looking for all good-doers to step forward.

The Christmas Kindness Challenge kicked off last week and will run now until Christmas. Jackie Shier, Executive Director, shares it is the perfect opportunity to help your neighbour, friend or community member at large. "This is encouraging people to think over the Christmas season that they might be able to do something; maybe it's making a meal, shovelling a walk, chipping the ice or baking some cookies. Just going outside what your normal routine is and think of how you could help someone in your neighbourhood." 

Once you have a completed an act of kindness, you are invited to help light up the wall at Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre. "We are talking about how you can brighten your neighbour's day; we've got some little Christmas light bulbs here and we would love to see what people are doing. So write down your random act of kindness that you performed for Christmas on the front of the bulb."

Shier will also brighten someone's day by giving away a pool pass, movie passes, and dinner at HalfHitch Brewery for those that leave their name and contact info on the back of the wall ornament.

This is the second year Helping Hands has run the random act of kindness initiative, Shier is hoping to beat last year's numbers. "Last year we got about 300 random acts so this year we're hoping for at least 400 or 500. We think the location of the wall in the Sports Centre is fabulous because there is so much more traffic down here and a lot more people are going to be seeing it and hopefully want to participate."

If you have a certain skill set, Shier says look around and share it with your neighbours around you. If you need creative ideas the society will be posting suggestions here.