You don’t need an excuse to be nice, but you’ll have one anyway this Friday, November 9: the WindsorEssex Community Foundation has designated it Random Act of Kindness Day.

Individuals and groups are encouraged to perform one simple act of kindness for someone else—neighbours, friends, co-workers, or someone they don’t even know—and hand them a card, inspiring them to do the same.

The effort has spread to campus, says Holly Ward, chief communications officer. She has arranged for the distribution of thousands of preprinted cards through the University of Windsor Students’ Alliance and at the CAW Student Centre information desk.

“The hope is to have participation across the University,” Ward says. “A Random Act of Kindness can be as simple as buying someone a coffee, paying for a stranger’s parking, or praising someone’s efforts. Let’s take a moment not only to recognize when someone does something nice for us, but to also do something nice in return.”

Her office has organized the distribution of a free gift to random recipients across campus.

“We’re not saying what it is, but it’s extremely portable and we’ll need a lot of people to give it all out,” says John Powell, director of web communications.

He invites individuals interested in volunteering for an hour starting at 11:30 a.m. Friday to contact him by Thursday at 519-253-3000, ext. 4497 or e-mail johnpow@uwindsor.ca.

More ideas, resources and stories are available at www.wecf.ca.