3 Things to Love in February

February is the month of love. When giddy, head-over-heels, lovers of the world part with huge amounts of cash to make a statement. There is another ‘official day’ that celebrates the love of good things and kindness.

February 17th has been long recognised in the United States as Random Acts of Kindness Day. The combination of random and kind we reckon makes a massive statement and delivers a huge dose of feelgood factor. It makes the world that little bit nicer for someone.

Whether random or otherwise, these stories celebrate the kindness of others. The kinds of people and actions we send our heartfelt gratitude to with a ‘virtual Thankbox’.

Go ahead - make their day

Celebrating good people in life is so easy with a Thankbox. One click and you're on the way to spreading love and smiles for a special person.

Create a Thankbox Set a Reminder

(Not) Only the Lonely

Lockdown saw an outpouring of innovation, togetherness and kindness. It’s as if, once the cut and thrust of normal life went, we remembered what being human is about. Lockdown also highlighted the plight of the lonely. And it brought a crashing halt to many activities and ways of life.

Live entertainment was near-obliterated overnight. In a gesture of generosity singer and sax player Chloe Edwards-Wood decided, if you can’t come to the music then the music can come to you. And so Give a Song sprang to life for people in and around Lewisham, London.

Dancin’ in the Street

Working with Goldsmiths Community Centre, Give a Song immediately struck a chord with local residents. The first notes to Dancin’ in the Street hit the airwaves outside the home of an isolated lady. Fast forward 18 months and a whole team of musicians and creatives bring joy and togetherness to families and individuals. Those isolated, in care homes, or with limited social interaction through illness now feel part of something.

Chloe Edwards-Wood from Give a Song playing sax in street with guitarist

It’s a perfect mix. Musicians too get to retain a sense of purpose and value, and those unable to volunteer their talents get paid through funding and donations. It removes barriers and sounds like a lot of fun for everyone involved. With near 500 ‘gigs’ and 8,000 ‘concert non-goers’ benefitting so far, that's a lot of genuine kindness. Beats a dedication on the radio anyday.

Park That Fine. Mum Helps Mum.

Small things can make huge differences. Ok, so it's an overused cliche, yet one that doesn't apply to the actions of one kind mum to another.

A free parking ticket blew over when mum, Selena Mills, placed it on her dashboard and shut the door. Returning to the car with her two kids she found a £25 Fixed Penalty Notice for not displaying a ticket. Her shock turned to tears when she found two additional notes. One was £20, the other read "From 1 mum to another."

Selena Mills parking ticket and Act of Kindness note from Sonia Robinson

Selena tracked the kind person down - Sonia Robinson. She decided to make Selena's day better. Her motive? "Hopefully it can send the message we can all spread a little bit of love." Here's to that sentiment 🥂

Bags of (Cassava) Hope🤞

Plastic. It's in the press globally. All because it's in the oceans, soil, Antarctic, the snow on top of Mount Everest. It's cheap, it's damaging and it's everywhere.

Food staple, cassava is a starchy root. It's also long had a value way beyond its calories. One innovation recently announced in Australia is as a plastic bag alternative. Cassava Bags Australia produce non-toxic, dissolvable, bio-degradable bags. Direct substitutes for oil-based products, not a drop of palm oil gets used. The material is even safe for marine life to digest.

The big cassava difference is water. The cassava bag dissolves. Completely. No theoretical, lengthy composting or degradation. It just does it. This appeals to our core values. Here's hoping the economics become rapidly unstoppable and the technology spreads globally.