Kindness in a cup

A month-long class project to bring greater sense of care to the city continued with free hot chocolate at the Water Street bus terminal.

Students from Lakehead University served the warm beverage to passengers as they came on and off the city buses Tuesday morning. The students said they wanted to do something to show random acts of kindness.

"We were tasked with the challenge of coming up with a project that gave back to the community," said Erin Carter, one of the students involved in the project. "We came up with a project that really was able to bring all the talents of the students together."

Carter said the 22 students from the Environmental Education program held events throughout February, from free hugs to giving post cards to senior’s homes. She said the students wanted to make Thunder Bay the hub of caring and loving.

The students handed out hot chocolate and free hugs for the first time on Monday morning. Carter said they served 60 cups of hot chocolate to passengers and ran out within an hour. She hoped to do the same Tuesday.

She said people’s first reaction was cautious when given the free hot chocolate.

"At first there is a real tentativeness like you’re going to give me a free hot chocolate," she said. "Then there is a real sense of (amazement), followed by a real engagement. They say this is the most amazing thing to start off my day."

The project ends on Friday with the students giving out post cards to senior’s homes.