What started as a small Facebook group during the COVID-19 lockdown has grown into Burlington’s Community Kindness Connection, with over 3,000 members dedicated to helping one another.

Longtime Burlington resident Phyllis Alcantara-Zgirta founded the group to spread kindness, support neighbours, and bring people together. Today, members continue to help with everyday tasks such as running errands, shovelling snow, mowing lawns, and offering other acts of kindness, making the Burlington area a more caring and connected community.

The founder started Burlington’s Community Kindness Connection eight years ago with a simple goal of making it a normal part of everyday life to help others. Over time, the group’s reach has grown to include people from across the region and expanded beyond Facebook into real-life community events. At present, the group has a popular program, known as the weekly Nutrition Night at North Burlington Baptist Church every Wednesday, which brings together volunteers and families to share food, support one another, and build a stronger, kinder community.

The weekly Nutrition Night is about much more than food, as it brings together families, seniors, and individuals to meet, share their stories, and connect with services that can help them through difficult times. The group’s dedicated team of volunteers is always eager to help because they can see the positive difference they are making.

Alcantara-Zgirta hopes these acts of kindness continue to spread beyond Burlington, inspiring people across Ontario and Canada to help others and make kindness a part of everyday life.

Source: Chris Arnold, Village Report