February 17th was National Random Acts of Kindness Day, and a great reminder to show generosity throughout our local community.
Tallahassee is home to businesses that are dedicated to nurturing a culture of warmth and belonging. As the founder of a nonprofit organization uniting local businesses, I have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of kindness. My goal with creating the Joy Squad has been to promote an environment where everyone is welcome and encourage acts of kindness in our community. Together, we uplift our community and deliver joy to people in meaningful ways.
What started as a passion project rooted in contributing to my community through genuine acts of kindness, organically grew to creating a group called the Joy Squad, which hopes to inspire others in the community to spread joy. Collaboration is at the heart of what we do and by coming together with local businesses and residents of Tallahassee, I wanted to build a supportive and positive network that uplifts one another and creates a sense of belonging.
Through our organization, members can transform the community into a place where everyone feels valued and appreciated, one act of kindness at a time.
Photo from Feb. 17, 2025 when members of Joy Squad went into the community on National Random Acts of Kindness Day.
To mobilize these efforts, I established a Facebook group which has been an instrumental tool in bringing this vision to life. It functions as a virtual community where members – including Tallahassee residents and business owners – can connect, support each other, and collaborate on initiatives to enhance the well-being of our community. By coordinating volunteers, sharing updates, and promoting positivity, the Facebook group enables us to effectively mobilize resources and further our mission of spreading joy.
Recently, over 50 businesses in the Big Bend region collaborated to spread joy on National Random Acts of Kindness Day. I was thrilled to see kindness in action as we canvassed various areas across the community to uplift the spirits of our neighbors by distributing goodies and gift cards generously provided by participating businesses. Some individuals were pleasantly surprised while dining at a restaurant or waiting in line.
From supporting local businesses to organizing events that recognize law enforcement, I am dedicated to creating opportunities for people to connect and uplift one another throughout the year.
I am currently working with our members to plan the next activation which will take place in May during National Police Week. This will be the perfect opportunity to express gratitude to local law enforcement agencies for their unwavering service. The initiative will feature multiple pop-up events with goodies, food trucks, and fun activities for the officers to enjoy.
In addition to these events, I encourage everyone to spread joy and make a difference through simple acts of kindness. Small gestures, such as holding the door open, offering a compliment, or helping a neighbor with their groceries, can create a ripple effect of positivity within our community. Research has shown that performing acts of kindness is a powerful antidote to loneliness, as it can boost our mood, improve relationships, and reduce social anxiety.
Ultimately, being kind is a powerful force that can bring about positive change in our lives and the lives of others. By choosing to act with kindness, we can spark positivity that extends far beyond our immediate surroundings. Together, we can build a world where everyone feels valued, respected, and loved.
I encourage everyone to look for groups making a difference in their community, like the Joy Squad, and see how they can get involved to spread kindness in their hometown.
Lee Collier
Lee Collier is the founder of the Joy Squad and is a nonprofit management professional with experience in fundraising and volunteer management.
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: The power of kindness can transform Tallahassee | Opinion
