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I am a big believer in the power of small acts of kindness. Sometimes the simplest of ideas can bring a smile to many, many people and, I really do think, that given the chance, most folks find comfort and warmth in being lovely to a fellow human being.
Helen Robertson from H & Co in George Street has taken one of these small acts of kindness and transformed it into a month long Festive Feel-Good Factor. You are going to love this!
This year, Perth and Kinross Council were gifted eleven Christmas trees from Scottish Woodlands at Thornhill. Leigh and Gail in City Centre Management thought it would be a nice idea to offer them out to city centre businesses on a first come first served basis. The hope was that retailers would decorate them in lots of Christmassy baubles, and as we all bustled about town doing our Christmas Shopping, the added sparkle of these real trees would bring some extra Christmas Cheer.
So far, so wonderful! Eleven businesses signed up to join in and Arek Nowrotek, the co-ordinator for the Unpaid Work Team, offered the services of his group to collect, deliver and place all trees within the city centre. The Unpaid Work Team initiative allows offenders the possibility of repaying their crime by doing free work for the benefit of the community. Over the festive period they have carried out a lot of great work in the town.
On receiving her tree, Helen set about decorating it and it was at this point she had her lightbulb moment and this gorgeous gift became even more special. She called upon her fellow indie businesses (and the Museum of course!) in George Street and invited them to gift a voucher for what was now called, The George Street Tree.
Almost everyone said yes straight away, and Helen's hope of twelve days stretched into an entire advent calender of goodies! From Tuesday 1st December to Christmas Eve, there will be one voucher each day placed on tree for visitors in George Street to find and keep. These vouchers will be added at various times of the day to allow the gift giving to be completely random. How’s that for proper, glorious Christmas Cheer? I told you you'd love it!
Shops involved so far include:
H & CO There are also various business cards on tree for people to take and of course, a few #PerthLoveFest postcards (thanks to Helen).
I think a huge Festive High Five is in order for the George Street Indies. Good luck to everyone who picks up a prize. Do send us your pics and let us know what you won!
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NOW… While George Street businesses are giving, it seems that someone else has decided to do the taking! Eva Lucia is one of the businesses to have received a tree last Thursday and the team there spent ages decorating it with over one hundred baubles!
Would it last? I wanted so much to say yes (my entire philosophy of 'people are basically good' comes into question otherwise!) but it seems that 48 hours was the maximum time before temptation kicked in and someone nicked all the baubles. By the time Sunday had come round the entire 6ft tree had vanished from its spot on Scott Street! That's right, they stole THE WHOLE DAMN THING!
Even more bizarrely, by Monday it been returned! Although it still has no baubles. So, let’s extend the Festive Cheer. Why not walk by Eva Lucia’s Scott Street Tree and pop a bauble on a branch? Its time to prove that a little kindness trumps a Christmas Grinch everytime!
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Spot the other nine ‘Adopt A Tree’ businesses as you shop - we love this blue sparkly one from Cafe Tabou!
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