Community Corner

St. Patrick's Day Parade Will Be a Hug Fest

A San Ramon non-profit is looking for volunteers to help spread kindness during the St. Patrick's Day Parade.

Thanks to a local nonprofit attendees at the upcoming St. Patrick's Day parade in Dublin are likely to get something unexpected — a hug.

SpreadKindness.org aims to make the world a better place, one kind act at a time. For the second year in a row the local organization is gearing up to participate in Dublin's parade.

"We’re always looking to spread kindness to as many people as possible, so big gatherings like the parade are a great opportunity to do that," said Mark Haswell, of San Ramon, who founded the organization in February 2009 with his wife Maria. 

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Through various events and projects, the husband and wife team have helped bring kindness to local communities and they'll do that again at this year's parade.

"It’s also a lot of fun for our organization’s volunteers. Who wouldn’t want to be in a parade? And the crowd is really into it. Last year, we got a lot of smiles and cheers and hugs from the people along the parade route," added Haswell.

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The hope is that this kindness will become contagious. The organization believes that when someone is kind to you, you're more likely to be kind to someone else. They want people to take the kindness their receive and pass it on to others.

"We always enjoy the element of surprise we create at events like this. No one is really expecting a free hug when they show up for the parade. From their perspective, it’s definitely a ‘random’ act of kindness," said Haswell. 

SpreadKindness.org is looking for by walking in the parade on March 12, handing out candies, smiling, waving, hugging, and encouraging others to be kind.

For more information on how you can volunteer click .

"We really believe kindness has the power to change the world for the better. And everyone has the ability and opportunity to be kind. It may be one small, simple act at a time, in one little corner of the world, but it makes a difference, and it adds up," said Haswell.

"If everyone acted more kindly towards one another, more often, wouldn't the world be a better place?"


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