Handing out sandwiches to those who are cold and hungry.
Baking 5,000 cookies for various causes.
Holding a door.
Each gesture 㽶Ƶֱ great or small 㽶Ƶֱ kicks off a ripple of kindness that spreads far beyond the source.
They won㽶Ƶֱt fill the void left by a sister taken too soon, but each serves as a small salve in the grieving process for Greater Victoria teen Felix Townsin.
㽶ƵֱIt㽶Ƶֱs not easy to keep going when grief feels so heavy, but every act of love we inspire feels like she is still right here with us,㽶Ƶֱ Felix told Victoria News. 㽶ƵֱLexi was pure love.
㽶ƵֱShe had the biggest heart and made everyone feel like the best version of themselves. She 㽶Ƶֱ just wanted to give and feel love. That was her gift to the world, and even though she㽶Ƶֱs no longer here, her love continues to inspire everything we do.㽶Ƶֱ
The Royal Bay Secondary student was nine when he lost his little sister. After battling the rare genetic disorder Blau Syndrome, Lexi Townsin died at the age of six 㽶Ƶֱ just weeks before what would have been her seventh birthday, Dec. 16, 2019. That milestone, followed so closely by what was a joyful family favourite 㽶Ƶֱ Christmas 㽶Ƶֱ makes the month particularly challenging for the Victoria teen and his family.
㽶ƵֱThe holidays without her are excruciating,㽶Ƶֱ Felix said. 㽶ƵֱI was just 9, and we didn㽶Ƶֱt know how to celebrate her birthday without her. Then we started talking about how Lexi didn㽶Ƶֱt want presents; she wanted love. That㽶Ƶֱs something we could still give.㽶Ƶֱ
Last year he targeted 500 acts of love. This year, Lexi㽶Ƶֱs legacy lives on in Felix㽶Ƶֱs campaign to document A Million Acts of Love by what would have been her 12th birthday on Dec. 16.
UPDATE:
㽶ƵֱOne million is more than just a number 㽶Ƶֱ it㽶Ƶֱs a movement,㽶Ƶֱ Felix told Victoria News. 㽶ƵֱIt shows the power of collective action, of people coming together to make the world a kinder place. We all have causes we care about, but when we work together, the impact is even greater. When we reach one million acts, it will mean that Lexi's love has touched a million lives. It㽶Ƶֱs proof that even though she㽶Ƶֱs gone, her spirit continues to make the world a better place.㽶Ƶֱ
The years of 㽶Ƶֱspreading Lexi love㽶Ƶֱ are still filled with heavy grief and doses of inspiring acts of love.
An education assistant at John Stubbs school has painted and shared more than 1,000 rocks with uplifting messages. The Reynolds secondary robotics club has documented more than 400 acts of love by mentoring younger students.
On Dec. 14, the campaign partners with Lumara Grief Group in Vancouver to distribute socks, gloves and snacks to people in need on Vancouver㽶Ƶֱs Eastside.
㽶ƵֱWe㽶Ƶֱll bring music to brighten the day and create moments of connection and love,㽶Ƶֱ Felix said.
An act of love can be as simple as supporting the campaign tree in the Bay Centre㽶Ƶֱs Festival of Trees, where funds raised benefit the BC Children㽶Ƶֱs Hospital.
㽶ƵֱThe impact has been life-changing 㽶Ƶֱ not just for me, but for so many others,㽶Ƶֱ Felix said. 㽶ƵֱI have transformed my pain into purpose and it has helped me survive this loss.㽶Ƶֱ
A kid called Cal comes to mind. The boy struggled in school until his education assistant introduced him to A Million Acts of Love which turned into feeding his classmates through Cal and Amanda's Cookin' for Lexi.
㽶ƵֱThey ended up making 1,008 meals and treats for his school community. His education assistant said his confidence grew by 1,000 per cent, and his mom told me it transformed his life. 㽶ƵֱThis campaign isn㽶Ƶֱt just about the people receiving acts of love 㽶Ƶֱ it㽶Ƶֱs about the incredible transformation for the givers too. Showing kindness builds community and resilience.㽶Ƶֱ
The campaign is creatively designed to be as accessible as possible. To know they㽶Ƶֱve reached one million, they need people to sign up at and give their name and number. Sharing stories is optional but welcome online using #amillionactsoflove and @amillionactsoflove or by emailing .
Felix plans to push on with kindness into 2025, encouraging folks to join the #Love365 Challenge.
㽶ƵֱIt㽶Ƶֱs not about money or grand gestures 㽶Ƶֱ it㽶Ƶֱs something people of all ages and backgrounds can do. As we head into a new year, we are challenging people to sign up for 365 Acts of Love 㽶Ƶֱ one small, intentional act of kindness every day for a year. Imagine the difference we could make if everyone did that.㽶Ƶֱ