AN IMPULSE that struck in a supermarket queue - to buy 100
Easter eggs and give them to strangers - was the beginning of a
kindness campaign in which hundreds of others repeated the
gesture.
The campaign Share the Miracle was the idea of Dan Usher, from
London, who said that, while he was queuing at a supermarket, the
idea came to him to buy 100 Easter eggs and give them away.
The response he received when he knocked on people's doors and
gave the eggs was so positive that he and a group of friends
decided to do it again the next year, and, under the banner of
Share the Miracle, some 7500 eggs were given away. Mr Usher hopes
that even more will be given out this year, along with an
invitation to an Easter service or other community event; and the
initiative is spreading beyond the UK to Romania.
Mr Usher said: "I believe that Easter is about new life and
hope; but I also recognise that it means many things to many
people. A group of students from Richmond Park Academy went out
last Easter, and they interviewed lots of passers-by, and asked
them: 'What does Easter mean to you?' The variety of responses
ranged from 'Time off with my family', and 'Hot-cross buns', to
'New life and hope' and 'Love'.
"We're encouraging people to reach out at Easter, believing that
relationships are key and community matters. We think that kindness
and invitation can act as a powerful catalyst to transform
situations, bringing about new friendships, the breaking down of
social barriers, and a whole lot more.
"For many Churches and Christian work-groups, Share the Miracle
has provided a simple and effective way to reach out at Easter.
They are using Share the Miracle creatively to reach out to all
areas of their community, including neighbours, colleagues in the
office, the homeless person at the end of their street, and victims
of human trafficking.
"I heard last week that one church is aiming to invite some of
their local homeless on a boat trip on the Thames. Others will
extend invitations to coffee mornings, dinner in their homes, men's
breakfasts, mums-and-toddlers groups, or Easter services.
"One church leader told me recently about a person in his
congregation who would never feel able to get involved in
'evangelism', but did feel confident when handing out eggs and
invitations."
This year, like last year, volunteers will visit Great Ormond
Street Hospital, in London, to hand out gifts to the children.