I’m a student at the University of Western Ontario in London, but originally from Guelph. I came home for a visit on the weekend, and as I headed back to London I realized I had forgotten my bus pass in Guelph. I was so frustrated with myself; bus passes are expensive, I had already payed for it, and now I would have to pay for the bus every day (about 4 busses a day at $2.75 each) until my parents could mail my bus pass to me. Naturally, when it came in the mail I was very relieved. I was on the bus the next day, pleased about not having to pay the extra fare, when an older woman came on the bus. She was distressed because she had forgotten her pass and only had a $10 bill, the bus driver was informing her that she would have to get off at the next stop and she looked so defeated, I jumped at he chance to contribute to Karri Hour; I payed this womans bus fare in exact change; suddenly it didn’t seem like a waste of money when it was for someone who truly appreciated it. She was thankful, I felt good, but it felt so small.

Karri was this lively guy, who had such a huge impact, and I was just itching to make a bigger statement, to do something SO good for Karri hour.

The next day I had a friend tell me she had done essentially the same thing; paid someones bus fare when they were unable to do so, and that’s when it hit me; all these little things are not little at all, they all add up, and they all make a difference.

No good deed is too small, and no good deed goes to waste. A small change is still a change, and I find that extremely comforting. One good deed at a time, we are changing the world, the same way Karri changed each of us.

Ashlean Richardson

Our local pilots group has organized a field trip for children from Windwood Farm (windwoodfarm.org). These children come from troubled families, some abused or worse. It was a fulfilling experience to be able to introduce these kids to the world of aviation. Their interests in airplanes and flying are satisfying.

Nicholas Johannes

Since the start of this amazing movement, I have been trying to think of different things that I could do as my Karri Hour. I decided that while figuring out what I want to spend my Karri Hour doing each week, I would try and see the world the way that Karri did. To see the good in people – family, friends, acquaintances or strangers, instead of judging them. To lend a helping hand, because it helps someone, not because it benefits me. To listen to someone, and really hear what they have to say. Even offering a smile, because just a smile really can change things. Karri exemplified all of these things, and I was not only an observer, but a recipient of his actions, and I know it made a difference in my life. Trying to see the world “through Karri’s eyes” everyday has truly taken my breath away. To see how much we really can affect the world, even if it is just one person’s world, it is still a difference.

In the past couple of weeks, I have come to realize that I have been contributing to Karri Hour, without really realizing it. I realized that an hour a week is the same as about 9 minutes a day. 9 minutes, most of us spend more time than that driving to work, riding the bus to school, waiting for an appointment or class to start. There are 1440 minutes in a day, and 9 minutes each day adds up to a weekly Karri Hour. When I thought about it this way, I realized that I probably had done a Karri Hour each week, and had just not realized it. It may not have been 9 consecutive minutes each day, but most days it probably did add up to that. The most recent example I can think of happened the other day, while I was at work. I work at the hospital as Dietary Aide. On this particular day, I had delivered dinner trays and was on my way back around to collect them. An elderly patient, whom I had delivered dinner to more than once that week, let me know that she was finished with her tray, and as I took it away, she asked me if any of her family knew she was in the hospital. I only work the dinner hour, so I had to tell her that I didn’t know. But in the few nights I had seen her there, no one had been in her room with her. With tight timelines to meet in my shift it’s hard to stop and visit with a patient. But seeing the look on her face, I knew that I had to stop and chat with her for a few minutes. I sat with her for 5 minutes and listened as she told me about her family, her life. She never mentioned where she was from, so I didn’t know if her family was in town, or if they are far away and unable to visit. But as I left the room, she took my hand and said thank you, and smiled, which in the days I had seen her I had never seen a smile on her face. I realized then I made a difference in her day, and having to stay an extra few minutes at work was worth it. I went back at the end of the next shift I worked to spend some more time with her, but she was no longer in the room. Even though it was only 5 minutes, it was something.

I will admit that for the several weeks since this movement has started, I felt as though I hadn’t done anything that was worth posting about. I couldn’t find the words, nor did I feel there was much worth to the little things that I had tried to do. But then I thought about the kind of person Karri was. He didn’t do one hour of good a week, it was the way he lived his life. He was a positive person who made a positive impact on the world. See the world through Karri’s eyes. Some weeks I may do a consecutive hour, some weeks it may be 9 minutes a day. It took me awhile to realize, but just by being a better person it is contributing to Karri Hour.

Jill Skube

The other day, as I was rushing around after work completing various errands, I was approached by an older man on the street as I left the bank. Being my last stop on a dreary night, and tired from working all day, I was looking forward to finally getting home.

The man said something to me in accented English that I didn’t catch the first time. Admittedly I was tempted to duck my head and carry on towards my car across the street, but then Karri Hour popped into my head! Or Karri minute, or second, or whatever I wanted it to be. So I stopped and smiled at him instead and asked him to repeat himself. His request? For me to call the bus line to see when the next one would be coming, because he didn’t have a cell phone. Did I possibly have one and mind calling? My pleasure, of course! How privileged I felt in that moment for everything I have, and to be able to help him out with such a small part of his day. I then wished I could offer him a ride too, but didn’t have space in the car for his wife as well, who was sitting a few feet away.

Realistically helping this couple took me less time than to brush my teeth at night, and I can’t believe I almost opted not to. So, to Pete and Tracy and Lexi and co., thanks for starting this movement to get us to act more like Karri, and reminding us of how easy that can be.

Paula MacDonald

Hey Kar,

I know it’s been a while since I decided i would pledge myself to donating an hour a week of my free time by trying to make the world a better place, in your honour. But as the days went by, I couldn’t help but struggle with an idea that I felt was good enough to deserve to be named my “Karri-Hour”. Then, my younger sister was telling me how she was on students council at John F Ross, and that she had been put in charge of setting up the weekly fundraising donations, called Save the Future. There is also a large fundraiser right before Christmas (F.R.O.S.T.Y.), where thousands of dollars are raised each year for various charities. She was struggling with an idea for a proper charity to donate too, and ways to maximize donations. That’s when we both decided there would be nothing better than to have some of the donations given to the scholarship fund in your honour. Why not give back to our old high school, by spreading the word of Karri Hour to all of the present students and faculty at Ross. Receive donations for the scholarship fund as the charity, but more importantly, let them take the message home and share it with their families and friends, because this is how your legacy will live on, through all of us. So that’s when we decided to spend our Karri-Hour together, talking over ideas for F.R.O.S.T.Y. and Save the Future. She seemed very enthused, and it’s my hope that this is proof that the students at Ross will hop on board very quickly, because this is a wonderful concept your family created to honour your memory.

Miss you everyday

Kyle

Today I gave a homeless man $20.00 and told him it was from Karri. The homeless man said “God bless Karri”. I said, “yes, he does.” He then said, “please thank him” and I did.

Karen Sorensen

For weeks now I’ve been checking the site, reading people’s lovely selfless acts and being reminded how simple it can be to be a better person. I’ve wanted to post, but just didn’t know where to start. Karri features in my memory more times a day that I can count. I feel as though every little thing reminds me of him…my internet pop ups are flashing ‘Texas’ in my face, royal blue is the colour of the season, and ofcourse baseball baseball baseball. My part in Karri hour
most recently has been to share his legacy with anyone that cares to listen. For the first while following his departure, I hadn’t known how to process everything that seemed to be happening at light speed. But with the outpouring devotion and support that this beautiful Karri Hour movement has influenced, it’s become clear that he is still very much a current feature in everyone’s lives and we owe it to him to keep the momentum and get more people on board. Nowadays, anytime
someone shows me kindness, or reminisces on an act of kindness they received, I tell them about our beautiful boy Karri, and the Karri Hour movement, and hope that they too will spread the word and the good deeds.

Thanks for reading, and friends, please keep posting!

Making a difference starts with a smile for Karri Hour 🙂

Today Ron went to Tim Horton’s drive-thru at lunch and ordered 14 Smile cookies – Karri’s Favourite number! He asked them to be individually bagged. When he got to the window to pay the cashier he asked her to give them out to the next 14 people in line behind him. The cashier looked surprised then 2 other employees came to the drive-thru window looking at each other, all of them with them wearing Smile t-shirts. Ron then explained Karri Hour to them. They all said
“Wow Really! That’s So Cool!”

Tim Hortons Smile cookies help make a difference in your community since the entire proceeds from the sale of Smile Cookies will be donated to local charities, hospitals & community programs coast to coast.

Making a difference One Karri Hour At A Time!

Ron and Kim Collins

I have generally always been a kind and helpful person. It was not until recently, actually yesterday, when doing one of these acts of kindness that I realized that they were not always selfless. Yesterday, I noticed an older woman coming closer to an establishment that I was already in and as a gesture of kindness and goodwill I got up from my chair and opened the door for her. When she didn’t say “Thank you”, after this gesture, my instinct was to become angry –
after all, when someone does something nice for another person , shouldn’t there be some sort of recognition. And then as if an apple had fallen on my head, Eureka!!! When you engage in an act of kindness, it is meant to be just that – KIND. I realized then, that all along I have been always kind and helpful in a very selfish manner. It was almost in an effort to make myself feel better that I was this way – a sort of reassurance, if I am kind and helpful, I must be a good person. Thinking of Karri and Karri Hour, my attitude towards acts of kindness has changed 100%.
Now, with Karri in mind every time I engage in an act of kindness, my acts are completely selfless – they are committed with no expectation of recognition.

Kylee Erwin

Not a story, just a feel good.

I just received my Karri Hour Beautiful Necklace that I ordered last week. It is amazing. Please order one, It is beautiful and delicate. How becoming and fitting for such an amazing young person. Tracy, Pete and Lexi: I wear it with total admiration for you as a family! You are doing an amazing job! We love you.

Sue McKellar, Jim, James and Meg!!