The annual celebration was founded by Anna Dravland of Marquette, who had been searching for a way to encourage people to spread goodness locally and around the globe.

The mission of the event is “to create an explosive atmosphere of empowerment worldwide that the simplest acts of goodness change the world every single day,” according to the Spread Goodness Day website. The day has been celebrated on a Friday in March each year since 2018.

This year, Dravland encourages people to participate however they see fit.

“People can spread goodness to the kids throughout the community with the books, to-go kits from Hot Plate Pottery, snack and treat bags from Donckers or any other idea they have to lift up our youth,” Dravland said in an email. “Other ways people can get involved is to simply consider who they want to spread goodness to. Get your school (or) work organization involved to collaborate and spread some goodness to the people who’ve made your life better … (during) this pandemic and beyond. Whether it’s your clients, your coworkers, your boss or even your husband or a good friend.”

Room at the Inn volunteers Gabriel Gonzalez, RATI Executive Director Nick Emmendorfer and Ashleigh Esch wash the windows of local businesses on Washington Street for Spread Goodness Day in March 2020. (Journal file photo)

One local example can be found with RE/MAX 1st Realty of Marquette, which is donating a variety of goods to the Upper Peninsula Animal Welfare Shelter in celebration of Spread Goodness Day today. The business, a long-time supporter of UPAWS, has worked to meet its goal of gathering two truckloads of donations for the nonprofit, said Erick Brooks, a licensed realtor at RE/MAX 1st Realty of Marquette.

“I came up with the idea for UPAWS back in early February at a RE/MAX business meeting. We were discussing what we could do collectively as a group to have a positive outcome on Spread Goodness Day. I am an animal lover and so is everyone at RE/MAX, so I figured we could spread goodness through the love of animals,” Brooks told The Mining Journal in an email on Wednesday. “We are fortunate to have an organization like UPAWS here in our community and what is a better way to recognize it then by (having) a Spread Goodn

“I contacted an official at UPAWS and she gave me a list of everything the shelter was in need of. We have been collecting for a couple of weeks and nearly have an office filled with donated goods.”

Brooks and the realty team set aside an empty office at the realty building. The team was dedicated to donating the goods that UPAWS regularly needs to keep its facility running.

“This is a wonderful act of goodness, giving back to help the shelter animals,” UPAWS officials said in an email on Wednesday. “We go through many supplies to take care of all the animals, and the community’s help with donations is essential.”

Members of the RE/MAX 1st Realty team display some of the many supplies they are donating today to the Upper Peninsula Animal Welfare Shelter in Sands Township. Pictured at back from left are Mike Golisek, Shannon Jackson and Erick Brooks. At center from left are Pam Johnson, Kristine Goupille, Paula Lutey and Patty Nofal. At front from left are Tracy Henriksen, Danielle Hammond and Kellie Hillier. This is one example of how Spread Goodness Day is being celebrated today in Marquette. (Courtesy photo)

With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Dravland said previously that this year’s specific mission is to overwhelm the social and news media with goodness, Dravland said. People around the world are invited to share #spreadgoodnessday or #brightfuture in their Spread Goodness Day social media post during the socially distant event.

To learn more about Spread Goodness Day and how individuals, businesses and organizations are participating today, visit www.spreadgoodnessday. com or its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pg/ spreadgoodnessday.

Katie Segula can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 242. Her email address is ksegula@miningjournal.net.