Prince George in British Columbia may be small, but it has always projected a sense of “big” when it comes to positive vibes. Just go look at one of its community Facebook groups, aptly named Hell Yeah, Prince George.

That’s where resident Bailey Grose went, a week ago, when she felt the weight of self-isolation becoming too heavy on her and she needed some spiritual uplifting.

She knew many other families in the community would be feeling the same level of anxiety for staying inside their homes all the time, and figured there could be a way to make everyone still feel connected.

With a simple message on the Facebook board, she launched a “Hearts Hunt” challenge: All anyone had to do was put a heart sign in their window, whether by painting it, colouring it, cutting it out of a fabric or printing it out on a paper, so, if anyone was walking outside, they would see the hearts in the windows and know Prince George was still a community that stands together, come hell or high water.

“It’s easy. No human contact. Get fresh air! Don’t buy toilet paper! Just put a heart in your window!” she wrote in her post, dated March 17.

Within a few days, the movement had caught the online fire and multiple sub-groups of “hearts hunts” had sprang up in dozens of communities across the world. Variations of #HeartsOfTheWorld, #HeartsInWindows and #HeartsForTheWorld2020 were trending.

Grose was blown away.

“Most businesses and houses have a heart at this point. We figure it’s about 70 per cent of people in most neighbourhoods who have banded together,” said Grose, reflecting on how Prince George has responded to her call.

“I get multiple private messages a day saying that hearts in the windows have brought smiles back into their home.”

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, many Canadians have found ways to show kindness during the unusual times of self-isolation and quarantine. From people offering to run errands for those who can’t get out, to neighbourhoods breaking into song and applause to thank healthcare workers, acts of kindness have spread throughout communities all over the country, in what has been termed “care-mongering.”

Grose, a stay at home mother of two young girls, said it has been challenging to navigate the new realities. Her husband, an employee for B.C. Hydro, is now confined to working from home, and it’s a hassle to keep kids from disturbing him with their crafts and games.

It pains her to see how COVID-19 has changed the everyday life of people.

“I went grocery shopping this morning and cried when I got back in the car,” she told the Star on Friday. “Shelves were empty, lines were long and you could see the stress on people’s faces. I never want my kids to see that stress.”

And that’s where the hearts-hunt challenge comes in handy, to remind her that goodness in humanity still exists.

She has received a message from a lady in North Vancouver who was inspired by her movement and went to Lynn Valley and drew hearts in chalk on the sidewalk. At the time, Lynn Valley has already recorded seven deaths.

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Another thank-you message came from a girl whose elderly mother is living in self-isolation and was “cheered up” by the spread of “hearts hunt.”

“It’s such an incredible feeling to know I started something that sparked a huge movement, something I hope children remember more than what is actually going on,” said Grose.

“Seeing pictures in New Zealand, Beijing, Germany … it’s all unbelievable.

“But I cry every time I see a local put a huge heart out.”

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