The Cedar brownies Girl Guides troop are again the benefactors of a sizable cookie order from an anonymous donor. (submitted/Sarah Bramley)

By Alex Rawnsley

THREE OF A KIND

‘Just find someone you can help and do it:’ anonymous cookie crusader makes third large donation in a year

Oct 25, 2020 | 7:39 AM

NANAIMO — What started as a chance meeting at a local coffee shop has grown into a $6,200 donation, which the man responsible hopes will inspire others.

For the second time in six months, an anonymous donor has completed a $2,500 order of Girl Guide cookies from the Cedar Brownies Girl Guides troop. The donations come after an initial gift of $1,200 in November 2019.

The man, who spoke to NanaimoNewsNOW but wanted to remain anonymous, said he felt very fortunate with his place in the world and felt the need to pay that forward.

“There’s a responsibility to try and give back in some way and this is a way that I hope people will see and be encouraged to do things within their means,” he said.

The selfless act has had positive impacts for the donor, with his five year old son becoming involved in the giving. He said as a parent, finding a way to tangibly teach community spirit and kindness is invaluable.

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“Telling my son what I’d done and showing him the articles, explaining it to him and how kindness and taking care of people and how lucky we are to have a house and food and how some people don’t…it was a gentle way to make a strong impression on a child.”

He adds he wants his gesture to be a catalyst for more generosity from others despite so much hardship and negativity in the world.

“I hope other people can identify somewhere within their life, within their means that they can do something that is for other people. It doesn’t need to be money, it can be an action, just find someone you can help and do it.”

The money from the donation will go to supporting programs and activities for the 20 girls in the troop, including a ski day to Mt. Washington.

Sarah Bramley, brownies troop leader, said she met the donor while stopping for coffee in Departure Bay in 2019 when he overheard her talking about fundraising challenges and the volunteer groups she works with.

Cookies purchased with the money are set to be again distributed to local charities.

“We’re having the girls decide where the cookies are going this year so there’s an educational, community piece and there’s the trickle down effect to be able to provide these cookies to a charity in need,” Bramley said. “We’re empowering these girls to make decisions on their community and getting them engaged in the community.”

In the past, cookies have been delivered to organizations like Nanaimo Loaves and Fishes Food Bank and Haven Society.

alex.rawnsley@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @NanaimoNewsNOW