By Michelle Church
We must be the change we wish to see in this world,” to quote Mahatma Gandhi. A group of local women are putting those words into action with Dashing in Greene. Dashing in Greene is a female-only Facebook group with the intention to spread kindness by “dashing” or leaving gifts on another group member’s doorstep.
The group came about almost as a tribute to Chantal Fisher’s beloved grandmother Jane Christopher. “It started for me personally on Mother’s Day weekend. My daughter and I struggle with Mother’s Day. I lost my grandmother, who was my pseudo mother, almost 4 years ago to cancer. Instead of being sad this year, we decided to put some positivity out in the world,” says Chantal.
Chantal had been invited to join another group called “Wine and Dash in PA,” and while she thought the idea was great, the group included over 20,000 members spread out throughout the entire state of Pennsylvania. Chantal wanted to create a group with a local focus. Once she created the group, it spread like wildfire; there are currently over 1,000 members in the group.
The process is simple. A member of the group shares some of their likes and interests as well as their address. Other members are then able to dash them. Some people chose to leave gifts anonymously. Once someone is dashed, they often post pictures of their gifts on the group. Scrolling through the lists of pictures, you see lots of smiling faces, and how the kindness of a stranger is able to make someone’s day. Chantal mentions that, “we try to keep the group as safe as possible. It is private, so outsiders cannot see the group info without joining.”
The dashing has been a positive experience within the community. Every single person who shared feedback on the group talked about the joy they felt from surprising someone else. They spoke of how good it felt to make someone else happy. Their heartwarming answers show that helping others in the community is its own reward. Melissa Husenits shares, “It’s great to see so many people care not only about friends or family but even strangers.” Tanya O’Neal adds, “To make someone smile and feel important, if even for a small moment, is what this world needs more of.”
Jessica Hall mentions another benefit, “It helps teach our children the value of giving.” Many people spoke of how dashing is a good example for their children. Linda Marie says, “it’s a ray of sunshine…it’s knowing that the simplest act of kindness can really make someone’s day that might truly need it.”
Karen Sue Brown Petit, suggested another way to surprise a stranger by dashing on-the-go. She shared that she likes to pay for meals for those behind her at drive-through restaurants. Others have provided dash baskets for school-age children, pets, and fathers/husbands.
Chantal says the best part of this experience is, “the kindness and willingness to give in a moment of time where a lot of people are facing hardships, also, showing my children the same.” Sometimes what it takes to make the world a better place is to start by sharing a kindness with another.