May 1st is Global Love Day.  Join us as we “Choose Love Over Fear” in a couple of different ways!  Celebrating Choose Love Over Fear Day on Global Love Day has rich roots in Coeur d’Alene. We’ll be spreading love in Downtown Coeur d’Alene from 1 pm to about 3 pm. 

Love Lives Here CDA has big goals with simple directives. Though we are known for our kindness declaration, we seek to make small actions that help us live out a loving vision of our community and bring awareness to what a loving community this is!  When we heard of “Choose Love over Fear” Day; based on a proclamation signed by Mayor Sandi Bloem in 2013 to happen on Global Love Day, we knew this was a tradition that needed to be continued!

The initial event was spearheaded by local volunteers and NIC students.  For their first event, they gave out free hugs in downtown Coeur d’Alene.  This event took place for a few years in a row and was a huge community success reminding citizens that LOVE is at the core of who we are in North Idaho. One of the original creators of this event, Kathleen Lamanna, is now a volunteer of Love Lives Here CDA.  It only seemed appropriate that we reboot this beautiful day of awareness.

Due to Covid-19, the event will be slightly adjusted.  On May 1, 2021, Love Lives Here volunteers will be onsite at the Human Rights Education Institute welcoming new businesses to our kindness campaign. New businesses and individuals are welcome to swing by between 1 pm and 2 pm for signing and will receive a gift of kindness from our team; a single stem flower with uplifting quote. From there, our team will be walking the streets of downtown Coeur d’Alene giving flowers out to people in our community.  

On May 1st, we encourage all citizens to show small acts of kindness around them. This could be simple, like making sure to say your “Thank yous” or open doors for people. Or, it could be bigger like businesses posting kindness quotes on their readers boards and social media channels.  We’d love to see what you can come up with!

Here are some way to be involved:

Option 1: Encourage a New Business or Individual to sign up

From 1 pm to 2 pm Love Lives Here volunteers will be onsite at the Human Rights Education Institute signing up new individuals and businesses to our Kindness Campaign! It’s a great day to get out and we’re giving away flowers with uplifting messages to our new sign-ons that day.  

Option 2: Volunteer to Gift Kindness

Around 2 pm that day, we will walk from HREI towards downtown giving out flowers to any one who comes our way. We are seeking a handful of volunteers to help with this task. Space is limited, so please sign up soon if you want to volunteer. Contact Ali at lovelivesherecda@gmail.com to volunteer. 

Option 3: Show Kindness Around Town

On May 1st, we encourage all citizens to show small acts of kindness around town. This could be simple, like making sure to say your “Thank yous” or opening doors for people. For Love Lives Here CDA businesses, we would love if you added a loving message on your reader boards or shared loving messages on social media.

We hope that these small gestures will be another reminder of the kindness that exists and thrives in this beautiful community.

Memories from the original event