As part of its Share Redlands Coast Kindness Instead campaign, Redland City Council is encouraging local businesses to find creative ways to spread kindness.
Mayor Karen Williams said businesses could play a big role in community wellbeing.
"We are calling on all our Redlands Coast businesses to consider ways of spreading kindness in our community."
In what Cr Williams called a shining example of #RCKindness, Point Lookout business FEVER on North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah) is encouraging customers to buy a coffee for a friend so the next time their friend visits the cafe, their coffee is paid for.
"Our community cannot share a lot at the moment but we can share kindness, Cr Williams said. "Redlands Coast businesses, like FEVER on Minjerribah, are central to this."
FEVER owner Michelle Brook said the idea came from a customer who wanted to buy a coffee for a friend on their birthday.
"Talk in the shop had been a bit doom and gloom, then this customer came in and pre-paid for a coffee for her friend, and it really made him smile," Ms Brook said.
"We thought, wouldn't it be great if we could all just smile a little bit now, so we put up a board and invited everyone to buy a coffee for a pal."
Michelle said the idea had been so popular that every day they were changing the board, which showed the names of people for whom coffee has been pre-purchased.
"For a lot of people on the island, it's not a nice time right now. We all are really looking forward to our visitors and holiday home owners coming back.
"We miss them, and can't wait to serve them again, but in that moment of thinking of someone else by buying them a coffee, we can be happy at that point in time."
If your business has been spreading kindness, or someone has been kind to you, let council know by emailing kindness@redland.qld.gov.au so your story can be shared with the community through the Redland City Bulletin and council's social media channels.
Also tune into radio station BayFM 100.3 for regular doses of kindness messages.
You can also download the free Redlands Coast Deals & Rewards App from Apple App Store or Google Play Store to access local business bargains.
To stay connected with what is happening visit redland.qld.gov.au/COVID19
