“Can I give you a hug? It’s free,” was just one of the ways pupils from Rob Ferreira greeted Pick ‘n Pay shoppers on Wednesday afternoon.
As part of the school’s Youth Week activities, staff members and a few of the pupils decided to spread the message of God’s love by helping shoppers with their bags, pushing trolleys and giving out hugs. Most of the pupils were armed with cardboard signs advertising their free hugs or help and some even handed out notes with encouraging messages.
The reaction was overwhelmingly positive and most shoppers were willing to stop for a few seconds to accept a hugs from one or more of the pupils. Some even chatted with the children for a minute or two before moving on through the centre or into stores. Quite a few of the pupils walked back and forth between Pick ‘n Pay’s entrance and the centre parking lot to carry shopping bags or push trolleys for shoppers.
Several pupils had to assure shoppers that they didn’t want any money, when some began rummaging in handbags for change or looked the other way to avoid them.
The children had great fun and even gave each other hugs when their paths crossed during their walks around the centre. They were delighted by the positive response of community members and quickly forgot any negative responses they received.
The enthusiastic group hugged, helped and smiled for almost a hour and a half before they headed back to the school, tired but very happy.
Click here to see a gallery of hugs.
Watch a video of the hugs below:
