In honor of National Acts of Kindness Month, our team set out with a simple idea: step away from our desks, step into our community, and do something small but intentional to brighten someone’s day.
With 100 roses from Thom’s Twin City Florist in Biddeford, each paired with a handwritten note, we spent the day walking through downtown Saco. We stopped into local businesses, greeted familiar faces, and met people right in the middle of their everyday routines.
At first glance, it may have looked like a simple gesture. Flowers passed from hand to hand. But what unfolded throughout the day was something much deeper.
Conversations slowed. People paused. Stories were shared. Again and again, we were reminded that kindness is not about grand gestures. It is about presence. About seeing people where they are and choosing to show up with care.
Integrity does not live in mission statements alone. It shows up in everyday actions, in how we treat people, how we support our community, and how we take the time to connect. Each interaction we had that day was meaningful in its own way. Below are just a few of the moments that stayed with us most.
“You have no idea how much this means.”
One interaction in particular stopped us in our tracks.
After receiving a rose, one woman began sharing how much SBSI means to her, not just as a place to manage finances but also as a source of comfort and belonging.
“You guys are amazing, truly. You have no idea how much this means. Every time I go in there, it feels like such a blessing. I see new people all the time, and they are always so kind. I have bad days sometimes. I get sad. But when I visit feeling that way, they are always so good to me, and it turns my day around. I’m amazed that even when there are new faces, they know my name. It makes me feel special. This is so beautiful. I can’t wait to tell my daughter.”
It was a powerful reminder that the smallest details, like remembering someone’s name or offering kindness on difficult days, can carry more weight than we often realize.
“That’s MY Bank. That’s Our Bank!”
As we continued down the street, we stopped into Illusions Salon, a local business offering hair cutting, styling, and color services, from highlights to bold fashion colors.
We walked in to find the salon buzzing with life. Hair dryers hummed, scissors snipped, and conversations moved easily from chair to chair. People laughed mid‑appointment, paused to smell the roses as they were handed out, and passed them around the room, rearranging them and admiring them like they belonged there. The space felt light, warm, and genuinely happy.
Before we could even finish explaining why we were there, the response was immediate and full of pride.
“That’s my bank! That’s our bank, Gail! This is such a lovely thing to do. What a beautiful way to bring a little love into someone’s day.”
There was something special about that moment. A shared sense of ownership and community pride, rooted in relationships, trust, and people supporting people.
A Family Coincidence, Caught on Camera
SBSI Content Marketer Krysteana Scribner was behind the camera for the day, filming the moments that made this project so special.
Then, right in the middle of it, a familiar truck pulled up. Guy Scribner and Parker Scribner jumped out to say hello on their way to work together. Guy is Krysteana’s father, and Parker is her brother. They’re self-employed and work side by side.
It was a small coincidence, but a memorable one. An unexpected reminder that the same community we were out celebrating has a way of showing up when you least expect it.
Gratitude at Fernleaf Bakery
Another meaningful stop brought us to Fernleaf Bakery, where we ran into Irene Lim, the bakery’s owner and a familiar face in the community. We had written an article about Irene before, about her journey from software, engineering, and chemistry into the world of baking, and how a series of small, unexpected decisions led her to open Fernleaf Bakery in downtown Saco.
When we handed her a rose, her response was simple and heartfelt.
She shared how thankful she was for the flower and how meaningful it is to give back to the community in small ways.
It was a moment that felt especially fitting given Irene’s story.
Her path to baking was not linear. It was shaped by curiosity, creativity, and a willingness to listen when opportunity knocked, even when it looked different than expected. From experimenting with recipes and understanding the science behind baking, to building a business alongside her husband Thys, Irene’s work has always been rooted in care, craft, and connection.
Fernleaf Bakery itself reflects that mindset. It is a place built not just on recipes, but on relationships. Like so many small businesses in Saco, its success has been fueled by the loyalty and support of the local community.
Seeing Irene that day felt like a full‑circle moment. A reminder that kindness and gratitude flow both ways, from business owners to neighbors, and right back again.
A Valentine’s Day Surprise
Not every interaction came with a long conversation, and that was part of the beauty of the day.
Inside the post office, the atmosphere was calm and quiet. People moved deliberately, the low sounds of sorting mail and footsteps echoing softly through the space. It was the kind of place where everyday routines unfold without much fanfare.
Katherine Crawford, an employee at the Post Office, was genuinely caught off guard when we handed her a rose. Her first reaction was a small laugh and a moment of surprise.
“Oh, I don’t know how to send those,” she said, before smiling and accepting it. “Thank you, that’s so sweet. Happy Valentine’s Day. You’re very lovely.”
She was excited to stop and take a photo with us before heading on her way, her joy standing out in the stillness of the room. The post office plays such an important role in the community, and she is clearly one of those everyday gems who helps make it feel warm and familiar.
It was a brief exchange. A smile. A moment of lightness tucked into an ordinary errand.
Sometimes, kindness doesn’t need many words at all.
“My mother would have loved this.”
One of the most touching moments of the day unfolded just outside the post office.
We were walking out as a man approached the steps, the air cool and still, the street feeling quieter than usual. As he made his way up, we paused and offered him a rose. He stopped, surprised, and for a moment it felt as though the timing was more than coincidence.
“My mother’s funeral was on Friday,” he shared. “She was 94. She lived a beautiful life, and she loved pink. What a coincidence to run into you right now, on my way out of the post office.”
Phillip S. Hatch III went on to talk about his own ties to the community. He had worked at Saco & Biddeford Savings Bank before retiring and had once hired Mark Jones, our now President & CEO over 40 years ago.
Standing there on the steps, with the cold air around us and the quiet weight of his words, the interaction felt so incredibly meaningful. It served as a beautiful reminder that even in moments of grief, kindness has a way of finding people, and sometimes arrives exactly when it is needed.
What We Took With Us
We went out that day to give something away, and like most acts of kindness, we received just as much in return.
We saw how deeply people value being recognized. How a simple pause can open the door to connection. How community is built not through big gestures, but through consistency, care, and showing up again and again.
Because integrity is not just something you say. It is something you live. And sometimes, it looks like nothing more than a rose, a handwritten note, and a willingness to slow down and truly see one another.
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