Musicians Donate Talents for Kindness Song in Abbotsford

A nonprofit's dream project came to life without spending a single dollar, thanks to a chain reaction of generosity in Abbotsford, British Columbia.

Communitas Supportive Care Society wanted to celebrate its annual "Kindness Connects" theme through an original song. Communications manager Angelika Dawson knew IT manager Ray Klassen wrote music under the name Ornery Pilgrim, and she knew recording artist Scott Currie had a local studio. The only problem? No budget.

That's when kindness started connecting in the most literal way possible.

Klassen wrote the entire song in one weekend, inspired by his 20 years witnessing staff care for the people they serve. "Unlike some songs that I've written, this one came in a rush," he said. One lyric, "support you to the very end," reflected real moments he'd observed countless times.

Next, Dawson reached out to Currie about recording. He agreed immediately, offering his studio and engineering skills for free. "Being able to do something helpful was a bonus," Currie explained.

Dawson assembled a small group of volunteer musicians. On a Saturday in May, they gathered to record. Klassen handled lead vocals, guitar, and bass. Dawson played piano while Currie added percussion. Five volunteers provided backup vocals.

Every single person donated their time and talent at no cost.

Sunny's Take

The song perfectly captures what it celebrates. While Klassen's lyrics describe kindness in action at Communitas, the recording itself became a living example of the same principle. Each musician could have charged professional rates, but they chose connection over compensation.

What makes this story even sweeter is how Klassen's long history with the organization shaped the music. After two decades watching staff support vulnerable people through difficult moments, he didn't need to imagine kindness. He simply translated what he'd witnessed into melody and verse.

The finished song now leads the Kindness Connects playlist on Communitas' YouTube channel. A music video is coming later this year. Dawson hopes listeners will be inspired to practice kindness in their own lives.

"The song really is a reflection of the power of kindness," she said. "Hopefully as you listen and sing along, you'll think of new ways of sharing kindness with others."

Sometimes the best way to sing about kindness is to create the song through acts of kindness itself.