Deborah Prescott | Daily Press Cris Lucier on his route outside Walmart Friday morning in Escanaba. In April, Lucier started purchasing gift cards from local businesses to help any way he could to ease concerns during a pandemic. Lucier has given 100 gift cards to people nominated by others through his Facebook page, Kindness Rocks Delta County, for doing good works.

ESCANABA — At the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic in April, UPS Inc. driver Cris Lucier thought up a way to help small businesses in the area. He bought gift cards to help support businesses during the pandemic and alleviate some of the financial difficulties they may be having. After accumulating a number of cards, Lucier had to think of a way to use them.

“At first I wasn’t sure what to do but then I decided to ask for nominations of people that went above and beyond during the pandemic,” said Lucier. “Each week I create a video letting everyone know what business I am supporting by purchasing gift certificates from them. Then I ask for nominations.”

With the help of others, Lucier has given over 100 gift cards to people who were nominated for doing good deeds and going above and beyond for others.

When Lucier looks back on his childhood, he sees it as being rough and they were always very poor, but his father always put food on the table.

“He did what it took to put food on the table and to make things like birthdays and Christmas magical,” said Lucier.

It’s in Lucier’s blood to help others. He recalls his father was kind to everyone he met, his aunt Betty helped others any way she could, and his cousin Shelly has donated pizza to families needing food during this pandemic.

“I remember one time she (Betty) made a basket of basic needs items and dropped it off on someone’s porch in the middle of the night because they were low income and needed them,” said Lucier. “… I encounter amazing, kind people everyday — from my friends, co-workers, business owners, to even customers on my route or other drivers’ customers.”

Lucier created the Facebook page “Kindness Rocks Delta County” with the motto, “In a world where you can be anything, be kind, Kindness Rocks.” The page promotes kindness and good deeds within Delta County.

In the summer months, Lucier took a break from the nominations and focused on a T-shirt campaign. In September he plans to restart the nominations again.

“We are taking it day by day, but I have big ideas for the future while continuing to focus on kindness within our community,” said Lucier.

Lucier hopes to see the original idea he thought up one day grow into some of the other big ideas he has.

“Right now I am working with Stacie Pouliot-Carter at Thrivent on providing gifts to local teachers,” said Lucier.

After purchasing a beverage at Starbucks recently, Lucier gave $20 to the cashier and asked the cashier to use the money to pay for as many beverages as it could for other customers. He went back the next day and found out the extent of his giving.

“My $20 paid for more than five beverages because of others paying it forward,” Lucier said. “Being kind is fun.”