THE expression, ‘strangers are just friends you haven’t met yet’ has been taken to a whole new level by an accommodation bookings company.

Airbnb celebrated the New Year by giving away £1 million to kick-start random acts of kindness in local communities all over the world for their ‘One Less Stranger’ campaign.

The aim of the campaign is simple: Airbnb has given £10 to 100,000 of its community members worldwide and is asking each recipient to use the money to carry out an act of kindness that will help break down the taboo of strangers, and encourage goodwill and hospitality among mankind.

And now, one Dorset Twitter user has used their donation to buy biscuits for an elderly man in Christchurch.

 


James McClure, Country Manager of the UK added: “The British are known for having a stiff upper lip, but we've been astounded by the way our local community has embraced this campaign.

"People up and down the UK are proving that goodwill is infectious and we are seeing inspiring new gestures every day. More and more people are being brought together and I can't wait to see how this continues to unfold."

Other acts of kindness have included members buying a leather jacket from a charity shop to give to an old lady for her first motorbike ride, and buying coffees on cold mornings for complete strangers.

To find out more about Airbnb’s One Less Stranger campaign visit www.airbnb.com/one-less-stranger or search Twitter using the hashtag #OneLessStranger.