If you’ve recently purchased a hot beverage at Coffee Time Bolton, chances are you came across a coffee sleeve with a handwritten message.
The decorated sleeves are part of an initiative started by students at Holy Family Catholic Elementary School in Bolton during the 2025 school-year, with the hopes of spreading positivity to the greater community.
The initiative was organized by a team of mental health and wellness student ambassadors, with the assistance of teacher leads Santina Capobianco and Marisa Girimonte and support of principal George Barnett. The project is part of the school’s larger Kindness Campaign.
The coffee sleeve was inspired by a similar campaign organized at a neighbouring elementary school in the community.
“They thought it would be an ideal project for the entire school to participate in,” explained Capobianco. “They were mostly inspired by the fact that [the initiative] reflects the team’s mission to support positive mental health and well being among the students and staff and spreads kindness, which we often talk about.”
Ahead of the school’s Mental Health and Wellness Week in May 2025, student ambassadors’ hand-delivered the coffee sleeves, which were donated to the school by Coffee Time Bolton, to the classrooms of every grade. The students from each grade then had the opportunity to get creative and write positive messages onto the sleeves.
“We’re always happy to support the school communities with their events and initiatives,” said Diana Mollicone, owner of Coffee Time Bolton. “This one was a no-brainer, easiest ‘yes’ ever.”
Some of the messages on the cup sleeves focused on positive affirmations such as “It’s a good day to be kind” or “Be kind to yourself”, and “Sending hugs in a cup”, while others delivered funny puns like “Have a brew-tiful day”.
“They were really very creative in the messages and they were beautifully decorated with artwork,” said Girimonte.
While the positive coffee sleeves were created for the benefit of the community and Coffee Time customers, the Kindness Campaign has also impacted the students, who were able to see the influence their project had on the community.
“It fosters leadership and encourages creativity, and it builds a stronger school community, which then extends into the greater community,” said Girimonte. “It really created a positive buzz in our school and it’s a great initiative that brings joy and excitement for everybody in the community.”
With a new school year started, both Capobianco and Girimonte said are hoping to bring the initiative back for another group of students to spread positivity to the community.