TAMPA, Fla. — A Hillsborough County woman likes to spread joy wherever she goes.
Sometimes it’s with a sweet treat. Other times it’s providing care for people in need.
On a recent morning, Kristina Lavallee was taking some free mini cupcakes from her Cake Girl business to a couple of Tampa businesses. She calls the deliveries “Random Acts of Sweetness.”
Her first delivery was to the Build-A-Shirt T-Shirt Emporium on West Sligh Avenue. Owner Antoinette Stokes was excited to get cupcakes and she decided to return the good deed by giving Lavallee a custom T-shirt with Lavallee on the front.
Stokes likes the idea of doing random acts of kindness herself.
“It’s cool. I think I want to join in and do that,” she said.
Lavallee then took a bag of cupcakes to the Greedy Lee’s BBQ on East Osborne Avenue. One of Lavallee’s social media followers nominated owner Kenneth Davis for a “Random Act of Sweetness” because he had provided many free meals to neighborhood residents during last year’s hurricanes.
Davis wanted to return the favor, so he presented Lavallee with a freshly grilled huge tomahawk steak.
“I just love the reaction," said Lavallee about the joy she gets when doing something nice. “What pays off is seeing the person smile. I just love giving back.”
Lavallee’s good deeds go well beyond the cup cake surprises.
She has organized Christmas gift drives for needy children and provided household supplies for homeless veterans. MacDill Air Force Base awarded Lavallee an honorary commander award for her work supporting military families.
“I love giving back,” said Lavallee. “A lot of people do good things in the world. I want to be one of them.”
