A great moment at Bay Village Coffee, where Tom picked up some delicious
cookies to support the “Hearts at Home” campaign benefiting the TBRHSC.
Every so often, something small happens on live radio that grows into a story bigger than any of us expected. A few weeks ago on Country 105, that moment came from a listener named Tom – a man who didn’t just call in, he quietly started a movement.
If you missed the beginning, here’s the backstory.
It all started with a simple contest. Listeners were supposed to text the word “Jackpot” to win lotto tickets. But Tom didn’t do that. Instead, he sent a message that stopped us in our tracks: “Thank you very much and keep up the fantastic programming!”
No keyword. No entry. Just kindness.
That one text changed the tone of the whole morning. It reminded us – and everyone listening – that kindness is contagious. The very next day, Samantha texted in for the same contest. Dee told her, “Text in whatever you like.” And she did. She wrote: “Be a Tom.”
She explained that Tom sounded so kind on the radio that we should all try to be like him. And just like that, a new Thunder Bay phrase was born.
Be A Tom. A little reminder to choose kindness, generosity, and grace – the opposite of the “Karen” stereotype. A shorthand for good energy. A way to lift each other up in a world that can feel heavy.
But the story didn’t end there.
Bay Village Coffee, handcrafted for the “Hearts at Home” fundraiser supporting TBRHSF.
The Follow‑Up We Didn’t See Coming
This week, Tom popped back into our lives – literally.
He showed up at the station with a handwritten note and two heart cookies from Bay Village’s fundraiser for the TBRHSC’s heart care campaign. One cookie for Dee… and one for Candi, delivered with a smile.
In his note, he joked about his “five minutes of Be‑A‑Tom fame,” and admitted that his lotto win wasn’t quite the million‑dollar moment he dreamed of – he won twenty bucks. And what did he do with it?
He donated it. He used his winnings to support the heart cookie fundraiser.
Of course he did. Because that’s what ‘being a Tom‘ looks like.
He didn’t just talk about kindness – he lived it. He turned a tiny win into something meaningful for our community. And then he showed up with cookies to share the joy.
Oh, and get this… Tom didn’t just stop at buying the cookies. He’s now volunteering to help decorate the cookies at Bay Village. This man is on a pay-it-forward mission.
So if you see him there, say “Be A Tom!” You’ll probably get a smile 🙂
Why This Matters
Thunder Bay is full of people like Tom – people who give quietly, generously, and without expecting anything in return. But every now and then, someone like him steps up and we need to step him into the spotlight – just long enough to remind us who we are as a community.
Be A Tom isn’t just a cute phrase anymore. It’s a challenge. It’s a mindset. It’s a way of moving through the world.
Smile at someone. Support a fundraiser. Say thank you. Drop off a cookie. Choose kindness even when no one’s watching.
Tom didn’t set out to start anything. But he did. And now, every time someone says “Be A Tom,” we all know exactly what it means.
Click here to read the first article & listen to the audio calls with Tom & Sam that started the “Be A Tom” movement.
