Neighbourhood Heroes are the kind of people who do small things consistently, small things that, over time, have a big impact. Today we will celebrate three such Neighbourhood Heroes, two young mothers and an older gentleman. First the mothers.

Renata Liddell and Dawn Tyndall would qualify as Neighbourhood Heroes for a number of different reasons but here's one small thing they have each done for their kids that they feel has made a big difference. They occasionally put notes in their kids' lunch boxes. That's it. That's all. It's that simple.

"Because I travel often," Liddell says "every once and a while, I'll leave a note in Steve's lunch kit just to remind him that I care. And although he never says anything, I can tell he has read it because he always looks a little happier when he comes through the door at the end of the day. It's a double win too," she says. "I feel good knowing he'll find the note and I'm sure he feels good simply because I took the time to write it. It's a nice, simple thing any parent could do."

Dawn Tyndall is a radio personality, a community supporter, a comedian, and a creative lunch box note writer. On a sticky note stuck to an apple she wrote, "Here's to the apple of my eye. Have a great day dude." On a tuna sandwich, "Have a whale of day. Love you. Mom." On an orange, "Orange-ya glad we have such a great family!"

Tyndall says she started writing these notes a few years ago. "I wanted to send along a bit of my love with them, a reminder that they are adored and thought of even when they are away from home," she says. "I see it as an opportunity for me to still be a part of their day even though I'm not actually with them."

Tyndall went on to explain that she thinks of having children as a stewardship. "They are gifts from God," she says "and it is important to me for them to realize how precious they are and how much potential they have. The notes are one way of achieving that."

I can't tell you how the three boys feel about the idea because I didn't want to put them on the spot and embarrass them, but I'll bet that, deep down, they feel pretty good about it too.

Now the elderly gentleman -- I heard about him from his wife, years after he had passed away. "We never went to sleep angry with one another," she told me and when I asked how that could be after more than 50 years of marriage, her answer was as simple as it was powerful. A smile came to her face as she recalled each end of the day. It was obvious; no one could smile that smile and be angry at the same time.

"Every evening as I was getting ready for the night," she recalled, "he would lie on my side of the bed and then, as I came into the room, he'd roll over and give me the warm spot." The act of a Neighbourhood Hero. Very simple. Very powerful.

This Christmas you might want to consider giving one of those small gifts, a gift that you keep on giving throughout the years.