The Conversation
Surprise At Your Doorstep? Count Us In! ‘Wine Fairies’ Deliver Smiles To Neighbors During Quarantine
I don't know about you, but if a "Fairy Wine Godmother" showed up at my door, I wouldn't turn her away!
All over the country, groups of do-gooders are dressing in their finest fairy attire and leaving surprise gifts of wine and other treats for women at their doorstops.
They call themselves "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Wine," named after the book, "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants," which tells the story of a group of four friends that are connected by a pair of jeans they take turns sharing.
"It is a true ding dong ditch to bring happiness and to let you feel like you're being supported by an amazing community," Tracy Murley, who started a group in her hometown of Canton, MI, told GMA.
For those who aren't familar with the phrase, "ding dong ditch" is when you ring someone's doorbell and run away, so when they answer the door there's no one there.
"It is not an expectation to receive, it is an opportunity for giving, and when you do receive, you know someone is there for you," Murley explained.
The group was started by a mom during the coronavirus quarantine, who wanted to spread some joy to her neighbors and friends during such a dark time.
Now, there are hundreds of similar groups across the country with thousands of members.
Here's how it works. The 'fairies' gather the addresses of wine lovers in their neighborhoods and ask them what types of wine they prefer. Then, they wear tutus, tights and magic wands and deliver gift bags with wine bottles, soaps and other trinkets to other members of their club.
"It's all about bringing others happiness and making new relationships," Cara Rindell, who brought the movement to her neighborhood in Raleigh, told the Good News Network. "It starts off as a random act of kindness to a stranger and becomes a friendship with the neighbor you didn't know you had."
The group that Rindell started in North Carolina now has over 50,000 members across ten states. They have an additional 3,000 people on a waiting list.
Rindell's army of gift-givers has since expanded to include other folks who want to spread some cheer, including a new group called "Brotherhood of Booze and Beer" and a non-alcoholic version for kids.
While the sisterhood still functions as a contact-less operation, Rindell is already making plans for some in-person gatherings once the lockdown is over.
"Cruise lines are reaching out to me, about even having a cruise for the sisterhood," Rindell said. "This group started during COVID, but it's not going to stop after COVID. I think we always need to be spreading kindness and cheer."
