Coffee House Chats: Random Acts of Kindness Day

Where did your passion for supporting your local community come from?

H – It all started after I received some life-changing news, in which the way I view my mortality changed. Ever since then, the way I viewed the world was different. Even before the Covid pandemic I knew the help that food banks required, and ever since then I’ve been helping my local ones. Still though, I think everyone is often busy looking after the world, that they sometimes forget to look after their neighbours.

What impact do acts of kindness have on others?

H – I know that whenever I’m feeling low, I look for what I call “sunshine rays” – they’re the little pockets of lightness in every day life, most of the time they’re something small, but looking for the good can help turn a negative day into a more positive one. So by doing a small act of kindness, you’re able to be the “sunshine ray” in someone’s day and reassure them that there is some goodness in the world!

How important is it to show others the value of kindness?

H – For me, charity starts at home and when you’re surrounded by something, you then implement it in your daily life. I believe that showing acts of kindness is a way of living, and once someone sees the impact it has, it then spurs them to do something nice for somebody!

Do you have any traditions when it comes to helping out others?

H – Yes! Every Christmas my grandchildren will write a letter to Father Christmas, and out of everything they’ve written down, they’ll choose 1 thing to give up. Afterwards, I’ll then take them food shopping and we’ll take everything we’ve bought to our local food bank.

How big does an act of kindness need to be to make a difference?

H – Not big at all! An act of kindness comes in many forms, even something as simple as a smile – I would even say the smallest gestures are the most important! Being kind should come freely, you shouldn’t need to gain anything from it, but you never know how much of an impact small gestures can have on someone else.

What’s 1 thing more people should know about supporting their local food banks?

H – If you are wanting to make a donation I’d remind people to be inclusive of their donations. There’s often people with allergies or dietary requirements who get forgotten about, so they’re left with minimal items. Also, donating products like sanitary towels and tampons helps reduce period poverty.