A group that set out to fuel kindness and connection in its community during the pandemic is finding small acts can have big impacts for those trapped in the pressure cooker of stress.
Now entering its third year, the Kāpiti Kindness Trust has evolved from giving out monthly ‘kindness awards’ celebrating generous acts to funding its own kindness projects.
“Acknowledging the kindness of people in our community has had a snowball effect in encouraging others to step up and give back,” says founder and mental health advocate Martin Sloman.
“Through donations and grants, we’ve been able to launch a trial of a ‘kindness prescription’ which funds activities that support mental wellbeing. These are the things that make us feel good and give us the mental space to step back and take a deep breath, which ultimately strengthens our resilience. Things that might not be deemed essential like yoga lessons, a cooking or art class, or a meditation session.”
Mr Sloman says there’s never been a better time to focus on spreading kindness as the economic and emotional stresses of the last few years catch up with us.
“What I’m seeing presenting clinically at the moment is a move from mild and moderate issues, to moderate and acute. It’s tough out there. All the normal stressors like jobs, relationships and finances are coming to a head and people just don’t have enough left in their tanks to manage.
“The Kāpiti Kindness Trust isn’t trying to solve the problems of the world – we’re here to offer that little seed of hope that a person in need can take away and nurture. It’s the validation that someone cares.”
Mr Sloman says there are so many gorgeous, humbling stories that stand out for him over the last few years but watching others pick up the mantle and pay it forward has been the most gratifying.
“This winter we donated slow cookers, hotties and wheat bags to help keep those in need warm and fed. People who received the cookers then started to create cheap and easy recipes to share and we’ve had local businesses offer loads of free firewood and other goods and services. Kindness breeds kindness,” Mr Sloman says.
“Ultimately, we want to enable our community to take greater care of both their own mental health and of others. Our premise is actually pretty simple – there are 55,000 people living in the Kāpiti district and if every person donated $2 a month, you’d have $1.3 million a year that could go towards resetting our community’s mental health compass through kindness and connection.
“Imagine what we could achieve together through kindness.”
More on the Kāpiti Kindness Trust at Kāpiti Kindness Trust | Facebook
