By: Mike Crooks
In the lead up to World Kindness Day, online retailer Black Pepper is seeking the “kindest person” in Australia.
World Kindness Day, on November 13, was founded by the World Kindness Movement in 1998, “with the purpose of promoting kindness around the world”.
The Australia’s Kindest Person 2024 award is announced on World Kindness Day.
And organisers have whittled down the public nominations to eight finalists.
Champion for the homeless
Victoria’s nominations include Janet Arnfield in Melbourne, who works across several charities caring for homeless people.
She is a team leader at the Melbourne food kitchen Matt’s Place, “that feeds over one hundred people in need each week,” a statement read.
“She also fundraises for the Smith Family and fosters dogs for Pets of the Homeless, all while caring for friends and family.”
Matt’s Place, in Melbourne’s south, opens every Tuesday and Thursday, and provides “warm hospitality for those looking to connect with others,” a statement read.
“Guests can enjoy a delicious two-course meal and an opportunity to connect and socially interact with other community members.”
Help for those in need
NSW’s Stephanie Macleod was volunteering at a local community outreach service when it was forced to shut down, leaving many without access to the crucial service.
So she started her own outreach – Kind Hearts Illawarra – with her own money, and is now in the running for Australia’s kindest person.
The service helps those in need with meals, hampers, towels, clothing and more.
They operate at Wollongong’s MacCabe Park every Tuesday and Thursday from 5:30 PM.
“We provide a friendly environment for those in need to seek assistance,” read a statement.
“We provide hot meals, drinks, food hampers, hygiene packs, towels, clothes, blankets, or maybe just a cuppa and a friendly chat.”
Helping vulnerable children
Meanwhile, over in the west, Perth’s Athena Powell saves good food from being thrown away and distributes it to over 200 families.
She runs her Feed it Forward charity from her home, using her own car for delivering the precious goods.
The mother of four operates the charity while caring for her children and her elderly father.
“I do it because people deserve to at least stay fed and have food for their children,” Ms Powell told the local community paper Echo News.
“We help vulnerable children”
And in Victoria, Angela Wood is nominated for founding and operating the charity Big Group Hug, which tackles childhood poverty.
Ms Wood collects pre-loved baby items for parents who are struggling financially.
Her charity, which has been going strong for 10 years, has supported 7,000 babies and children in Victoria.
“Big Group Hug is an organisation serving local communities to tackle child poverty,” a statement read.
“We help children who are living in crisis by distributing essential items in times of need.”
More nominees
The other finalists are:
- Lesley Larecki, from Adealide, who volunteers at the Uniting Church’s Grove Food Relief.
- Brisbane’s Deb Price who volunteers at Youngcare.
- Susan Howe, from Mildura, Victoria, who runs the Poshu Project, which helps empower Ugandan women who have been affected by violence and poverty.
- Wagga Wagga’s Kaylene Edwards, who has fostered over 50 children in her lifetime.
For more information on the award, visit Black Pepper.
World Kindness Day
This year for World Kindness Day on November 13, the World Kindness Movement (WKM) is inviting everyone to turn off their devices for one hour in favour of “connection and reflection”.
And for that hour, the WKM is encouraging people to spread acts of kindness in their communities (or to be kind to themselves with a massage or another treat).
Acts of kindness can include cooking a meal for a loved one, washing someone’s car, or writing “a letter of appreciation to friends or family,” WKM said in a statement.
Before the “kindness hour”, people can join WKM’s Facebook group and “take the pledge to celebrate the hour” and share what they will do in that hour of kindness.
For more information visit here.
Article supplied with thanks to Hope Media.
Feature image: Entrants in the Kindest Person in Australia competition. Images Black Pepper Australia used with permission.
About the author: Michael Crooks is a senior journalist and former news editor of Who magazine. His work has appeared in People, Marie Claire, The Daily Telegraph, Herald Sun, news.com.au, Qantas magazine and more.