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40 days of kindness
'love' isn't cancelled
Throughout Lent, people all over Suffolk were coming up with simple acts of community kindness from phone trees to thank you surprises and help with practical issues which arose for people under Covid Restrictions: So much has been cancelled… but in Suffolk love is not cancelled.
We used our facebook group '40 days of Kindness' to share acts of kindness and encourage each other. Lent may be over, but we'd still love to hear ways you are showing kindness or have been shown kindness in your community - drop us an email here
From Easter Monday onwards we will be filling social media with '40 days of faith'.
Labours of Love
This Labours of Love course for small groups could support you. Click the image below to download.
Illustrations from Mackesy, Charlie (2019). The boy, the mole, the fox and the horse. London: Ebury Press. www.charliemackesy.com
40 days of Kindness
Click the image below to download an introduction document and sample invitation.
#40daysofkindness daily social media posts
What a joy to see so many acts of kindness shared across Suffolk
No Kindness is wasted
What are you doing throughout Lent to show kindness in your community? We'd love to hear.
Red Lodge- Food Shack
Keeping you safe
Lightwave RRC Red Lodge on the front-line caring for at risk and vulnerable people in rural villages.
A gift to Marie Curie Nurses
A lovely gift in the post from a grieving family to some of us Marie Curie nurses - Submittef to our 40 days of Kindness facebook group by Babs
Community Computers
"After becoming aware that Sir Robert Hitcham primary school, Debenham, had not received any laptops from the government for children without access to devices to complete their homeschooling, St Mary's church Debenham opened a just giving page hoping to raise £1000 for the school. This was reached within a couple of days and so the target was revised to £2000. Over £2300 was raised in just 1 week with donations from church members and members of the community - a real community effort. The school have purchased the equipment needed and will distribute them to the families who need them. We are very grateful for all who contributed and are reminded of God's generosity. "
What a fantastic example of community Kindness, thank you to Tracey James for sharing this with us.
What a fantastic example of community Kindness, thank you to Tracey James for sharing this with us.
Radio Interview with Penny
Click the link for an interview on Radio suffolk
with Post mistress Penny Sunaway talking about how the village of Otley is taking part in 40 days of Kindness and showing appreciation for local workers. (Interview available for 28 days)
with Post mistress Penny Sunaway talking about how the village of Otley is taking part in 40 days of Kindness and showing appreciation for local workers. (Interview available for 28 days)
Red Lodge- Food Bank
No trees please...
"Good neighbours and an act of kindness. Yesterday our neighbour let us take down three big conifer trees. The trees had grown so big they were blocking light into our lounge.
Our granddaughters God Father
Ollie came and took them down for us, another act of kindness. There are so many ways in which we can show kindness, what is yours for today? - From Graham on our 40 days of Kindness facebook group
Our granddaughters God Father
Ollie came and took them down for us, another act of kindness. There are so many ways in which we can show kindness, what is yours for today? - From Graham on our 40 days of Kindness facebook group
Quotes from our group
We love this shared on our 40 days of kindness group
"The diary of a 20 something cancer fighter"
40 days of kindness is being featured on Radio Suffolk in the early Sunday morning programme and on Monday lunchtimes all the way through to Easter. The first story of kindness is about a book written to encourage others going through serious illness: - Fiona Ginn, the wife of a popular Suffolk man, who passed away aged 29-years-old, has helped publish his online blog in a book to tell his story of living with cancer in order to give strength to others living with the disease.
Fiona said: “I really hope people feel inspired by the courage Mike showed during a time of complete uncertainty for the future. By publishing his words, I am fulfilling a promise I made to Mike, as he was very keen his story would be used for good and inspire others for days and years ahead who may also be facing challenges."
Find out more, including where to purchase the book, here - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Diary-20-something-cancer-fighter-ebook/dp/B08TCK69WH/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1VQLO4SWRJ5CD&dchild=1&keywords=diary+of+a+20+something+cancer+fighter&qid=1614172491&sprefix=diary+of+a+20+something+c%2Caps%2C148&sr=8-1
Fiona said: “I really hope people feel inspired by the courage Mike showed during a time of complete uncertainty for the future. By publishing his words, I am fulfilling a promise I made to Mike, as he was very keen his story would be used for good and inspire others for days and years ahead who may also be facing challenges."
Find out more, including where to purchase the book, here - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Diary-20-something-cancer-fighter-ebook/dp/B08TCK69WH/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1VQLO4SWRJ5CD&dchild=1&keywords=diary+of+a+20+something+cancer+fighter&qid=1614172491&sprefix=diary+of+a+20+something+c%2Caps%2C148&sr=8-1
Red Lodge- Baby Bank
Zoom call
On Thursday night this week there were 5 people making their promises to become members of the CA (Church Army). Normally this would be held at St Edmundsbury Cathedral but, due to lockdown restrictions, this event took place on Zoom. There were 33 people on Zoom -families and friends all showing support and kindness to the 5 candidates making their promises. For those who could not make the live zoom, many sent kind messages via text etc. all of these showing an act of kindness. - Thank you Graham for sending this to us
Words of affirmation
For 40 Acts of Kindness for Lent, Footsteps are asking people to spread Words of Affirmation across the generations. We're asking people to paint a stone, make a bookmark or design a card with some Words of Affirmation and give it to someone who is either younger than them, or older than them. We know that when people are struggling with their mental health a few encouraging words can make all the difference. We want to start a Tsunami of Encouragement going across the generations for Lent. We would love everyone to join in. - Thank you to Christine for sharing this on our 40 acts of kindness page.
Debenham Pop Up Shop
The Benefice of Debenham and Helmingham working with the Basic Life Charity have just started a Pop Up Shop in Debenham where people can buy a bag of groceries for £2. The Basic Life Charity collect food that would otherwise have gone to waste and redistribute it through their pop up shops. Anyone can buy a bag of groceries - there is no referral needed. A great way to save a few pounds and save food going to waste at the same time.
"At our first Pop up shop we had 40 customers which we were delighted with. We are expecting a few more this week as the word is spreading in the local area."
"At our first Pop up shop we had 40 customers which we were delighted with. We are expecting a few more this week as the word is spreading in the local area."
A hug in a mug
So many people are missing hugs so much at the moment, so we have been sending some hugs and love out by post, a sachet of drink, a biscuit or chocolate and a note of kindness. It's a lovely way to make someone smile.
Thank you to Kathy at 'The Farm by the Water' for this idea.
Thank you to Kathy at 'The Farm by the Water' for this idea.
Homemade Cookies
Today we gave a home made cookie to our Tesco delivery driver - Thank you to Catherine for this great idea
Kindness in all weathers
"Today we are sharing kindness from our farmers across Suffolk that have been serving by trying to keep our rural roads open by clearing the snow for us. 🙏" - thank you Graham for this
100 hearts
Thank you so much to Dawn at Mission Ipswich East for sharing this with us. What a lovely way to spread love and kindness...
"In the current times we at Mission Ipswich East wanted to share something of the hope and love that can only be found in God. We are doing this using 'hearts' to tie in with valentines day. Several members of our churches have been knitting, crocheting or sewing hearts, both individually and together over a couple of zoom craft evenings. We ended up with over 100 hearts!
From Saturday 13th February the hearts have been attached to the fence or tree outside our Churches and at the playground near Tower Hall where our Bixley Farm congregation meets.
Each heart has a label attached with 1 John 4 verses 9 or 10 on it and our MIE contact details. We are inviting friends and neighbours to collect a heart while out on their daily exercise.
We also a pop up shop at St Johns church on Wednesdays, and each person attending will receive a heart in their bag.
We have encouraged church members to decorate their own windows, doors, fences etc with a message about God's love, for the community to spot on their daily walk."
"In the current times we at Mission Ipswich East wanted to share something of the hope and love that can only be found in God. We are doing this using 'hearts' to tie in with valentines day. Several members of our churches have been knitting, crocheting or sewing hearts, both individually and together over a couple of zoom craft evenings. We ended up with over 100 hearts!
From Saturday 13th February the hearts have been attached to the fence or tree outside our Churches and at the playground near Tower Hall where our Bixley Farm congregation meets.
Each heart has a label attached with 1 John 4 verses 9 or 10 on it and our MIE contact details. We are inviting friends and neighbours to collect a heart while out on their daily exercise.
We also a pop up shop at St Johns church on Wednesdays, and each person attending will receive a heart in their bag.
We have encouraged church members to decorate their own windows, doors, fences etc with a message about God's love, for the community to spot on their daily walk."
Volunteer Kindness
One of our lovely Rushmere Good Neighbour Scheme volunteers went above and beyond today by driving a local resident to an urgent dental appointment in Hadleigh. When the job came in we weren't sure we would be able to do it but by the generosity of our volunteer we did!
Needless to say the resident was very thankful.
Thank you to anyone who gives of themselves or their time for no reward. - Thank you to Michelle for sharing this with us
Needless to say the resident was very thankful.
Thank you to anyone who gives of themselves or their time for no reward. - Thank you to Michelle for sharing this with us
Clearing pathways in the snow
"This wonderful bloke made it safe for everyone to get to market, church and community larder on the iciest Saturday ever! All without being asked. Thanks Joss." thank you Jane for sending this in
'Sending' Kindness
Today we wrote a card for our postman- Thank you Catherine for sharing this on our facebook group - '40 days of Kindness'
You were seen
"To thank those in our community who may feel unseen as they work through the pandemic, maybe people like vets, farmers, shop keepers and many more. We will be making 'You were seen' cards in zoom family worship on Sunday 21st February."
What a lovely idea, thanks for sharing Leanne.
What a lovely idea, thanks for sharing Leanne.
Grundisburgh Pop up Pantry
A pop up pantry is a great idea for 40 days of kindness. Here is some info about the one in Grundisburgh, open from this weekend to Easter Day. Click to find out more...
Find your Kindness
Love this early song by Rend Collective “Find your Kindness”...
Online Cooking
This has already happened so was not strictly in Lent but what a wonderful way to spread kindness and cheer - a zoom cookery session to learn to cook jammie dodgers and then a cuppa together after to savour the biscuits of your labour. Anyone thing of doing something like this in Lent? - Thanks to Pilgrims together for such a great idea.
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