Started in 2020, based in Kenton on Sea, Coastal Kindness NPC provides practical advice and support, both physical and emotional, to healthcare workers and our community. Our volunteers seek to spread kindness one helping hand at a time.
Coastal Kindness NPC is overseen by a Board or Directors and run on a day-to-day basis by a very enthusiastic working committee, comprising fifteen or so team leaders.
Sadly, during this year, Nick Wagg, our esteemed Treasurer and fellow Director died; he is sorely missed by the Coastal Kindness team.
We are pleased to have been able to welcome two new Directors to our team, Derek Rushmere and Dr Susan McGarvie, who have already proved to be well chosen and enthusiastic.
2024 has been a year for supporting those with mental health issues and we are blessed in Kenton and surrounding areas with professional counsellors who give freely of their time to Coastal Kindness to help those in need.
We have been able to help individuals with immediate trauma counselling as well as supporting those requiring long-term help.
We run a monthly Dementia Support Group and have just started a support group for people who have a partner or loved one with a terminal illness.
Bereavement is no stranger to our aging communities, and we were proud to have been able to offer a “Navigating the holidays when grieving” workshop.
Training is also a high priority for Coastal Kindness, and we have, thanks to David and Margie Morell, over the last few years, trained over 200 locals in CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) and the use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) machine: making the area a safer place to live.
And, on the last Friday before Christmas, we will hold our Annual Business Auction, when local businesses donate an item to be auctioned. This year we are pleased to welcome many new contributors with lots of LOTS on offer from breakfasts, dinners, weekends away, carpets, trees, workshop experiences, Christmas decorations, antiques and a trip for two upriver with game drives and lunches.
First Aid Courses (Levels 1 & 3) are run throughout the year with our training partner, Gardmed. We have a team of Medical First Responders who are on call 24/7 to monitor and comfort patients until a paramedic, doctor or ambulance arrives. As well as passing the Level 3 First Aid Course, our responders receive a monthly refresher from Adrian of Gardmed to increase and deepen their knowledge. Our grateful thanks go to Nick Albrightson and team who are ready to assist where and however they can. We applaud you all.
Our oxygen machines, bought during the pandemic, are still being utilised by the sick and elderly in our community on a continuous basis. And our strategically placed AED machines are available for use, if and when needed.
We have a close association with the Eastern Cape Department of Health and work well with the staff at our two local clinics. We have built a new Consulting Room for the nursing sister at Ekuphumleni Clinic and are in the process of a major renovation of Marselle Clinic. Our philosophy is that buildings and facilities where our community members are examined and treated are as important as the care they receive from the doctors and nursing staff within them.
In September, on the initiation of the Marselle Clinic staff we held our FIRST Annual “DO GOOD – FEEL GOOD” Fun/Run Walk. This raised over R6 000 to help with the clinic upgrade.
Our sincere thanks to Lindy Heine who made it all happen, together with her 2IC Sergio Baartzes who rushed around taking fantastic photos.
During this year volunteers, led by Cathy Campbell, also assisted with the archiving of 3 297 old files at Ekuphumleni, Kwanonqubela, Wentzel Park and Station Hill Clinics creating more working space for the medical staff.
Aligned to Coastal Kindness is the POSH Charity Shop, run solely by volunteers, 21 at the last count. These amazing ladies unpack, clean, sort, sell, tidy, decorate, laugh, greet and add value to many lives in many ways. All proceeds from the sale of ‘everything’ that’s donated to the shop goes directly not just to Coastal Kindness, but also to several local charities, namely Siya Soup, Kenton Domestic Animal Care, Kenton & Bushman’s Child Welfare, on a monthly basis and to other charities such as PalCare on an ad hoc basis.
Our weekly POSH Shop WhatsApp Auction augments our income considerably. Our grateful thanks go to the dedicated participants who part with their cash easily and with great glee.
You can join the WhatsApp Auction Group and stand to win these LOTS by sending your full name, cell number and “add to auction group” to 083 229 1380.
And to do all this we have on our Coastal Kindness team accountants, doctors, nurses, a building project manager, administrators, writers, editors, graphic designers, photographers, organisers and social media boffs, all with dedication, drive and energy, and most importantly of all, kindness.
We rely on freely given hours of work and monetary donations, both of which we gratefully receive. Without you, the individuals, businesses and trusts we would be ineffectual in our quest to support our failing local health system which needs all the help and kindness we can give.
Our special thanks over the past year go to:
- Periwinkle Trust
- Seagull Regatta
- Build-It
- Spar
- Hi-Tech
- Volo
- The Bakery
- Gardmed
- Kariega Foundation
- Makhana Bricks
- Norfolk Designs
- Talk of the Town
- Ulysses Bike Club
- Mary Fowldes and Ros Paul for organising a raffle
- Two Rivers, Round Table & Diaz Fishing Club – thank you for letting us use your facilities for our training.
If I have omitted anyone my humble apologies.
Wishing you all a blessed festive season and a very peaceful New Year.
Robbie Cameron Avis
Coastal Kindness, Chair
