When hard lockdown and the pandemic hit Kenton and our surrounds, it quickly became clear intervention was desperately needed. The watchwords “Be safe! Take care! Be kind!” had to be more than a mere mantra; they had to be given practical expression. And so Coastal Kindness was born.
Its purpose was always to respond to the needs of our wider community in these difficult times. To assist the elderly, the lonely, the ill, the vulnerable. And to be flexible and agile enough to adjust as needs arose and changed. From supporting overworked medical staff to delivering medication and groceries to those in quarantine or isolation, to acquiring crucial medical equipment such as oxygen machines, to simple acts of kindness to assure people they are not alone.
As a fledgling organisation, starting with nothing but the desire to make everything better, Coastal Kindness could have accomplished little without the help of various community organisations and, indeed, the community itself. You – Rotary, the Periwinkle Trust, KOSRA, Chamber of Business and the people of our small coastal community – gave us the wind beneath our wings, made it possible for us to soar, to achieve more than we ever dreamed we could. And so now it’s time to say thank you.
It’s not possible to be part of this community and be unaware of all Rotary does, so it’s no surprise that they stepped up to support Coastal Kindness! Three separate donations for oxygen machines, in total a whopping R63 000, meant many critical patients survived.
And, having the experience and expertise, Rotary manages money matters on behalf of Coastal Kindness – one worry less! Rotary helps in smaller, but equally important ways too, such as providing snacks for the team at our pop-up vaccination stations.
Then there’s the Periwinkle Trust, who donated R20 000 for a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine – and an additional R15 360 to fund a year of hosting the Coastal Kindness website and all the postings.
KOSRA came to the party too, with two donations, R10 000 towards an oxygen machine and a further R12 500 for food, which we distribute to those in isolation or quarantine and in need. In addition COB (our local Chamber of Business) donated R10 000.
And we can’t forget to mention the Mask Makers, who also donated, and the many businesses and individual community members who have overwhelmed us with their generosity. And the volunteers too, who give so freely of their time and energy and compassion.
We couldn’t have done it, we couldn’t continue to do it, without you! And so Coastal Kindness thanks you all for helping us to help our community. You are indeed the wind beneath our wings.
