Spread A Little Kindness This Christmas

We recently discussed how Christmas is often a very commercially focused Holiday, in which we put too much value in how much we each spend. Alongside our list of budget Christmas presents (which you can find here), we wanted to provide some tips on how you can be kind this Christmas. In a year that has seen us all isolated and divided, acts of kindness are more important than ever in creating and fostering a sense of community, which is why we’ve dubbed December Kare Plus Kindness Month.

So, here’s a few different ways you can spread kindness within your community, without breaking social distancing guidelines.

Check up on Family & Neighbours

As the days get colder and the nights grow longer, many people might find getting out and about a bit too difficult. If you know there’s someone in your area who is likely to struggle with mobility during the winter, why not visit them once a week? The offer of doing some shopping or ensuring the gas and electricity are topped up could really make a world of difference during the winter. It’s a small gesture and an act of kindness that could literally save a life during the coldest months of the year. Please ensure to stick to government tier and social distancing guidelines.

Cook & Bake

With many people potentially isolated this Christmas, the gesture of cooking or baking for someone can really make a difference. Cooking a large meal for the family? Know someone who is living alone? Why not cook up an extra portion and send it around in a sterilized container? It’s another small gesture that can make a big difference to someone who lives alone.

Donate to Local Food Banks

There are currently 1.62 million people in unemployment in the UK, an increase of 0.7% from July, showing the effect COVID-19 has had on the economy in the UK. When doing your big Christmas shop this year, why not grab some extra items and take them to your local food bank? Non-perishables such as tins and pasta are always welcomed, but also hygiene products and treats also go a long way.

Download Oleo

Oleo is another way of sharing food with those in need. The mobile app allows businesses and people to share spare food that might go to waste with those in the community who need it. A number of team members at head office have been using it recently, making a big difference in their communities.

Little Gestures

Kindness doesn’t always have to be a grand or elaborate gesture. Smaller random acts of kindness can really help spread positivity in the world by reminding one another that we can all be a little kinder to those around us. Randoms acts of kindness can be something as little as holding a door open for someone or helping someone in a shop who might be a little short on change. No act is too little or too small, but you’ll be happy in the knowledge that you’ve put a smile on a stranger’s face. Please ensure to stick to government tier and social distancing guidelines.

Regift and Reuse

Got an old book that’s a great read lying around? Do you have numerous copies of the same film? Put them to good use by sharing them with someone you feel might enjoy them. There’s no limit to the enjoyment a good book can bring.

Start a Conversation

It would be unrealistic for us to recommend that you start a conversation with every single person you see. That would quite literally take forever. This doesn’t mean you can’t say hello to people who happen to be serving you or a person sat next to you on the train or in a park, all while following social distancing measures of course.

As the author Linda Lambert once said, “One great conversation can shift the direction of change forever.”

Have you been on the receiving end of, or carried out, any random acts of kindness during Kare Plus Kindness Month? If so, please let us know in the comments below.