Colten Care residents spread goodwill and positivity on Kindness Day

Gifts, donations, good deeds and compliments – residents and staff across our homes chose a host of positive, heartfelt ways to celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Day.

In line with the aim of the annual event – to encourage moments of goodwill and compassion towards ourselves and others – there were both individual acts and initiatives by entire homes and departments.

At Brook View in West Moors, residents and staff began early with an appeal at the start of the year for friends, family, colleagues and visitors to donate non-perishable food items.

These were gathered together and, on Random Acts of Kindness Day, presented to the nearby Castleman Community Larder which helps West Moors families struggling with food poverty.

Brook View’s Companionship Team Leader Lauren Parrett personally handed over the large collection of items, including tinned goods, pasta and cereals, to larder manager Michelle Bennett.

Lauren said: “Once our residents learned what the larder does and the importance it has for families in need in our community, they knew they wanted to help the team there on Random Acts of Kindness Day.

“We are so grateful to our staff, relatives, friends and visitors for enabling us, through their donations, to give something special back to our community.”

Thanking all at Brook View, Michelle said: “We want people to know they can shop within the larder and feel supported by the community.”

Among Kindness Day initiatives at our other homes, residents at Woodpeckers in Brockenhurst and Canford Chase in Poole handed out gift bags to local people while a team of knitters at Amberwood House in Ferndown made blankets for a medical charity.

Poetry was the order of the day at Bourne View in Poole, with positive, inspiring messages in verse being shared among residents, staff, relatives and friends.

Random Acts of Kindness Day is an annual celebration that began in Denver, Colorado, in 1995 and has since spread worldwide. Its aim is to inspire people to spread kindness and positivity and be more compassionate and caring.