Coastal Kindness to open new branch in Kleinemonde

The Community Hall in Kleinemonde was packed last week as community members gathered to hear about the proposal to open a local branch of Coastal Kindness, a volunteer group dedicated to training first responders.

CPF chair Frick van Rooyen said it was vital for members of the community come together in times of crisis. “We in small towns need to look after each other and help each other. The whole idea [of the initiative] is that we support each other,” van Rooyen said.

He said the goal of the new branch was simple: “We strive to have the best trained volunteer body possible at the point of emergency with the most relevant equipment available to assist any person in distress until professional help arrives.”

However, he stressed that they were not there to replace medical professionals.

“All we’re doing is if there’s an emergency, someone can be contacted and they will go as a first responder,” he said.

Hospice consultant Anette Rex, who is involved in establishing the local Coastal Kindness branch in Kleinemonde, said there were advantages to having one in the town.

“We have improved buying power. They have contacts with companies and can secure discounts [on medical equipment] for us,” she said.

Rex added that Coastal Kindness had already loaned the community portable oxygen machines and a defibrillator but they hoped to be able to purchase their own equipment soon.

Coastal Kindness founder and chair Robbie Avis told the audience that the organisation was started in Kenton-onSea in 2020 in response to the Covid19 pandemic.

“We realised that we were alone. We were down the coast and we had one doctor,” she said.

At first the organisation started by helping the local doctor purchase oxygen machines which they would deliver when needed.

Over time their activities expanded and they have even assisted the department of health with their vaccine rollout campaign.

At the time of writing, Coastal Kindness was in the process of registering for non-profit status.

Avis said that different branches should learn from each other.

“Each community is going to be different. Every community has different needs,” she said.

“It’s not going to get better.

“It’s only going to get worse so we need to do it for ourselves.”

Van Rooyen said they were still calling for volunteers, who would then be given the necessary training to serve as first responders in an emergency.

He also said they were asking for funds to help secure additional equipment, which would be stored at the Multi Security building when not in use.

For more information, email coastalkindness@ seafield.co.za or ck@seafield.co.za.