Random acts of kindness
Resilient Ararat will attempt to bring much-needed joy to the community this week when it launches its latest campaign.
Random Acts of Kindness in the Rat will emphasise the importance of practising empathy through kindness by encouraging Ararat residents to complete a random act of kindness for a friend or stranger during Mental Health Week, which started on Sunday.
To start the campaign, Resilient Ararat has distributed several ‘kindness calling cards’ to Ararat district schools for students to start filtering into the community.
Central Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network executive officer Jane Moriarty said the cards featured instructions for creating a ‘pay it forward’ movement of kindness throughout the week.
“If you receive a calling card, we would love you to follow its instructions and complete a random act of kindness for somebody else,” she said.
“You will then need to pass the card on to them so they can continue to spread kindness throughout the community.
“We have also created a collection of greeting cards that prompt you to write a kind note to someone else.
“These cards highlight that being kind does not always involve a grand gesture or purchasing something for someone.”
Ms Moriarty said social media would play an important role in the Random Acts of Kindness in the Rat campaign by ensuring the community could share its kind acts.
“Much like our Bean Resilient coffee cup campaign last year, we want to bring some joy into the community and give people something to smile about, in what has been a difficult time for many,” she said.
“We know empathy, compassion and kindness have numerous benefits for mental and physical health for both the giver and the receiver.
“To take this a step further, we are encouraging people to share their random acts of kindness on social media. You can do this by taking a photo of the random act of kindness you have received, or of you completing your act of kindness for someone else. Share the image to Instagram or Facebook, tag @ resilientararat and use the hashtag #kindararat.
“We can’t wait to see the different ways our community spreads kindness in our town.”