Good deeds challenge

The doing of simple good deeds is being used as a community fundraising idea to support grief and loss counselling in the Western Bay of Plenty.

Grief Support Services is running a peer-to-peer Good Deeds Challenge from 9th to 24th July.

Ideas range from giving a homemade gift or happy note to teaching someone something new, walking or exercising with a friend, introducing yourself to a neighbour, or making a conscious effort to smile at others.

The idea is that you choose 16 daily good deeds that suit you from a list of 40 tasks and complete one task per day.

Spot prizes for taking part include massage vouchers from Synergy Vitality Spa, ten-pin bowling and mini-golf from Motion Entertainment and groceries from New World Gate Pa.

Funds help to provide counselling to vulnerable individuals and whānau by encouraging their understanding of themselves and each other to manage the turmoil of grief and loss better, adjust to huge changes, and attain their aspirations for quality of life.

“Grief is a response to bereavement or following any loss or unwelcome change such as the break-up of a relationship or marriage, fractured family relationships, financial loss, redundancy, injury or illness of self or a friend/family member.

“Grief counselling makes a difference by reducing depression and suicidal ideation risk. As people grow their support systems and tools of resilience, they are less likely to turn to drugs, alcohol, self-harm or other unhelpful tools to cope. There is a flow-on effect from counselling as clients become more resilient and capable of functioning in their families, community and workplace,” says funding manager Jen Murray.

In their last financial year, philanthropic support contributed to the service by providing over 2,400 grief and loss counselling sessions, offering counselling support for over 520 individuals and whānau and providing information and support to the community.

However, the waiting list that the service operates with continues to grow.

For more information on Grief Support Services or to join the challenge, go to www.griefsupport.org.nz/challenge 2022