What is kindness?
Kindness is the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate towards others, showing compassion, empathy, and a willingness to help others without expecting anything in return.
Make the Choice...
It seems such a simple thing. We often go about our everyday life without thinking about being kind; perhaps we just assume it happens, however, being kind involves making a choice to be kind and acts of kindness have the potential to make the world a happier place.
Don’t underestimate how much impact an act of kindness can have. It doesn’t just benefit the recipient; it also helps you too! Kindness can increase your sense of connectivity with others, and it can be contagious, encouraging others to join in with their own generous deeds.
When times are hard, it is good to reach out with kindness to those around us, and as Christmas approaches, feelings of loss and sadness can be amplified for many in our community. If you are moved to kindness at this time, Yarra Plenty Regional Library (YPRL) has plenty of ideas for you.
Diamond Valley Gift Appeal
The Diamond Valley Gift Appeal is collecting NEW toys and gift vouchers for children and teenagers in need. There are collection bins at Watsonia, Diamond Valley, Eltham, Rosanna, and Ivanhoe branches. Gender-neutral toys are helpful, and there is a particular need for presents suitable for teenagers. Please leave your donations unwrapped.
We can accept your donations up to December 15th.
This leaves time for them to be sorted and given to families!
Donating Food
Whittlesea libraries are also collecting food for Whittlesea Community Connections - please contact your Whittlesea branch for further information.
Cards of Kindness
Patients in hospital with mental illness over the festive season can feel very isolated so YPRL is again running workshops to create ‘Cards of Kindness’ to give to patients. Local artist Lousie Muller will show you how to make beautiful season's greeting cards using a variety of materials and techniques.
There are sessions running at:
Eltham Library on Wednesday 13 November, 6.30pm–8.00pm
Watsonia Library on Tuesday 19 November, 6.30pm–8.00pm
Ivanhoe Library on Thursday 21 November, 6.30pm–8.00pm
Mill Park Library on Wednesday 27 November, 6.30pm–8.00pm
Our branches at Rosanna, Watsonia, Ivanhoe, Whittlesea, Mill Park, Eltham, and Lalor will also be collection points for any Cards of Kindness that you have made starting from 11 November until the 13 December and distribute them to the elderly in seniors’ homes, or to patients in hospital.
Butterflies of Kindness
Children can make Butterflies of Kindness in a festive workshop at Diamond Valley Library on Tuesday 19 November from 4.00pm–5.00pm. They will decorate beautiful butterfly-shaped cards with Christmas greetings, ready to be sent to people in need of a little extra cheer this holiday season. This is a wonderful opportunity for children to express their artistic flair while spreading joy and positivity to those who need it most.
Christmas Hamper Drive
Christmas can be a difficult time of year financially for some of our local First Nation's community. Therefore, Barrbunin Beek Aboriginal Gathering Place will be holding a Christmas Hamper Drive using a Reverse Advent Calendar. You can contribute and make a difference this Christmas, by simply placing one of each item each day from the calendar in a box or bag to make a Christmas hamper.
This hamper will be donated to a Barrbunin Beek Elder or Family this Christmas.
**All non-perishable food items are welcome; the calendar is just a guide.**
Once you have filled the whole or part Christmas hamper, please drop it off at one of the points below before Friday 8 December.
Locations:
1 Flintoff St Greensborough (Communal area in front of Joseph Tabacco’s office)
Barrbunin Beek Aboriginal Gathering Place (55 Catalina Street Heidelberg West)
For further information please contact us at Barrbunnin.Beek@banyule.vic.gov.au
Big Group Hug's Festive Appeal
You may also donate to charities that support children in need in the community. This November, join Big Group Hug’s Festive Appeal. Whether you collect essential items for our families, make a financial donation, or raise funds to support babies and children in need, your gift will be truly valued.
Our Village is another Melbourne-based charity that collects goods for children.
What else can you do?
Volunteering is the donation of your time to support an organisation or community. Over 2 million Victorians give their time as volunteers. Take the first steps at: Search for volunteer roles - Volunteering Victoria
Have you ever thought about the kindness you can give by donating blood or plasma? Each donation can save up to three lives. You can also register as an Organ Donor.
Acts of kindness don’t need to be big, or to be part of an event, or a Christmas drive. Everyday kindness can have a big impact.
Pay it forward at your local coffee shop - suspend a coffee for someone who needs it.
Offer to mow your neighbour’s lawn, or nature strip, or bring in their bins for them.
Smile and say hello to people as you pass them. This simple act of kindness could make someone’s day.
Channel Kindness: Stories of Kindness and Community
A collection of 51 stories of kindness, bravery, and resilience from young people all over the world collected by the Born This Way Foundation and introduced by Lady Gaga. For Lady Gaga, kindness is the driving force behind everything she says and does. She founded Born This Way Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to making the world a kinder and braver place. community.
The Biology of Kindness: Six Daily Choices for Health, Well-Being, and Longevity
In The Biology of Kindness, the science of mindfulness and the findings of biology come together to show how kindness and optimism improve overall well-being in profound, organic, and demonstrable ways. Daniel Lumera, an expert in meditation and mindfulness, and Immaculata De Vivo, a preeminent researcher in molecular epidemiology, outline a revolutionary approach to health, longevity, and quality of life--and explain the scientific evidence that supports their work.
Before we Forget Kindness
Four guests arrive in the mysterious cafe where customers arrive hoping to travel in time. They must follow the cafe's strict rules, however, and come back to the present before their coffee goes cold. In another moving and heartwarming tale from Toshikazu Kawaguchi, our new visitors wish to go back into their past to move on their present, finding closure and comfort so they can embark on a beautiful future.
The Kindness Revolution: How we can restore hope, rebuild trust and inspire optimism
Can we dare to dream of a more loving country - kinder, more compassionate, more cooperative, more respectful, more inclusive, more egalitarian, more harmonious, less cynical? Hugh Mackay asks the questions many of us have also asked. What really matters to me? Am I living the kind of life I want? What sort of society do I want us to become?
When I Smile: A Book of Kindness
Showing the power and gift of a smile, this story follows one girl as she goes about her day, giving different smiles to those around her, including goofy smiles with her best friend and playful, supportive smiles with her sister when she's feeling down.