This week I recall a quote from anthropologist Margaret Mead that the first demonstrative sign of civilisation was a skeleton found with a broken thigh bone that had healed. In the animal kingdom if you have a broken leg, you will certainly die, as you can't hunt or run from danger. In early human civilisation the sign of a broken femur, that had healed, was evidence that someone had taken the time to stay with and help the injured person, they were valued enough to be cared for. In our modern world I believe we still seek ways to be civilised and show care for others. Taking time to help and support those that are "broken" or suffering ensures we are truly a civilised community. When we look out for others then others look out for us and so on.
In early June I was overwhelmed to be awarded Emerging Philanthropist of the Year by Queensland Gives. This was quite a surprise and very unexpected, particularly when I consider so many incredible people who give selflessly and tirelessly in our community without recognition. This award has given me pause to consider what matters to me and why I do what I do. As a result I have given myself a new title - kindness advocate. As a kindness advocate, I hope to shine light on beautiful and real acts of kindness in our community and rejoice in the good news, because I love stories of kindness and acts of giving. I strongly believe that when times are tough, optimism and hope are needed and nothing fuels hope like kindness. I also feel that when we serve others together, we are stronger as a community, just like the symbol of the broken femur that was allowed time to heal, making us humane and civilised. The opposite is also true - when we ignore the needs of others and focus only on our own needs we are lessened as a civilisation.
So, let's shine a light on giving and highlight simple and beautiful acts of kindness happening each day, that are not done to receive accolades or pats on the back, they are simply done because kind people have learned that when we give to others we are stronger and better than when we don't. My friend Jo-Anne Elliott for example, in the photo above and below, each Thursday cooks for the City Care Brunch held by Gateway Baptist Church City campus, with food collected from Oz Harvest. Jo spends the day preparing meals to feed 50 or more people who are sleeping rough in Brisbane City. It's a chance for bellies and hearts to be full for a day, for connection and conversation.
Oz Harvest are focused on "food rescuing", limiting food wastage and sharing food with many community groups and offering support to the homeless, women in refuges, children and so much more. Together Jo-Anne and Oz Harvest and the Gateway Baptist Church make a formidable team sharing kindness and giving hope and support each week to those who need a bit of love and kindness.
More on Oz Harvest in coming blogs, as we are planning some new initiatives to support this charity in the coming months, beginning with our Bungalow Experience at the Moreton Food and Wine Festival next month. Join Us in the Bungalows
You can join us and enjoy the festival while giving to Oz Harvest and the awesome programs they run, follow the Join Us link for ticket information.
The My Giving Table Bungalow experience provides you with a 5-hour session within the festival's exclusive seaside bungalow space, usually only available to corporates, with luxe furnishings, to share with other ticket holders, and access to a VIP toilet as well. During this time, you will have access to a buffet-style selection of rotating platters served throughout the session, including breads, charcuterie, cold seafood, and hot dishes. The session also includes a beverage package of a selection of Robert Oatley Signature wines, beers, and soft drinks. Thanks to the My Giving Table sponsorship, money from each ticket will be donated to Oz Harvest.
Along a similar vein this week is Steven, the 27-year-old son of a longtime friend of mine who also deserves a huge call out for the work he does in feeding the homeless each month. He takes the time to cook spaghetti bolognaise, roast chicken and vegetables and makes desert for the homeless near his church. He purchases and cooks the food himself each month for over 70 people and packages it up in takeaway containers to ensure there is a full meal for those who would otherwise go hungry. This week instead of accepting a birthday gift his mum asked us all to donate sanitary and personal items for the women who come to the dinners. It is the small things that add up to make a difference.
Aside from the great deeds of individuals there are some incredible campaigns currently underway such as the Live Like Her challenge for the charity Forgotten Women. My dynamic friend Fleur Madden and our fabulous Lady Mayoress Nina Schrinner, along with many other incredible givers will be sleeping rough in their cars in September to raise money and awareness for the growing number of homeless women in their 50's and beyond - one of the fastest growing demographics of the homeless and sleeping rough. I encourage you to donate or join this campaign and help them reach their target of $500K. Homelessness is growing everywhere with the pressures on our community, and we do not need to look far to see people sleeping rough. Try not to look past them and disconnect, try to be compassionate and empathetic and lend a hand to help, they are real people with real stories, not a statistic.
Join our Heartwarming Dinners for Open Haven Of course, My Giving Table are also currently running our Heartwarming Winter Campaign for Open Haven and are currently seeking kind people to host and to share a meal in their home with friends to raise funds for the amazing work Open Haven do to support woman, post domestic violence, to get their independence back. One of their powerful programs is their Drive to Thrive program that teaches women to drive so that they are able to look for work and drive their children to activities and school and to do the most basic things, such as picking up the groceries for the week.
Can you imagine if you needed to juggle children and groceries for the week on a bus or on foot walking back to your home? Many of the women Open Haven support have English as their second language and have little or no support and have never been allowed to drive. Imagine if you could raise enough money, simply by cooking and sharing a meal in your home with friends, to ensure a woman was given the support to learn to drive and become independent, find work and a new life. Your support could break the cycle of control and stop her from needing to return to a violent and abusive situation. Would this not make your heart feel full?
Register here to host for Open Haven or for more information on our wonderful Pasteio Pasta weekend where hosts will receive a dinner pack from the traditional pasta makers at Pasteio Pasta in Rosalie. We have made it so easy so what are you waiting for? All you need to do is invite friends over to share the meal with you and your dinner will raise funds that go directly to Open Haven.
If you have read to the end of this blog I expect you are already a person who believes in acts of kindness, for this I thankyou. Keep fighting the good fight.
Kate
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