Trying a little kindness to make the world a little brighter through coronavirus

Toby Dawson said the page was set up a week ago by IRT Group initiative Age Matters which is dedicated to improving the lives of older Australians.

"We know how damaging social isolation can be, especially for older people" Mr Dawson said.

"But through initiatives like the Illawarra Kindness Pandemic we are actually seeing the community spirit rise. We are seeing so many outpourings of positivity where people are going above and beyond to brighten the day of others in their community".

Mr Dawson said the Illawarra page was launched after Age Matters joined the original Kindness Pandemic Page.

He said that gave his team some ideas of how we could engage the vulnerable and disadvantaged people in our community in a positive way.

"Then off the back of the Kindness Pandemic Page's success they asked local communities to establish localised pages to share the good news happening in their own backyard. The Illawarra Kindness Pandemic page is associated with and uses the rules of the initial page".

Mr Dawson hopes Illawarra Kindness Pandemic encourages people in the community to try and outdo each other with kindness.

"We would love to see that approach with this where everyone is trying to make each other's day happier and more positive through the sharing of such fantastic stories".

Mr Dawson said anyone in the Illawarra could join Illawarra Kindness Page which is particularly looking for people who want to be engaged in positivity.

"This is a happy place for us to connect," he said.

"While we may have to be physically distant let's be socially connected about the good things that are happening right around the Illawarra".

Mr Dawson people will also share the good news stories they see or hear about in the weeks and months ahead.

Stories such as Amber Morrisey who baked 100 biscuits with kindness.for teachers at her children's school in Corrimal.

"Usually for Christmas and Easter you give to the teachers. When I thought about them being here during a pupil free week while our children were all home I decided instead of just focusing on our class teachers I would do a big batch of cookies for all the teachers who are still on the front line," she said.

Mrs Morrisey's sons Samuel and Archer not only helped her cook the biscuits but deliver them to St Columbkille's Catholic Parish Primary School principal Brad Colquhourn.

Mr Colquhourn said his favourites were the choc chip cookies.

"It is amazingly generous and it says a lot about not only about Amber but our school community as well," he said.

"We have had lots of parents bring in other things as well just to show their generosity and appreciation for helping their kids during this time."

.Mrs Morrisey said she shared the story on the Illawarra Kindness Pandemic page in the hope it would inspire others to share their stories of goodwill at this time.

The Illawarra Mercury has launched a Taking Care of Business campaign.

Each day we will highlight a local business who is adapting or evolving to be able to keep operating under these trying times.

If you know of a business adapting, please send us an email titled Taking Care of Business to cos@illawarramercury.com.au.

We have also put a call out and will run a list of cafes, restaurants and clubs who are offering takeaway or delivery on our Facebook page. If you know of an outlet now offering home delivery or takeaway, please let us know and add it to the list.

Here is more about the campaign:

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