5 year-old Maisie from Liskeard is spending her February a little differently this year by completing 56 ‘Acts of Kindness’ as part of Children’s Hospice South West’s (CHSW) ‘56 in February Challenge’.
Armed with tiny charms inscribed with positive messages, Maisie started by surprising her friends at school with thoughtful tokens and small acts of generosity. Her mum, Lauren, says the idea began with Maisie’s wish to help people experiencing homelessness.
“We’ve always tried to emphasise the importance of being kind,” Lauren explained.
When I saw the challenge on Facebook, it felt like the perfect fit for Maisie.
Since then, Maisie’s acts of kindness have included sharing her snacks with classmates, drawing pictures for friends who’ve been feeling unwell, including a colourful get-well picture for her friend Bella, litter picking and helping to make care packages for homeless people. So far, she has raised £178 on her JustGiving page for CHSW, a cause close to the family’s heart.
Lauren previously worked at a home for children with disabilities in Ivybridge, many of which have visited CHSW’s Little Harbour hospice. Knowing how special Little Harbour was to those families helped spark Maisie’s enthusiasm to do something meaningful.
“If we saw a homeless person, she always wanted to help,” Lauren said.
This challenge has given her a way to turn that caring nature into action.
With several acts of kindness still to go to fill the rest of February, Maisie is proving that even the smallest person can make a big difference.