A group of nearly 100 residents have come together to help those self-isolating during the COVID-19 outbreak.
In a situation replicated throughout the country, a community group has formed in Kinross despite most of its members having never met before.
Kinross Kindness was set up to help provide information and support to people in the Kinross area who are self-isolating.
The idea was sparked by Viral Kindness postcards which were shared widely on social media and could be dropped through neighbours’ doors with a phone number.
Tim Marts, who helped launch Kinross Kindness, explains: “We thought that was great but what then happens if they themselves have to self-isolate? That support network breaks down.”
And so Kinross Kindness was born.
Tim explains that without the wider community support in place, someone who perhaps needs to self-isolate but desperately needs nappies for their child might be more tempted to go out and get them.
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But having Kinross Kindness means residents have a group of around 90 PVG-checked volunteers who will happily fetch some groceries or pick up a prescription.
The group has set up a website where folks can fill out an online form at www.kinrosskindness.com or by phoning 01577 212036 (Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm).
Kinross Kindness will then match a volunteer to their request. By its second week, the group had picked up and delivered 105 prescriptions and over 75 shopping requests.
Volunteers have also answered hundreds of calls to the new Blether Line – 01577 212037 – for anyone in Kinross-shire needing advice or just a chat.
And almost £4000 has been raised for local charity, Broke not Broken, to help support those struggling financially during these times.
There have even been virtual coffee mornings and Tim said: “We hold a fortnightly coffee morning and had music from a local youth group at the last one.”
Tim says Kinross Kindness has shown a “real sense of community spirit” and is “powered by time and goodwill.”
Despite many of the members never having met before, Tim says they have all united during this COVID-19 pandemic with a “collective purpose” and says they may well all finally get together once this is all over with a barbecue.
