Subtotal:
Herdy donates 400 mugs to help combat loneliness
The ‘Hug in a mug’ project, which is now in its second year, aims to spread a little happiness to those in the local community who are affected by loneliness.
Gateway Church’s Community Connector Rev Jonny Gios commented on the project.
“ We were aware even before the Covid pandemic started that loneliness and isolation was a huge challenge in our community. There is a misconception that loneliness only affects older people but In fact, it affects younger people too. The mugs are a small token that those who do feel lonely and especially isolated are not forgotten”
The Neighbourhood Chaplains and staff from Herdy HQ came together to create the Hug in a Mugs, over a morning coffee.
Each mug has been carefully and thoughtfully put together and includes details of how to get in touch with the Neighbourhood Chaplains team of volunteers for support. The mugs are full to the brim of tasty treats kindly donated by Farrer’s Tea and Coffee Shop. Which includes hot chocolate, Kendal mint cake, shortbread and of course, tea and coffee. The mugs also contain supportive advice, such as information about a befriending service, help available to assist with odd jobs around the house, or someone simply to lend a listening ear.
Every year Herdy takes part in the Random Acts of Kindness initiative, to help promote kindness and positivity in the local community. Previous year’s projects include ‘Hunt the Herdy’, when we hid 30 specially made “Super Herdys” throughout Cumbria for people to find and take home. The finder was encouraged to carry out their own random act of kindness in return.
Random Acts of Kindness aims to spread a little bit of happiness at a local level. At Herdy we felt that Hug in a Mug was the perfect project for us to get involved with. There's nothing better than enjoying a good cuppa, especially in a Herdy mug.
Herdy’s mission is ‘to spread smiles and happiness and we hope that the ‘Hug in a Mug’ will bring a smile to those in the community who need it the most.
The Campaign to End Loneliness states that isolation in rural areas such as Cumbria has a unique set of circumstances that can exacerbate social isolation, leading to poor health, loss of independence and lower quality of life. These factors range from lower per capita expenditure on social care to greater reliance on car ownership, particularly for visiting family or simply getting to the shops.
On a bright and breezy morning (aka Storm Dudley), the team from Herdy HQ plus the Neighbourhood Chaplains from Gateway Church stocked up the Herdy van and began distributing the mugs across Kendal. "Hug in a Mug brought tears of joy to a lady who was so touched to receive one.” explained one of the volunteer’s “She had gone through some difficult times and this showed her she was loved and not forgotten about".
The Gateway Church is also offering the opportunity to nominate a local person who you believe is in need of a ‘Hug in a Mug’. You can find out more about the nomination process by visiting their Facebook page here.
