Kilternan All Minds Matter
As part of the Kilternan All Minds Matter programme, they ran a volunteer appreciation evening on 6th January, for everyone who volunteered at the Gathering Grounds Café. The Gathering Grounds Café is an outreach programme of Kilternan Parish. Their mission is to promote community and belonging, growth and healing. They have an amazing team of volunteers (baristas, bakers, servers, etc.) of all ages who make the programme happen.
Not only do they offer amazing coffee and treats, but they also provide a space for conversation and connection. It’s a space where health and wellbeing are valued. It’s a special place, but its only special because of the people who invest in it.
Mindful of the connection between gratitude and positive mental health, they wanted to say ‘thank you’ to all the volunteers. They provided a meal for volunteers and their significant others. Seventy people of all ages gathered, and a room was provided (with a movie and pizza), for an additional 20 children. They also had a group of transition year students as servers.
On each table there was a jar with messages to encourage conversations about health and wellbeing. The volunteers spend their time and talents filling other’s buckets. This evening of appreciation was an opportunity to fill up theirs.
