By MELISSA MEEHAN
IT ALL started with the 50 acts of fearlessness challenge.
Sassafras resident Kiarne Conder, 19, said she felt like she was existing but not really living.
“I wrote down 50 things that I wanted to achieve over 100 days to conquer my fears and become a better person,” she said.
“I’m half way through it at the moment and regularly update my friends and family about it on social media.”
As part of her 50 acts, Kiarne decided to perform a random act of kindness.
“It took me a while to figure out what that act would be but after spending a weekend camping in freezing Bendigo an idea went through my head,” she said.
“Every day I walk past homeless people in the city, I feel bad for them but reluctant to give them the little money I have as I don’t know they’ll spend it the right way.
“Usually I donate to op shops, but seeing all those freezing bodies in the city streets each day and knowing it hasn’t even hit winter yet I thought I’d love to go out and hand some warm clothes to the homeless.”
From there Kiarne got the ball rolling.
She posted Facebook statuses and many family and friends said they also wanted to get involved.
“So I created a Facebook event called Walk for Warmth,” she said.
“And we held it last week – and it was so amazing to see how thankful people were when we handed them the clothes.”
Kiarne said many people were surprised that she was not affiliated with any church group and had started the collection of warm clothing out of goodwill.
“They were so thankful,” she said.
“There were 10 of us, walking around having a chat with these people and giving them warm clothes.
“Often they are lonely and just want someone to chat to.”
The event was so successful that Kiarne is planning on doing it again some day in the future.
To find out more, find Kiarne’s page on Facebook.
