The Acts of Kindness Charitable Trust (AOK) is based in Dunedin, New Zealand.
We are saddened to share that Anne Hardy, one of the founders of the trust, passed away on Thursday, 20th July 2023. She is greatly missed and would be delighted to know that husband Grant Hardy and the AOK team will still hold the annual Christmas Dinner in 2023. Thank you to the Otago Daily Times, who published the article below about Anne.Love of People Drove Community Volunteer (Otago Daily Times article)
Vision
The Trust was created to foster a giving, honouring and caring society. Our aim is to help people in our community who are in need and also to provide meaningful, joyful events that bring our community together.
Mission
The current main focus of Acts of Kindness Charitable Trust is to create and facilitate opportunities for
individuals and organizations to partner with the Trust to run three city wide community events. The
aim is to express kindness to people in our community, especially to those that are vulnerable, lonely or
struggling financially.
- The Dunedin Light Party is held close to the date of Halloween (31st October). The event provides a safe, family focused, non-Halloween alternative for children. Gold coin donation entry and all activities free of charge. This allows families with little to no disposable income to attend. The event is held at the Forsyth Barr Stadium and attracts between 3000 – 4000 children and their caregivers. Half attending are children. Approximately 300 volunteers participate. 2018 was the 6th year for this event at the Stadium.
- The Dunedin Community Christmas Dinner provides a free meal and companionship on Christmas Day for those that are lonely, without family or struggling financially.
The event is held at the Dunedin Town Hall and attracts around 500 people. Approximately 150 volunteers participate. - Christmas in the Stadium is a Christmas-themed family-friendly community event. It showcases local musical talent. Gold coin donation entry. Activities are provided for children free of charge. The event is held at the Forsyth Barr Stadium. Since the onset of Covid-19, the event has not taken place again yet.
All three events the Trust facilitates (together with the 100’s of volunteers) are designed to encourage goodwill, love and joy, to share and to help create a giving, honouring and caring community. If you would like to assist the Trust by donating finance, please click here.
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The Trust also arranges the delivery of gifts to our senior citizens in Dunedin City Council flats at Christmas.
