Spread some Kindness this Mental Health Awareness Week

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week, and the theme is “Kindness”.  We are based in a wonderful community in the beautiful Ring of Gullion and amid the fear we see community spirit, support for the vulnerable and hope for the future. We are truly seeing kindness prevail in uncertain times.  We have been overwhelmed with the lovely messages of support and thanks that we have received both in store and online, and the offers of help with the task of getting groceries to vulnerable people.

Of course, the added benefit of helping others is that it is good for our own mental health. We believe that kindness can transform our community, so lets all contribute to a society that promotes and creates good mental health especially for those who are most vulnerable.

We know that coming shopping has become a somewhat less pleasurable experience everywhere, so we would like to share with you here some of the activities which make Team Mulkerns feel good as we try to spread kindness and lessen the burden on the vulnerable. We encourage all our followers to join us in spreading some kindness of their own this week.

• We have been working with local well-being practitioner Joanne at ‘Try the Alternative’ to spread some happiness among our following. You will see some of Joanne’s inspiration on our Community Notice Boards.
• Our Colouring Competition “Happy Homes” in aid of local Women’s Aid and Barnardo’s is still running…for every entry we are donating £1 to these charities.
• We are encouraging all families to get their children involved…colouring sheets can be downloaded from our Facebook Page (pinned post) or our website mulkernseurospar.com , or feel free to submit your child’s own creation!
• We have opened an Express Hatch for those who want to do a quick basket shop, or for collecting items ordered online.
• We opened a Community Kiosk in the evenings for those in need of essentials.
• We have sent a van load of treats and refreshments to staff in Daisy Hill Hospital.
• We worked with our local Hill Walking club ‘Gap O’ The North’ to provide lunch and refreshments to the Fire Service who were tackling a blaze on one of our local mountains.
• We are developing and rolling out our online ordering / shopping app to help you avoid the queue.
• We are offering a Free Delivery service to older and vulnerable people who are cocooning.
• We have a Free Order and Collect service for the vulnerable or NHS Staff ,or for lone parents who find themselves constrained due to childcare issues.
• A new weekly Out Door Flower Market opened in April and has enabled customers to shop safely for the gardening essentials in the open air in our carpark.
• We have increased our online communications to keep you informed of updates and are using our social channels to respond quickly to all your queries.

A huge thank you to all our team who have remained positive and adapted quickly and easily to all the changes.  Without them and their kindness we would not be able to bring you these services.  Don’t forget to spread some kindness of your own this week!  Finally, from all at Team Mulkerns, we hope you are on the receiving end of some kindness too!