Kindness Jars - Raising the next generation of fundraisers and community leaders one penny at a time

Mel Buck, Founder, Little Movers

I’m Mel Buck, and I have the privilege of founding and leading Little Movers — a business built on heart, community, and purpose. Kindness has always been at the heart of everything we do, and for me, it’s deeply personal.

As a child, life wasn’t always easy. I lost my dad in a car crash and faced real hardship growing up. I know what it’s like to not have a meal in the cupboard or to hide my trainers at school because there were holes in them. There was even a time when homelessness wasn’t just a fear it was my reality. But those experiences shaped me. They made me determined to build a business that didn’t just serve communities, but truly stood with them.

That’s what Little Movers is all about. It’s why kindness isn’t just a buzzword for us it’s something we do every day.

The idea for the Kindness Jar came from a Jewish school I was privileged to teach in. There, I saw something beautiful: children putting pennies into a jar each week to help others. It wasn’t about the amount, it was about the intention. That moment stayed with me.

Now, at every single Little Movers session, our children pop a copper coin, always a copper, never a shiny silver coin, into their Kindness Jar. We’re really mindful never to put pressure on our families. We talk to the children about why that matters, and they understand. They know they’re saving for something meaningful, and it gives them such a strong sense of purpose.

When the jar is full, the children and their families decide together what act of kindness they’d like to carry out. They even volunteer to go shopping and deliver it themselves. It’s a real team effort, and the children take such pride in it.

Some of the recent acts of kindness include:

·       Buying chocolates for their local lollipop ladies

·       Delivering sandwiches and hot drinks to people experiencing homelessness

·       Taking flowers to care home residents

·       Dropping off treats at ambulance stations

·       Creating care packs for children in hospital

What’s so powerful is that we’re showing children, from a very young age, that they can make a difference. They’re learning that kindness is an action not just a word. That their voices and efforts matter. And that even the smallest hand can offer the biggest help.

We’re also thrilled to now be working with Jet2 and Dawson & Sanderson to take our Kindness Jars virtual. This means we can spread the message of kindness even further, reaching families on holiday and inspiring acts of care in places all over the world.

Our children are the next fundraisers, the next community leaders. Let’s raise a new generation of people who are compassionate, thoughtful, and brave enough to make change, starting with a penny and a purpose.

To find out more about Little Movers, visit https://bit.ly/little-movers-dance