Laura’s mission to bring a Cup of Kindness to city

Laura’s mission to bring a Cup of Kindness to city

16 March 2016

THE hope that a random act of kindness might change a stranger’s day is behind an unusual online venture.

Ballynahinch woman Laura Porter has launched a Facebook project, Cup of Kindness, making and decorating mugs to order.

But rather than pocket the proceeds of her sales, 24 year-old Laura spends her profits buying a hot drink for a passerby.

Now living in Bath where she works with young people, Laura regularly takes to the city’s streets to offer a coffee or tea to somebody who looks like they could do with a little pick-me-up.

Although the venture is relatively new, Laura, a former pupil of Ballynahinch High School, has already sold over 50 mugs, offering a cuppa to many people including the homeless, street entertainers and businesspeople who look like they might need cheered up.

Laura said she got the idea from her own life, where she realised how much difference a little unexpected kindness made.

“Everyone needs a bit of kindness sometimes as we all have things going on in our lives,” she said.

“It has happened to me and it can make your day. It can be as simple as leaving flowers at somebody’s door when they are feeling rough.

“Once I was out for lunch with a friend and when we went to pay we were told somebody in the restaurant had paid our bill.

“I later learned they went to our church, although I had never spoken to them.”

Laura attends Bath and Avon Vineyard Church, where she has met many like-minded people.

She said she was attracted to the church when she arrived in Bath because the people involved were keen to try to help other people, rather than just turn up for a service on a Sunday.

At the weekend, a group from her church went to the half marathon in Bath where they distributed 800 doughnuts to many appreciative runners and by-standers.

Although this ties in with her Cup of Kindness project, Laura says she does not speak about her church when donating her cups of tea and coffee.

“My faith impacts on why I do it, but I have made a point of not making it a Christian thing so it does not alienate anyone,” she explains.

“I just walk around Bath and think if who might appreciate it, it might be a Big Issue seller out in the cold or somebody on a park bench.

“It does take courage as sometimes they look a bit confused and say no or just look at you and wonder what you are doing but I usually get a chat with them.”

If her recipients are happy to have a chat and a photograph, Laura posts these on her Facebook page.

Some of her most recent stories include that of a street entertainer and a free spirited woman who lives on the streets.

“The idea is to do random acts of kindness to anybody and anyone. I love acts of kindness and I want other people to get involved,” she said.

“I think people love to hear who they have helped and that is why I put the little stories on the Facebook page, Cup of Kindness.”