Random acts of kindness

Lecturing auditing, dealing with students and crunching numbers is what the IIE’s Varsity College Sandton, programme manager for the school of accounting, Kimberly McIntyre is ordinarily known for. However, she has done the extraordinary for charity during her spare time.

Over the past few months, McIntyre has been the mastermind of various charity initiatives which involve donating money to an underprivileged school in the North West and collecting donations of clothing and equipment for mothers with newborn babies in Johannesburg. More recently, she has shown selflessness on her birthday by preparing warm and wholesome plates of food for 180 displaced people in Johannesburg, to help them face the winter cold a bit better. McIntyre also prides herself on her annual bingo event, which raises funds for the Shalom Respite Care Centre.

Since its inception three years ago, this event has contributed to the home in many ways – installing security cameras, repainting the exterior gate and fence, purchasing and donating couches for the residents, a new sound system, therapy sessions for the residents, a new braai and a new inflatable pool. Furthermore, her bingo event also raises awareness about the national sanitary towel crisis, by requesting guests to donate sanitary towels as an ‘entrance fee’ for Home of Hope for Girls.

Beyond juggling her busy schedule and family time, McIntyre has gone beyond the call of duty for her community.

McIntyre said she once came across the saying ‘random acts of kindness’ and has since dedicated her life to doing exactly that.

“My brother has severe autism. When he was born, there were no services in South Africa for children with autism nor support for their families.

“So, my mom started a national body for people with autism in our dining room. Therefore, I grew up running fundraisers with my mom and doing NPO work. It became a part of me.

“Seeing someone you love being ‘robbed’ of the life they deserve makes you humble.”

Related articles:

https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/224960/not-all-who-suffer-from-autism-receives-the-needed-support/

https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/226658/mr-and-miss-varsity-college-crowned-2/