Giving back is nothing new to the Gipson family, but last fall they turned their passion for helping others into the nonprofit Kind Human 4 Human Kind and recently received a $18,500 grant from the Community Foundation to help with their mission.

“We were definitely inspired by Jamie and her son, Vic, when they came in to meet with the committee,” said Lindsey Adams-Fitchett, chair of the Grants Committee. “They truly care about this community and using their lived experiences to meet people where they are at.”  

The grant will be used to support the organization’s three programs – direct deliveries of things like furniture to those in need, community giving days and survival bags for the homeless – and the equipment needed to make it happen such as a trailer and clothing racks.

While Kind Human 4 Human Kind is new, the work began nine years ago when Jamie’s daughter Olivia was turning 12 years old. When asked, she didn’t want a birthday party because she had everything she needed. Jamie told her to gather her friends anyway. 

“When the day came, I brought the kids to do random acts of kindness for people in the community,” Jamie said. “They passed out flowers, kind notes with compliments, and small denomination gift cards to those in need.

“We had no idea how impactful that day would become,” she added. “Most of those children have now gone into community service, advocacy work or social work of some kind. It started a kindness movement in our family that has grown and evolved into what is now Kind Human 4 Human Kind.”

The original acts of kindness evolved into survival bags and then direct deliveries and community giving days. Since the nonprofit formed last year they have helped more than 5,700 people help themselves in a empowering and dignified manner – the mission carried out in a nonjudgemental manner.

“Everyone needs help at some point in their life, so we hope to give a hand where we can to make things easier,” Jamie said. “We believe every human deserves kindness, and in running our services we hope to show the community that being kind is not an ‘extraordinary’ trait, it should be the norm.”

To learn more about Kind Human 4 Human Kind visit their website or follow them on Facebook or Instagram.