On-air stunt becomes daily feature

With the help of 94.5 Kfm listeners, presenters Mel Jones and Nic Marais were able to donate 40 000 cans of food for the disadvantaged communities living in the Western Cape.

The initiative involves the breakfast team and listeners ‘paying it forward' by helping others without expecting anything in return, and capturing or relaying these experiences on air.

“We introduced Random Acts of Kindness as a way of putting Kfm Breakfast in touch with the needs of the community. We wanted to get out of the studio, and onto the streets. Kfm Breakfast co-host Mel Jones took ownership of the project, added a feminine touch, and turned Random Acts of Kindness into a daily appointment for beautiful, warm radio,” explains 94.5 Kfm's station manager, Colleen Louw.

“Nothing stops Mel from doing good things – when it rains, she heads out into the rain and gives hot chocolate to commuters. When it's scorching, she gives suntan lotion to listeners. When the queues are long at the traffic dept, she stands in the queue for you. Mel Jones is there when you least expect it, committing Random Acts of Kindness.”

Tinned food collection

The station recently collected tins of food for disadvantaged communities living in the Western Cape.

“We put out an on-air call to donate non-perishable foods and the public's response was overwhelming, with listeners donating in excess of 40 000 cans of food. This outpouring of kindness and generosity by Capetonians really indicated the incredible goodwill that is alive and well in our city and which is evident on the Breakfast Show every morning.”

Random Acts of Kindness by Kfm to date include:

• Comic book day – Free comic books to students at Cape Technikon
  
• Mother's day – Chocolate handout outside the Golden Acre
  
• Tiara day – Tiara handouts at the Grand Parade
  
• Doughnut day – Doughnut handout at the Golden Acre
  
• Winter warmer – Hot chocolate distribution at Cape Town train station and handing over hot water bottles to a local children's orphanage for winter
  
• Back to school day – Kids awarded with tickets to see the Harry Potter exclusive screening
  
• Lollipop day – Handed out branded lollipops at an intersection
  
• Houseplant Appreciation day – Visited an old age home with houseplants for all
  
• Hot Dog Day – Spent the day at a hot dog stand on the Cape Town foreshore and paid for 100 hotdogs.