LIFELINE IN A letter
By Isabelle Harris
M
ore people than ever are accessing support services in their times of need, from food hampers to community and financial support, and everything else in between.
when she was having a tough time and needed a little extra support and encouragement, a feeling she never forgot and for which she is eternally grateful to her anonymous author.
These people can feel especially vulnerable when asking for help, which is where Brooke Tahir comes in. She started the “Letters of Life” initiative via a Facebook post to provide support and kindness to those in need. “What if everyone having a hard time could get a letter?” she thought one night while feeding her young child. Brooke received a similar letter of support some time ago
People participating begin by writing a handwritten, personal, and anonymous letter to someone “in a tough position” Brooke says. These can include your own previous experiences, empathising, or encouraging a person experiencing hardship. Some choose to write these letters “because they’ve been there themselves” Brooke says. “It’s normally along the lines of its
E ssence
24 | PENINSULA
November 2020