In celebration of Mental Health Awareness Month, Magnolia Soap and Bath Co. in St. Charles has partnered with Kendall’s Kindness to raise funds for mental health and suicide awareness through the sale of soap.
Each month, Magnolia runs a “Hope in Soap” fundraiser where proceeds from the sale of a select soap are donated to charities and local organizations. Through this promotion, Magnolia raises thousands of dollars each year to support the local community.
This month’s special soap is called “Kindness in Kendall,” and Magnolia donated all proceeds from May’s “Hope in Soap” sales to the Kendall Kindness Fund, which supports mental health services in Kane County.
Mandy Brewster opened Magnolia Soap and Bath Company at 1 Illinois Ave. in June 2021. This is the second year in a row that May’s Hope in Soap has benefited Kendall’s Kindness – last year it raised just over $1,000 and this month’s campaign has raised more than $400.
Kendall’s Kindness is a non-profit organization established in memory of Kendall Maffia, a St. Charles High School student and artist who tragically took her own life in 2021. The Maffia family founded the organization in 2022.
Brewster said she has a personal connection to Kendall’s Kindness because her daughter and Kendall attended elementary school there. Working with a small local organization like Kendall’s Kindness is great because she can know exactly where the money is going and who it’s helping, Brewster said.
Proceeds will help fund a mural that Kendall’s Kindness plans to paint in downtown St. Charles, as well as support other planned mental health initiatives and fundraisers.
Kendall’s mother, Kim Maffia, said the organization’s main mission is to honor Kendall and continue her legacy of spreading kindness.
“Mandy is so passionate about mental health and we’re so excited to be working with her again,” Ms Mafia said. “She’s so kind and the support from the community and businesses has meant so much.”
The organization also sponsors Kendall’s Kindness Scholarship Fund, which awards $1,000 scholarships each year to two students from St. Charles North and St. Charles East high schools who will go on to a four-year college or university to pursue a degree in fine arts.
Mafia said the arts were Kendall’s passion and that while there are many scholarships for merit and sports, there aren’t many opportunities for students looking to pursue an arts education, so he decided to support arts students. Three scholarships have been awarded so far and the program plans to continue awarding them annually.
Other initiatives at Kendall’s Kindness include setting up acts of kindness on the 12th of each month and inviting local businesses to get involved. They also donate to mental health and suicide prevention awareness campaigns and other organizations that spread kindness throughout the community.
Kendall’s Kindness will host its second annual memorial 5K walk June 9 at Colon Elementary School in South Elgin to raise money for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
