Melbourne woman bakes thousands of cookies to spread kindness during coronavirus

Like many Aussies, Debbie Hailes has been baking up a storm to pass the time in lockdown.

But the Melbourne woman, who has worked in hospitals across the state since the start of coronavirus, had a different mission in mind than satisfying her sweet tooth: cooking for kindness.

Since March, Hailes has baked 2,300 cookies, all decorated with a facemask, and created "kits" including a cookie and a heart-shaped blank note so fellow Melbourne residents can spread a little kindness to someone in lockdown. 

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"I work in a hospital and in March and when COVID came, I set myself a challenge to make 1300 biscuits," Hailes tells 9Honey.

Hailes handed out the first round of her kindness cookies throughout April, but as Victoria went into its second stage of lockdown she set herself another mission to make 1200 more.

Recognising the frustrations and boredom people were experiencing in the second wave, Hailes also created activity kits for children in her neighbourhood, including a mask-decorating task and a "red heart to write a letter to your neighbour."

Hailes has been working in the public health care system for over two decades as a complaints manager and, put simply, she's "heard a lot" during her career.

"But I believe if you build a kind culture internally it really exudes externally," she says.

As harsh lockdown measures slowly loosen over the state of Victoria, Hailes hopes her cookies provide a little hope to her neighbours, loved ones and patients at the hospital she works in.

"It's a pandemic, and anger isn't going to get us anywhere," she explains.

"I love cooking and honestly, I am not very good at it but I hope it makes people feel kinder."

Hailes says while she's no top chef or crafter, baking has helped her "break the monotony" of isolation.

"It just filled my days. Sometimes I'd be cooking for five or six hours!"

With her family separated on opposite sides of the state of Victoria, Hailes plans to take a break from baking and reunite with her sisters when lockdown ends.

"I'm ready to hug someone," she says.