The shortened pole in Ivey Park that once held a Kindness Meter. (Source: Lincoln McCardle / Facebook)
For a second time since last summer, a Kindness Meter has been stolen from Ivey Park.
On Monday, Lincoln McCardle posted an image to Facebook depicting a shortened pole that stood stripped of it’s blue headpiece.
The meters, brought to London in an effort led by McCardle, have been set up in parks across the city. Made from refurbished parking meters, Kindness Meters collect change from generous Londoners to be later donated to local charities.
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The original Kindness Meter that was installed in Ivey Park last summer.
However, this wasn’t the first time McCardle’s act of kindness was countered with the sin of thievery.
He told XFM News that the first theft took place in June of 2017, just days after the meters were first installed.
“I ended up finding pieces of it in the river,” said McCardle, adding that it took about a year to replace the first stolen meter.
The most recently stolen meter was only in the park for about a month before it fell victim to thieves.
“I’m not exactly resigned, but I think at some point you have to accept the fact that maybe that’s not a good spot for a Kindness Meter,” said McCardle.
As for bringing a meter to a new location, McCardle says the thought has crossed his mind, but that doing so is a bureaucratic nightmare.
“You really have to make exceptions for each one of these… I suspect we’re probably just going to have to work with the four we have right now.”
The remaining Kindness Meters can be found in Mitchell A. Baran, Piccadilly, Victoria and West Lions parks.
Since their installation last summer, the meters have raised more than $3,600 for local charities.
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