Take a Rock, Leave a Rock at the Kindness Garden
May 31, 2019 06:00AM ● By Pamela Johnson
The Kindness Rock Garden at the Bellingham Library. “Take one; leave one.”
The Kindness Rock Garden at the Bellingham Library is now open. There are approximately 150 colorfully painted rocks of various sizes in this garden. On many, you will see messages of hope and inspiration, for example, You’re a Star,” ”Turn the Pain into Power” and “Beautiful Soul.”
“It’s a community effort,” explained Steve Fowler, the Children’s Librarian and volunteer leader of the local, hand-painted rock movement. “These rocks were painted over four sessions and included work by 20 fourth- and fifth-graders from the Middle School.”
The Kindness Rock Garden is set up at the entrance to the Library parking lot. The rocks are on the ground surrounding the post that holds up the little Free Library sign, a wooden celebration of Bellingham’s 300th anniversary.
There is at least one other Kindness Rock Garden in Bellingham, located on the Southern New England Trunkline Trail, familiarly known as SNETT, off Center Street.
Nationally, The Kindness Rocks Project has groups across the U.S. Locally, besides the one at the Bellingham Library, you can find them in Franklin, Hopedale, Milford and Woonsocket, RI.
The idea is to take a rock when you need one and leave one for someone else. The national organization puts it this way: “One message at just the right moment can change your whole day.”More information is available at www.TheKindnessRocksProject.com.
