INNISFAIL – No matter what sort of blues anyone is in or encountering, a bit of kindness is always available.
The Innisfail Public Library has launched a new initiative, Kindness Rocks Garden, for local citizens. It is an initiative where they can find kindness in a brown bag, and then make a positive difference in today’s troubled world.
The little brown bags, which are free for anyone who wants to indulge themselves or others with kindness, are actually kits containing paint, a paintbrush and a rock. With these ingredients, kindness can be created for anyone seeking it for themselves, sharing a kindness rock with a friend, placing it around town or leaving a rock at the Kindness Rocks Garden at the library.
“The idea is that we create these rocks and leave them around town to spread positive messages, especially in a trying time,” said
Lindsey Budd, assistant library manager, who noted similar kindness rock ideas have been successfully launched in other communities as well.
She said the town’s Youth Action Committee (YAC), which was created last February with a mandate to help local youth feel valued and have a sense of belonging in Innisfail, supported the local initiative.
The Kindness Rocks Garden initiative was launched publicly at the Market on Main on Aug. 18. It will be a feature there every Tuesday until Sept. 8.
The initial reaction at the Market on Main was instantly infectious. Within just a few short minutes several citizens visited Budd’s booth and wanted the offering of potential kindness in a brown bag.
“We are excited to see different members of the community out, hoping to make rocks and spreading them around,” said Budd, noting YAC funded the kindness kits. “Even though we will be here for four weeks the idea is that it will go on forever. We will have the kindness garden at the Innisfail Public Library outside. Citizens can come and drop off their rocks or take another one if it speaks to you, or you can share it with a friend, or even around town for someone who is out and about and the message speaks to them.”
Brian George, a YAC member and a mental health success coach, was with Budd on Innisfail’s Main Street for the kindness rocks launch. He suggested it was important in today’s troubled COVID-19 world for citizens to take advantage of any kindness opportunity that comes their way.
“In a time where we are focusing inwardly we also need to be able to take care of each other, and especially when we are forced to (practise) social distancing where it’s important we still find ways to reach out when we’re limited,” said George. “That’s why this message is so important where we can really reinforce that message that, ‘we are not in this alone, that we are working in this together.”
For more information on the Kindness Rocks Garden initiative contact Budd at 403-227-4407.
