In 2003, a grief-stricken Tucson mother named Jeanette Maré, who’d lost her toddler son, channeled her heartache by crafting and hanging bells around her neighborhood. It was also her way to recognize the many kindnesses shown to her family.

 

 

 

 

 

By Sarah Varney

 

In 2003, a grief-stricken Tucson mother named Jeanette Maré, who’d lost her toddler son, channeled her heartache by crafting and hanging bells around her neighborhood. It was also her way to recognize the many kindnesses shown to her family. “Ben’s Bells” are made of ceramic beads strung with a small cowbell at the bottom. Each one bears a tag that says, “Take this home and pass along the kindness it represents.”

 

Osborn Principal Angela Garcia learned of the Ben’s Bells program just before Christmas when she received a bell of her own. She and her family took part in a Ben’s Bells event at her daughter’s elementary school. “We saw this as a wonderful connection to our own Osborn iCare program,” said Garcia.

 

On February 27, about 100 students and parents, along with 17 Osborn teachers, gathered to shape and paint ceramic beads. The school community was honored to have Jodie Adolfson, a Ben’s Bells’ chapter president from Sandy Hook, Connecticut, lead the workshop. Ben’s Bells took on additional meaning in this area after the Sandy Hook school tragedy. Newtown, Connecticut is now home to two Ben’s Bells workshops where visitors can create bells for a one-dollar donation.

 

The “be kind” message of Ben’s Bells has blossomed to include “Kind Kids Schools” and “kindness coins.” Osborn was awarded recognition as a “Kind Kids” school in January. As part of that designation, the school received 200 kindness coins last week.
Kindness rings out loud and clear at Osborn School.

— Photo by Carla Eggers