In the most recent issue of Ursulines Alive, we announced a reimagining of the Kindness Campaign which the Ursuline Sisters began six years ago. The Sisters are asking for people to share stories of those who shared an act of kindness with them or someone they know. We hope this will inspire others to show kindness wherever they live.
Our first submission comes from Marilyn Doherty of Tucson, Arizona.
“I am a 53-year member of Kappa Delta Phi Sorority, which was the inspiration of Nan T. McCue, later known as Sister Mary Celeste, incorporated in Kentucky on Nov. 4, 1925. My chapter here in Tucson, Arizona has been a supporter of Ben’s Bells for several years now and volunteer both making the beads and painting them at their studio and in our homes.
“In response to your reimagining your Kindness Campaign, I would like to share with you a story about the founding of Ben’s Bells here in Tucson. In 2002, Jeannette Mare’s life changed forever when her son Ben died suddenly just before his third birthday In the months following his death, Jeannette and her friends and family began making ceramic wind chimes – the first Ben’s Bells – in her backyard studio. During this time Jeannette learned how a small act of kindness could make such a difference in a person’s life. She wanted to find a way to teach others about the intentional act of kindness, and so the idea for the Bell came to life. Jeannette and her friends made 400 bells and randomly distributed them in the Tucson community on the first anniversary of Ben’s death. Through these Bells, she had found a way to pay forward the kindnesses that had been shown to her.
“This started a powerful ripple effect. People who found the Bells shared their own stories of grief, healing, and hope. The local newspaper printed the story on the front page and school groups, businesses and individuals started calling to see how they would get involved, and soon thousands of Tucsonians were helping to craft Ben’s Bells.
“Ben’s Bells are colorful ceramic ornaments hung in communities throughout the world as symbols of kindness for people to find and take home. They have been operating as a nonprofit, growing kindness education programs and continuing to distribute thousands of Bells every year. Today, Bells are found all over the world and their free education programming has reached over 1.6 million students. Be Kind!”
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