Ben’s Bells
Have you seen a “Be Kind” mosaic around? Or a ceramic wind chime with a special tag? If so, my guess is a volunteer at Ben’s Bells in Tucson, Arizona made it!
After walking around downtown Tucson and seeing these beautiful art pieces everywhere, I stumbled upon the HQ. Aka the historic 1868 Charles O. Brown (a pre-civil war settler) hybrid adobe house given to the Arizona Historical Society by Elisabeth Congdon in the 1960s.
Now housing the mothership of Ben’s Bells, it’s an even more incredible space. This organization is named in homage to the founder’s son who passed away in 2002, right before his 3rd birthday. This resonated with me since he died from croup – something that plagued my son at the same age.
As moms do, they rallied around his mom Jeannette Maré for support and started making ceramic wind chimes in her backyard ceramics studio. This quickly became incredibly therapeutic for her family and their healing.
Through this small act she realized how much kindness mattered and made it her mission to share this concept. From here – Ben’s Bells was born. Her squad started sharing these handmade bells around Tucson on the first anniversary of Ben’s death to pay kindness forward in her community.
The Ben’s Bell Ripple Effect
The ripple effect was immense creating a forum for the finder to share their own story of grief and healing.
Once word got out, school groups and businesses wanted to help and their global kindness movement ballooned around the world.
The studio offers several options for eager volunteers including: making the pieces out of clay, painting them once fired, or stringing them together. Additionally, you can offer to spread the love by hanging them around the world.
I was immediately sold! In fact, they were so kind they let me – a loitering interloper – come in and assemble a bunch. Plus, they let me take them for distribution (usually there’s a wait list – THANKS AGAIN!).
Spreading The Ben’s Bells Be Kind Message
Over the next few weeks I hung my Ben’s Bells spreading the message to BE KIND in Long Island, upstate NY, Puerto Rico, St. Lucia, and Manhattan.
I love not knowing the wind chime’s recipient and hope it’s someone who needs a little serendipitous kindness at that moment in their life.
You can join their kindness movement (with their millions of volunteers) too!
They accept online donations or stop by the next time you’re in Tucson checking out the giant Saguaros!
Check out my full Arizona itinerary as well as my posts on: Tucson; Ben’s Bells; my new Saguaro obsession; Sedona; Antelope Canyon, Tuba City, and the NavajoLand Hotel; Horseshoe Bend and Page, Arizona; and the Cameron Trading Post and Grand Canyon!
Ben’s Bells Related Hashtags
#BensBells #Tucson #BeKind #Kindness #Love #Compassion #Peace #KindnessMatters #Happiness #Gratitude #Positivity #Motivation #KindnessRocks #PositiveVibes #Life #Inspiration #Kind #MentalHealth #Hope #PayItForward #Mindfulness #Happy #Community #Smile #Joy #Grateful #Support #Humanity #Respect #Arizona
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