Kindness project under way

Each story had a familiar ring.

Participants of the Ring in Kindness Project hung 100 bells last weekend as part of an effort to awaken people to the power of intentional kindness.

The project was inspired by Ben's Bells of Tucson, which is an art project inspired by the parents of a 3-year-old boy whose parents found comfort in making the bells.

The bells are hidden around the Valley and those who are encouraged to take them home and hang them up.

Gardnerville resident Kathy Imhof said she found one of the bells when she needed it the most.

"I'd just got out of a physically abusive relationship," she said. "I'd just moved into a new apartment with my 8-year-old and we had to go over to the Food Closet. As I got into my car, and was feeling really down, I saw the kindness bell in the tree. I didn't know what it was until someone told me the story."

Imhof described telling a friend about the bell, who told her to go get it.

"I felt very blessed to find it," she said. "It's hanging in my house. It was like hitting the Lotto, without getting the money."

Gardnerville Ranchos resident Shawn Lester said he found his bell while he was visiting his daughter's grave at Eastside Memorial Park.

"I saw the bell hanging on one of the trees as I was leaving Eastside Memorial," he said. "I'd heard about Ben's Bells and I thought it looked like one of those, so I'd leave it for the next person. But there was something about the shape of the ceramic butterfly. I read the card, and it said if you find the bell to please take it home. I took it as a sign from my daughter."

Our recent chilly weather has prompted a couple of coat drives including the Vietnam Veterans of American annual homeless veteran standdown.

Navy veteran Valerie Nenzel brought me by a flier for the warm weather clothing drive which will continue through Oct. 20.

She said coats can be dropped off at Century 21 Clark Properties in Minden.

The Gardnerville Verizon store is serving as a drop-off point for a coat drive starting Oct. 15. The store is located in the Scolari's shopping center. They'll be taking coats until Dec. 15.

Kurt Hildebrand is editor of The Record-Courier. Reach him at khildebrand@recordcourier.com or 782-5121, ext. 215.