AN EARLY VALENTINES DAY STORY

On January 29th 2017, there was a confluence of KINDNESS that happened at the Sedona Arts Center. It included the Sedona Rotary, the Arts Center, SedonaKind, and the Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters. All 4 nonprofits got together and created a magical afternoon for the children and their sponsors- known as “Bigs and Littles”. 15 children, from ages 6-17, boys and girls and their “Bigs”, came to create their own Kindness Charms and pottery tree charms. The tables were laden with a huge assortment of jewelry, beads, charms, clay and tags that said “Take me Home and Spread Kindness”.  SedonaKind had worked the week before creating jewelry kits for the children, and sorting all the beads and charms to make it easy for them. There was no need for that, these kids knew exactly what they wanted to create, and create they did! Working side by side with their “ Bigs” and our volunteers, the children made over 75 beautiful charms, and 26 tree charms. ( And two wonderful little boys made necklaces for their Moms!) Every child donated one special charm to hang in the Kind Art From the Heart Art show at the Art Center from February 2nd - 14th. The rest they proudly kept to hide and spread their own kindness in their families and community.​

​What a joy it was to see these children find the thrill of creating a beautiful art object, and also to have the opportunity to give them away to spread kindness. The room was filled with red heart balloons, but more than that, with creativity, companionship, laughter and love. It was a special thrill for all of us to help the Big Brother Big Sister Organization with their unique mission “to provide children facing adversity with strong enduring professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever.” You can click on this link www.azbigs.org to learn more about this wonderful and oh so needed organization. And maybe some of you reading this might decide to become a “Big” yourself. If you do, you’ll find it a true gift of the heart, that you give and receive. Now, that’s a Valentine!