FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
“Kingswood Kindness” Aims to Help Community Find the Positive During Mental Health Month
Dunwoody, Georgia, May 6, 2020 — Kingswood Church has initiated a #KingswoodKindness project to spread a little kindness around the Dunwoody and surrounding communities. The church is offering free craft kits to children and adults with supplies to create kindness rocks, so that those interested in spreading some kindness can do just that.
Rev. Dondra Davis, Associate Pastor at Kingswood Church started the project as a source of hope and positivity that seemed desperately needed during the state’s shelter-in-place order. “For weeks, whenever we turn on the television, check the news on our phones, or open the paper, all we see is bad news. At Kingswood Church, we’re trying to spread some good news in the community. Especially as we enter Mental Health Month, this is a great reminder that we can be physically distant while remaining socially connected. We hope each kindness rock discovered around our city helps someone find the positive in our current situation,” said Rev. Davis.
The church is using social media to connect individuals who place these rocks in the community, or those that find them, using the #KingswoodKindness hashtag. Families have posted photos with their kindness rock creations to social media — with hints of where they are placing them on walks around the community.
Some in the community have found other ways to use the rocks to spread some kindness. Dunwoody resident Whitney Delaney said that her preschool daughter painted a rock for their elderly neighbor who lives alone and hasn’t been able to leave her home since February because of a medical condition for which she was hospitalized. Delaney stated that her neighbor has now “emailed me twice about how much she loves her rock and how it’s in the kitchen window. I know that wasn’t the exact purpose of the rock, but my daughter wanted to give her one.”
Rev. Davis said she “was delighted to hear how Whitney’s daughter took the concept of kindness and used her rock to make the day of her neighbor. When I heard the story, I was so touched. This little girl knew exactly what to do to let her neighbor know that she was loved and cared for. That’s what I’m hoping this project will do!”
The church is making available craft bags containing rocks, painting supplies, and paint pens to anyone in the community who wants one — not just church members. The bags can be picked up from Kingwood’s outdoor pick up location under the portico entrance of The Kingswood Preschool at 5015 Tilly Mill Road. Individuals desiring to pick up a bag should enter the parking lot via Tilly Mill Road, as the church’s North Peachtree Road parking lot is presently closed while it is in use by the DeKalb Board of Health as a COVID-19 testing site.
Keep your eyes open when you are out on your walks. You might just find some beautiful rocks. When you do, flip them over and you might find #KingswoodKindness. If you see this, you’ll know it’s one of Kingswood’s — and, adds Rev. Davis, “that you are loved.”
About Kingswood Church:
Kingswood Church, located in the heart of Dunwoody, strives to be a loving community where all are welcome. The church has a range of ministries to serve the community in faith, including a renowned preschool, The Kingswood Preschool. Worship services are at 11:00 and 8:45 am on Sunday mornings. The church, a United Methodist congregation, was founded in 1968. Visit us on the web at http://kingswood.church.
Contact:
Rev. Dondra Davis
Associate Pastor, Kingswood Church
Email: ddavis@kingswood.church
Cell: 678-643-1963
Or
Greg Scherrer
Communications Chair, Kingswood Church
Email: communications@kingswood.church
Cell: 678-451-8633
Photos for Media Use
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Kingswood Church is offering free #KingswoodKindness kits for painting kindness rocks to members of the community. The kits can be picked up at the church’s outdoor pick up location under the portico entrance of The Kingswood Preschool at 5015 Tilly Mill Road. Kingswood Church is offering free #KingswoodKindness kits for painting kindness rocks to members of the community. The kits can be picked up at the church’s outdoor pick up location under the portico entrance of The Kingswood Preschool at 5015 Tilly Mill Road. A Dunwoody preschooler paints kindness rocks, including one she gave to her neighbor, who hasn’t been able to leave her house due to a recent hospitalization. (Photo by Whitney Delaney) Kindness rocks painted by a Dunwoody-area preschooler. Kingswood Church is providing free painting kits to help spread positivity during this Mental Health Month. (Photo by Whitney Delaney) Kindness rocks painted by a Dunwoody-area preschooler. Kingswood Church is providing free painting kits to help spread positivity during this Mental Health Month. (Photo by Whitney Delaney) Kindness rocks painted by a Dunwoody-area preschooler. Kingswood Church is providing free painting kits to help spread positivity during this Mental Health Month. (Photo by Whitney Delaney) Kindness rocks painted by a Dunwoody-area preschooler. Kingswood Church is providing free painting kits to help spread positivity during this Mental Health Month. (Photo by Whitney Delaney) Kindness rocks painted by a Dunwoody-area preschooler. Kingswood Church is providing free painting kits to help spread positivity during this Mental Health Month. (Photo by Whitney Delaney) Kindness rocks painted by a Dunwoody-area preschooler. Kingswood Church is providing free painting kits to help spread positivity during this Mental Health Month. (Photo by Whitney Delaney) Kindness rocks painted by a Dunwoody-area preschooler. Kingswood Church is providing free painting kits to help spread positivity during this Mental Health Month. (Photo by Whitney Delaney) Kindness rocks painted by a Dunwoody-area preschooler. Kingswood Church is providing free painting kits to help spread positivity during this Mental Health Month. (Photo by Whitney Delaney) Kindness rocks painted by a Dunwoody-area preschooler. Kingswood Church is providing free painting kits to help spread positivity during this Mental Health Month. (Photo by Whitney Delaney)