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Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Want to get involved?

Hello loyal reader(s?)!

The distribution date for Ben's Bells to visit Colorado is almost finalized. It will be in May, when the weather is warming up, the trees are blooming and everyone is spending a lot of time outside. A perfect time for a Ben's Bells distribution!

In the meantime, we will be trying to put together a plan for having open studio time beginning this spring too, where you can come, get involved and help make the Bells. Since we will be starting to make the Bells here in Colorado, we'll all be learning together along with the main organization in Tucson, exactly what we should be doing.

What we need to work on is this:
Access to a kiln and slab roller (and probably someone who knows how to use the kiln)
Clay and painting supplies
A place with space and regular times to gather (hopefully in the same place as the kiln and slab roller)
Donations to help bring the distribution to Denver and get basic supplies - click here to donate. (Make sure to specify if you want the money to help with the Colorado distribution)

So, if you know someone who could help get us access to a kiln, or some supplies - please contact us at bekindcolorado@yahoo.com

Also, if you have a group that would like to be involved as the project starts up, also send us an email and we will contact you!

Monday, October 25, 2010

Welcome!

"Be the change you want to see in the world" - Ghandi

Ben's Bells
is coming to Colorado!

My daughter Cici nearly lost her life at 11 months old when she choked on a piece of her dinner. She survived, but with severe brain damage, and severe disabilities. After her accident, the kindness of our community helped us begin to heal and adjust to our new life with our “new” daughter, and we want to begin to spread the message of kindness to others as well. In our new community of medically fragile kiddos with brain injuries, we have met and found solace with many other families, many who also have felt kindness of others as part of their healing. One of these families, Christian’s family, is in Tucson and introduced us to Ben’s Bells, and immediately, we wished we could see Ben's Bells here.

So, we want to bring Ben's Bells and it's message of kindness here!

Being kind is free. Spreading the message of kindness through Ben’s Bells is inexpensive, but it’s not free! In the May timeframe, the first event locally will be a distribution of 500 or more bells in Colorado, mostly around the Denver area and Front Range. The founder of Ben’s Bells will come to Colorado and speak to groups that are interested in being involved, and of course, bring the bells! Our initial goal is to raise $2500 for this initial distribution. From there, we hope to start making the bells on our own (somewhere!), and distribute them locally once or twice a year.

From this site you can link to the Ben's Bells page to make a tax deductible donation, share stories, and shop in the store and get involved! Through this blog we will keep the community updated on local distributions, fundraising events, open studio (or bell-making) sessions, and other events locally.

We are all icebergs. What you see poking through the water is not the whole story. You just never know what is going on under the surface, and how much a little kindness can help. Anger and bitterness can melt away if you really listen to someone, or smile, or pick up papers from someone struggling in the wind. Or when you ask, “how are you?” and really, really listen to the answer. Kindness does not mean being run over or giving in all the time. It means recognizing that we’re all human, and treating each other kindly. Maybe you can get what you need and want by being kind to other people. Perhaps when you're kind without expectation, people will be kind to you in return.

Everyone has their own battles they are fighting, and it's not always obvious on the surface. Be kind. Be gentle with one another.

If the work that Ben's Bells is doing is important to you, please consider
making a donation. A few dollars goes a long way in helping to create a
culture of kindness in our community and beyond.