BUFFALO, N.Y. — To bring some joy to kids in the ICU, St. Mark School students hand painted rocks in hopes of bringing kids strength and some smiles.
The project was inspired by Sweet Buffalo Rocks, a project started by the Sweet Buffalo blog.
“It’s all about promoting community goodness and giving Western New Yorker’s a chance to do something simple and fun to make a difference in our community,” said Kimberly LaRussa, creator of Sweet Buffalo on the Sweet Buffalo Rocks Facebook group page.
The project is simple, it consists of painting a rock and hiding it for someone to find and hopefully bring some joy to their day. LaRussa started the project after hearing about other rock projects around the country.
Art teacher Megan Doyle helped St. Mark School's 5th grade students bring some joy for kids in Oishei Children's Hospital's ICU.
Over 70 rocks were designed and painted by the students. They were then put in gift bags with a note that reads:
“Here's a little pocket rock
To help you through a storm
Just a little something
To make your heart feel warm"
The students also learned about the Sweet Buffalo Rocks project and about how they could continue on their own.
The Sweet Buffalo Rocks Facebook group was created in 2017. Their secret helpers have been placing rocks around the area in attempts to bring joy to those who find them.
