Cooperative Living October 2017 - 17

" But as she got older, she started to refuse
because of the pain involved. " As a result of
the rock movement, Walters says that Jenna
is interested in walking again.
It was a rocky road to recovery for
Hannah Castro's husband, Lou. While the
fire lieutenant was recovering at a local
hospital after an unexpected stroke, painted
rocks played an important role in his
recovery and in lifting the family's spirits.
" My husband had been cleared to be walked
around the outside of the hospital in his
wheelchair. I knew how much our two
children, Savannah and Owen, loved
finding painted rocks, so I mentioned it
on my local rock group's Facebook page, "
she explains. That same week, painted
rocks began appearing around the
hospital's perimeter. The family found
nearly 60 - many personalized for the
Castros - and continued spreading
kindness by re-hiding a number of those
rocks for patients in the cancer wing. " I
was blown away by the response! This
rock movement really brings out the good
in people, " Castro says.
Rock
Stars
Jennifer Hopkins, BARC Electric
Cooperative member and administrator
of the Rockbridge Rocks Facebook page,
says she was contacted one day by the
mother of an autistic boy. " She told me
that her son would throw fits whenever she
tried to do activities with him, and that he
would sit in his room and go days without
communicating, " she explains. But when
the boy found a painted rock in his local
community, it changed everything. " Now,
he makes her sit down at the table with
him to paint rocks. He talks to her about
how he feels. They laugh together. They
eat dinner together every night, " Hopkins
says. " That's powerful. "
Sometimes, rock discoveries are just
about making someone smile. Joy Lane,
a member of Powell Valley Electric
Cooperative and resident of Lee County,
says that's what appeals to her the most.
" I love being part of the Jonesville Rocks
Facebook group. It tickles me to death
knowing that one of my painted rocks
could potentially make someone smile -
and you never know who it's going to be, "
she says. " That's
the fun
part! "
From top: Alayna James, Kennedy Gibson, Owen Castro
and Alanna James are all youngsters who enjoy painting,
hiding and finding painting rocks as random acts of
kindness. * Savannah Overton of Chesterfield County
loves painting rocks that bring joy to the people who find
them. After discovering a dragon rock in a park one day,
Savannah decided to paint her own dragon rock. * The rock
movement isn't just for kids. Meghan Carroll, a member of
Southside Electric Cooperative and resident of Powhatan
County, says, " I know tons of other adults who are really
into the rock painting, hiding and finding. I, personally,
get very excited when I find a rock. " * Barbara Ivey and
Dolly Payne enjoy a painting party held by the Rockbridge
Rocks group at a local senior center. * Jenna Walters holds
a rock painted by Anne Kuhfuss.
October 2017 | Cooperative Living | 15
JENNIFER HOPKINS PHOTO
WENDI OVERTON PHOTO
MARY WALTERS PHOTO
Cooperative Living October 2017

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