Plainfield Community School Corporation

Art teacher, Natalie Honegger, has been working with her Brentwood students to make bells out of clay that will be used to spread kindness.  Her students understand that they will not be allowed to keep their bell but instead will be required to hang it somewhere in our Plainfield community.  If the students know of someone who needs cheering up, they can hang their Brentwood Bell where that person will find it. If they just want to spread kindness to someone that deserves it, they can hang it where that person will find it.  If you find a Brentwood Bell in our community, take it home, hang it and remember to spread the act of kindness.  One day, you may feel someone else needs cheering up or deserves some kindness.  Take the Brentwood Bell you found and hang it so that they will see it and keep the act of kindness spreading around our entire community.

Ms. Honegger learned of the “Brentwood Bell” idea from a tradition started in Tucson, Arizona, called Ben’s Bells.  A family there sadly lost their son, Ben, at a very early age.  To help in the process of grieving, Ben’s mother began to sculpt beads and bells at her art studio.  Those were then made into wind chimes by anyone who wanted to honor her son.  On the first year anniversary of Ben’s death, the community hung about 400 bells to spread the word:  Be kind.  Although Ben’s Bells were only supposed to be a one-time thing, it caught on and Ben’s Bells can be found all over our country.  The bells are hung anytime tragedy strikes, anywhere - whether it is in New York, Louisiana, Virginia, etc.  The bells are about intentional kindness.  Ms. Honegger believes this is truly an inspirational story.  Learn more about Ben’s Bells by visiting their website at:  www.bensbells.org