Parent With a Purpose
'Woodstock Rocks' creator, Christina Brady
What's your MISSION?
To spread joy and happiness within our community by sharing art, kindness and connection with others who share the same desire.
What inspired you/encouraged you to start 'Woodstock Rocks'?
Every year about February or March, we go down to Florida to visit family, plus it's strawberry season --Yum!
This time we came across a rock with an awesome dragon painted on it, and I remembered the group my sister was telling me about. I explained the group to my granny who came along with us, and then we set off to walk around the entire lake (which we never do).
We found 5 rocks and I cannot explain the joy that came over all of us! Even as an adult, my granny and I were so excited to find them. Once we left the lake, I looked up, joined “Lakeland Rocks” and realized how big their movement was. They have over 32k members and cover the entire county, not just the city of Lakeland. Hello!! #goals
How It Started
Once we returned home I knew I had to start my own group here in Woodstock. I knew our community could do this and spread joy and happiness like I saw with the “Lakeland Rocks” group. So, I started painting rocks I had collected while in Florida, made the Facebook page “Woodstock Rocks”, and added all the local people I knew and begged them to add every local they knew.
While doing this I realized how much more it was than just painting rocks. It gets you to be creative, gets you outside and moving, you are bringing joy to someone who just might need a little boost that day, and also it makes you smile knowing that you did that for someone. It’s not just for kids; Grandparents, parents, adults, kids, this is for everyone!!
What do you hope to accomplish?
When I started this group, I had big things planned already. I knew I wanted everyone to know and participate in “Woodstock Rocks.” I want it to grow to be all of Cherokee county but I had to start small with just Woodstock to be able to make a bigger impact before spreading out to the entire county! I knew we had to cover Woodstock to make it happen, I want people to always find a rock or two. I’m excited to say we already have people hiding rocks outside of Woodstock but I would love our group to continue to grow and get more people involved and have rocks hidden everywhere!
Where We Are Now
Today, we are almost 2 months old and have over 1,000 members. Everyday more and more people are finding our group’s rocks and joining in on the fun. I ask that everyone shares pictures of them painting their rocks or pictures of them finished, hints on where they are “hiding” (not hidden too well, though, so people cannot find them, more like hiding Easter eggs).
I love when people share pictures of them with the rocks they have found. You can see by the huge smiles, that you really made a difference in that person’s day with just a painted rock.
How can others join in on the kindness sharing & create their own rocks to hide?
Join the Woodstock Rocks Facebook Group to meet other local kindness spreading friends, get inspiration on painting your own rocks, take part in rock 'hunting' & join in on painting events.
