Ben's Bells Spreads Kindness to Bethel in New Studio

By Wendy Ann Mitchell (Patch Staff)

Ben’s Bells is spreading the message of kindness to a new studio this weekend in Bethel, according to the News-Times.

Ben’s Bells will move to 32 Stony Hill Road, Bethel, to a studio twice the size their Newtown space. Loopnet shows the new location to be in the same plaza as Stony Hill Hardware.

According to their website, the mission of Ben’s Bells is to “inspire, educate, and motivate people to realize the impact of intentional kindness, and to empower individuals to act according to that awareness, thereby strengthening ourselves, our relationships and our communities.”

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The group was started in Tuscon, Arizona by Jeannette Mare, the mother of Ben Mare Packard. Mare’s son, Ben, died in 2002 just before his third birthday. She created the works of art as a way to say thank you to those who supported her during that difficult time. The group now creates beautiful ceramic hanging works of art inspired by his spirit.

After the tragedy of the school shootings in Sandy Hook in December of 2012, Ben’s Bells shared their mission of kindness with the Sandy Hook community by shipping thousands of bells to the community. Volunteers hung Ben’s Bells in public locations along with a notecard encouraging the finder to do something kind for someone else and pass it on.

Volunteers hang around 100 bells a month and have spent more than 4,200 hours making the bells at the studio this year, according to the News Times. The bigger space will allow Ben’s Bells to offer more group programs. Free studio hours will be expanded as well.

Click here to read more on the News Times.

Click here to find out more on Ben’s Bells website.

Photo: Victoria Soto School, Connecticut, Credit Ben’s Bells Project Facebook