Bringing people together was a challenge that we knew we were going to face during COVID-19, so we thought of starting a project

that would bring hope, encouragement, and gratitude just as Spring was coming. The beauty of the project was that everyone participated in different ways. From collecting over 100 stones, to working with paints, brushes, gloss and printing ideas, residents and employees enthusiastically participated in the project. We were amazed by the enthusiasm of everyone in the community, but at the same time, we discovered that we were going to need more stones. Thanks to Natalie Voss and her daughter, as well as Nicole Yarenko, for taking the lead in collecting more stones, we were able to encourage more residents that thought they were not “artistic enough” to join in on the fun. Three weeks went by, and everyone started to drop off all the beautiful painted stones to the Wellness team to then coat in gloss for protection.

On May 29th, the stones were laid out in the Tapestry courtyard in the shape of a river flowing from a mountain top to represent coming together in unity in a river of hope. The display is now a place for residents to go and reflect, congregate and enjoy moments of tranquility from their busy active lives. Thank you for your contribution and participation!