More Ben's Bells in Tucson as kindness spreads

The 13th random distribution of the local project will roughly coincide with distributions in two other cities where fledgling groups have begun their own bell-making operations.

The expansion marks the first time bells produced elsewhere will chime their way into strangers' lives in this growing effort to spread kindness, which began in 2003 when a Tucson couple wanted to honor the memory of their son and help others in his name.

Ben Maré Packard died of croup just before his third birthday, in March 2002.

Five hundred bells will appear around Tucson, hung by six dozen or so dedicated friends and relatives of Ben and others who have become part of the army of kindness. Another 500 will make their way around Arizona in the coming days.

Counting all those chimes and the 100 that appeared around Detroit earlier this month and the 300 that will go up in Portland, Ore., very soon, there have been 11,000 bells sent into the world, said Ben's mother, Jeannette Maré-Packard.

"It's very, very exciting," she said.

The project has seen remarkable growth in recent months, expanding its studio hours and launching a program called Kind Kids in area schools. Already going in 10 schools and ready to launch soon in two more, the program teaches character education and kindness by relaying the story of the bells and having students participate in bell-making sessions, and then staging their own on-campus "bellings." Maré-Packard expects the program to spread to 30 schools by next fall.

Another big moment came recently when the project got permission from Washington, D.C., to put a slab roller in the women's unit of the federal prison on Wilmot Road south of Interstate 10. While many a volunteer has made the beads that decorate the top of a Ben's Bell, the production of the flat center charm has been left to a core of original volunteers. That's has slowed the process a lot, Maré-Packard said, so having the inmates work on that will enable the program to spread even farther.

It helped that the expensive roller was donated by Marjon Ceramics Inc., she said.

Along with all that has come an increased staff roster, more bell-related items for sale on the project's Web site and growth in other cities — Philadelphia is starting a group, among other locations — as well as a continuous feeling of purpose, Maré-Packard said.

"I feel like this is Ben's mission, and I'm doing it and we're all doing it, and that makes me feel very, very gratified and gives me a certain amount of peace in my heart about his death," she said. "It makes me feel inspired about the goodness of people, and I think that's easy to lose right now in this world, with everything that's going on.

"I get to deal with a lot of people who are determined not to let the darkness overwhelm us, people who recognize there's so much goodness in working together and being part of something larger. It's overwhelmingly gratifying every single day of my life, and so inspiring."

Ben's Bellings

The Ben's Bells project also includes weekly "bellings," honoring those who regularly practice kindness. There is no belling this week because of the big distribution, but there will be another one next week. Look for the story on it next Saturday.

If you know people who deserve a Ben's Bell, nominate them at www.929themountain.com/pages/ jennie_itm.html and click on "Ben's Bells Project."

To learn more about the project, go to www.bensbells.org. Or help work on bells by dropping by the studio, 816 E. University Blvd., in Geronimo Plaza. It's open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays; and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.