By Cecilia Nasmith

There's something new at Extendicare Port Hope to bring a badly needed smile these days – the Extendicare Port Hope Kindness Rock Garden.

“We see it as an opportunity to brighten somebody's day in these difficult times,” program manager Christa Griffiths said.

It all started with one staff member and her daughter painting rocks with positive pictures and words, which the staffer brought in to share, Griffiths reported.

And it just took off from there.

Other staff members added decorated rocks they (and their family members) created, and then members of the community began breaking out their own paintbrushes and dropping off the results.

This includes the Northumberland Skeena Sea Cadet unit, she noted. One of their officers has a family member at Extendicare and, even though the young sea cadets' meetings are suspended for now, they wanted reach out and see if they could help brighten things up for the residents in any way.

Along with some beautiful rocks, they have also made wonderful encouraging posters to put in the windows to cheer up residents and staff.

These good wishes are so important right now, when visitors are not permitted. Griffiths works hard to facilitate Skype and Facetime visits as much as she can to let them enjoy at least some time with family members.

She has also encouraged residents to paint their own additions to the Extendicare Port Hope Kindness Garden. Staff members have brought in suitable rocks for those residents wanting to express their own kind wishes through art to add to the colourful garden, located right at the front entrance where – for screening purposes – the staff now come and go.

Residents get a lot of pleasure from the pretty images and warm wishes, Griffiths said. And members of staff are gratified at all the expressions of support from the community.

“Right now, it's one of those little things that can be done to brighten someone's day,” she said,