Spreading Kindness: The Heartwarming Story of 10-Year-Old Rosemary
When HCM learned about Rosemary, a 10-year-old girl from Ohio, who leads with kindness and donated the money she earned from making bracelets to help provide other families with a good Christmas, we were deeply inspired by her and her mother's kindness. Rosemary began crafting friendship bracelets over a year ago with a simple yet powerful goal: to spread joy and brighten the lives of those around her.
"I just wanted to make people smile,"
she said while reflecting on the past year. With each carefully made bracelet, she shared not just a piece of art but a message of kindness, warming hearts and creating connections in her community. What started as a small gesture has blossomed into a movement of compassion, one beaded bracelet at a time.
Rosemary quickly became a local celebrity, recognized as the young girl dedicated to spreading kindness to those around her. Over time, her kindness led people to donate money. Because of these donations, Rosemary raised $400. When she and her mother, Ashley, learned about Hurricane Helene and the devastation it caused to Western North Carolina (WNC), they felt compelled to help. Rosemary expressed, “I like it there, and we want the kids to have a good Christmas.” Considering the small community located more than nine hours away, Ashley and Rosemary felt deep compassion for the residents. They decided to donate all the proceeds from her bracelet sales to HCM (Haywood Christian Ministry). Ashley spoke with Rosemary about the original inspiration for distributing the bracelets; spreading kindness. Ashley and Rosemary agreed that the donations they received could further their mission of compassion and generosity to other communities like ours in Haywood County, North Carolina.
Helene has broadened our outreach and reminded us of the generosity found in the world. We have stories like those of Rosemary and Ashley, where people have donated from far away to support those impacted by Hurricane Helene. And when someone as young as Rosemary prioritizes caring for others, we believe that it is important to honor that spirit. Kindness will always be recognized, and we are forever grateful to Rosemary and her mother for choosing to support us and for being active members committed to making the world a better place. Rosemary's main message is to “sprinkle kindness wherever you go” and her kindness was felt all the way from Ohio to WNC.
HCM provides weekly grocery supplements to families and collaborates with over 40 local farmers to offer healthy meals. Additionally, we provide heating assistance, this year we have provided 100 people with heating for the winter. Our program also distributes bicycles to children in the community during the holidays. We have distributed over 150 bicycles to children this year alone. The impact of Hurricane Helene has significantly increased the demand for assistance in our community, as many people have lost their jobs, homes, and possessions. We remain committed to working tirelessly to ensure that no one goes without food, water, or heat and that everyone in our community feels supported and cared for. Our goal is to spread the kindness of so many, including Ashley and Rosemary, to those who need it most.
