Kindness Rocks

“One message at just the right moment can change someone’s entire day, outlook, life. “The mission of the Kindness Rocks Project is an idea that we embraced,” said Sherry DeFillippo, lifestyle manager at Monarch Landing in Naperville. Last week, residents and staff from the senior living community delivered over a hundred rocks, beautifully painted with encouraging words and messages, to the Healing Garden at the Northwestern Proton Center in Warrenville. Patients being treated for cancer and their loved ones are invited to visit the Healing Garden and select a rock with a positive message that inspires them.

DeFillippo introduced the Kindness Rocks Project which is an international initiative, to the residents at Monarch Landing earlier this summer. “It’s been a tough time for everyone this year, and sometimes it’s easy to forget that we have lots for which to be grateful. Showing kindness to others is contagious and is good for the soul,” she said.

DeFillippo’s son, Greg, works at Northwestern Proton Center, and she thought the cancer treatment facility would be an outstanding recipient of the residents’ kindness. She introduced the program to Monarch Landing through a video on the in-house television station and a series of flyers. Over the course of subsequent weeks, residents and staff painted the beautiful rocks to donate. “Our residents are so generous as well as being very creative. The rocks look wonderful,” DeFillippo said. “We took the first rocks over to the Proton Center. This will be an on-going initiative and we will continue to make sure that the area remains stocked.”

“Northwestern Medicine Proton Center is very appreciative of the Monarch Landing’s residents and staff for their Kindness Rocks Project. The rocks are beautiful and inspiring, and we hope these rocks can provide some solace and encouragement for both our patients receiving proton therapy cancer treatment and our amazing staff,” said Chad Donaubauer, director of operations.