OHIO — Kindness can change the world. And a piece of chalk can change your day — and the day of a complete stranger.
That's the mission of the Facebook group "Chalk Walk" — founded by Northeast Ohioan Nancy Powell Pierson — who when the pandemic hit, suddenly found her plans come to a halt like so many others.
- Founded by creator of "Ohio Rocks"
- People are sharing their chalk art from all across the state and beyond
- Founder says it’s a way to express ourselves, communicate safely and say thank you
"With the shutdown, my husband and I were scheduled to go to Tennessee to visit our grandchildren and then that following weekend my son was getting married, and so both of those got cancelled. Our trip to Tennessee got cancelled and my son's wedding got cancelled," said Powell Pierson.
The "Ohio Rocks" creator decided not to put her creativity to the side, but instead bring it to side-walks, something she could also share with her grandkids far away and her neighbors close by dealing with similar struggles.
"Most of us have sidewalks, especially with kids or grandkids. I have grandkids, we have sidewalk chalk, so it's just something really simple to do for families to get out and be creative," Powell Pierson said.
And the word has gotten out! The page has members sharing their chalk art from all across the state and beyond. Pictures come in from Virginia, where an ER nurse shared a message on her day off, to Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, California, and even Canada.
People decorate their driveway, streets, and some have even given their home facades a makeover.
Powell Pierson says it's a way we can not only express ourselves but communicate safely and say thank you.
"You can leave a message in your driveway for the garbage man just thanking him when he picks up your garbage. You can leave a message on your porch step or stoop. Leave a message for the Amazon guy or the post office. It's a way for us to reach other people and you don't necessarily have to know who saw, you just know that you created it and somebody did see it."
Like for 7-year-old Mikhaila Valdepenas, who reached out to her neighborhood in Bay Village by leaving out extra chalk —
"I did come draw with us and it had an arrow pointing to the chalk bin and then people could get the chalk and they could draw. Because if they didn't have chalk, how could they draw?" she said.
She says within a few days she had five new additions to her masterpiece from neighbors and walkers.
"There was a sunshine, there was a thank you for this message, a stay safe and stay healthy and keep smiling."
Chalk Walk is being done by people of all ages, at all artistic levels, with one common goal.
“It doesn't matter your ability. It doesn't matter what you create. It still makes people smile," said Powell Pierson.
"We are trying to help the community stay safe and smiling and be happy and try not to be worried and it can make you smile," said Valdepenas.