Ben’s Bells Connecticut, formerly Ben’s Bells Newtown, Assistant Studio Manager Sam Siess and volunteer Camryn Walsh sat inside the nonprofit’s new location on Saturday, August 22.

It was the first day the new location was open to visitors. As people made their way to the new space, Ms Siess answered phone calls and directed people to the accommodations, at 32 Stony Hill Road, Bethel, at the back of the shopping plaza.

Tables were set with paint brushes, and everything appeared in order to begin work.

Ben’s Bells is a nonprofit organization founded by Jeannette Maré of Tucson, Ariz., creating ceramic bead and bell wind chimes that are randomly distributed in places in need of healing and happiness. Ben’s Bells was a means of her working through the grief of the death of her young son, Ben, and has spread nationwide. The Connecticut studio is one of only four in the country.

Seated at one table on Saturday was One Million Acts of Kindness Founder Bob Votruba. Mr Votruba established One Million Acts of Kindness to raise awareness about issues kids deal with, like bullying and adolescent suicide.

Ahead of his visit to Ben’s Bells, Mr Votruba said his is “a mission of kindness” that began following the Virginia Tech shooting in 2007. Mr Votruba said he was home in Cleveland, Ohio, at the time, but three days later he drove to Blacksburg, Va., and witnessed many “with their hearts torn out” participating in memorial services.

Mr Votruba said he was touched “so profoundly” that as he drove home, thinking about the hate that must have been in the shooter’s heart, he thought about doing something on the other end of the spectrum.

“What came through me was kindness and nurturing people with kindness, nurturing children with kindness primarily,” said Mr Votruba.

When he reached Cleveland, he decided to do something. Over the next year-and-a-half, he said, he divested himself of his larger possessions and bought a bus, which was later painted by friends, family, and neighbors with messages for the world.

One Million Acts of Kindness, Mr Votruba said, is a lifetime goal for each person, primarily younger generations with more time before them, to personally perform one million acts of kindness.

This year Mr Votruba said he will visit with more than 500 schools, either through video conferencing or in person, to meet with students and share his message. When he began his mission, Mr Votruba said he set himself the goal of traveling with the bus and his dog Bogart for ten years. This is his eighth year.

“I’d like to talk to kids about creating a foundation for themselves,” said Mr Votruba.

Children with a foundation built on “core values,” Mr Votruba said, have a better chance of not letting bullying impact them.

“It’s just a very simple message of kindness as a goal,” Mr Votruba said.

Mr Votruba visited the local area briefly before, and he has plans to stop by again at the end of next summer.

After the events of 12/14 at Sandy Hook Elementary School, Mr Votruba explained he was moved to honor the victims. On the second anniversary of the tragedy, December 14, 2014, Mr Votruba mounted his bicycle and biked for 20 hours and an additional six miles, for each of the children and adults killed two years before.

Mr Votruba said some of the events he participates in are meant to honor and inspire people to do something themselves. He said he hopes people ask themselves how they can mentor children or do something to address the needs of children across the country.

While Mr Votruba’s bus is being fixed, he is traveling by bike locally and by car for major relocations.

When people have a goal in mind, Mr Votruba said they work toward it.

“Kindness is the same. Kindness can be a goal as well, and having it as a goal you then look for opportunities during the course of the day… to be as kind as you can, pick up that piece of litter, hold the door for someone… a hello, a please and a thank you,” said Mr Votruba.

He arrived at Ben’s Bells on Saturday on his bike, with signs reading, “Riding 26,000 miles for children” and “One Million Acts of Kindness” attached.

Ms Siess and Camryn were there to welcome him along with all the other visitors to the new location, which can accommodate larger groups.

The Ben’s Bells Connecticut studio and store hours are Saturdays, 10 am to 1 pm; Wednesdays, 4 pm to 8 pm; and Fridays, 4 pm to 6 pm. Open studio hours invite the public to assist in the making of Ben’s Bells. There is no fee, but participants are encouraged to “bring a buck or two” to donate.

The studio will be scheduling group experiences Wednesdays and Fridays, from 11 am to 4 pm. For details and pricing, e-mail ct@bensbells.org or visit bensbells.org/make-bens-bells/group-experiences.

The Bethel studio will be available for private, two-hour parties, Saturdays between 2 and 4 pm, and Sundays, upon request.

For Ben’s Bells fees and details e-mail ct@bensbells.org. For further information, call 203-501-9999.

More information about Mr Votruba and his One Million Acts of Kindness mission can be found on his website, onemillionactsofkindness.com.