REDCLIFF, AB – A recently retired Redcliff resident picked up a new hobby painting rocks this year.
Sue Bowers had a goal to paint 2,020 rocks in her spare time.
But with the pandemic and staying home more, she was able to complete that goal by May.
Most of those rocks have now been placed in locations beyond Redcliff, including in Medicine Hat, Ralston, and Calgary for families and residents to enjoy when they’re outside.
Now she is continuing to paint rocks to support the Southern Alberta Humane Society.
Donations are being accepted for the “Gnomes Need Homes” fundraiser.
And Bowers’ new goal is to donate $2,020 and is hoping to have that raised in three months.
“The funny thing about painting rocks or sewing or anything that you’re involved in, it gives you lots of time to think. And so I’m sitting painting gnomes and I talked with a friend from the Southern Alberta Humane Society and their need for funding and as I was washing my next batch of rocks, I thought, these gnomes need homes like the animals need homes and I thought I could do a fundraiser.”
To make a donation for a specialty rock for “Gnomes Need Homes” email bowersgm@yahoo.ca or visit 2020 Redcliff Rocks! On Facebook.
Bowers adds if residents have rocks to donate for her to paint, they are welcomed as well.
Meantime, Bowers is also working on a project with local kids and residents.
She says rock number 2020 she painted was a snakehead named Hope.
“We’re going to add rocks to her as people paint her. I’m not going to paint them all but the kids in the school are going to paint them so she grows and grows, like the message of hope,” Bowers said.
The rock snake will be placed at Isabel F Cox School in Redcliff.
photo courtesy Colton Mckee