Leading up to the Run Like a Mother 5KK/2K (Please, please, sign up for it!) we will be featuring “Moms on a Mission.” These are Moms who have taken up causes that are dear to them and spend their time improving the lives of others. IN this post, we are very honored to feature the work of Holly Hume. You can NOMINATE a Mom for our “Mom on a Mission” Contest by emailing Tim@YourHometownEvents.com.On November 21, 2020, my youngest daughter died in a car accident. Grieving the loss of a child is more painful than words can describe. It creates a shroud of darkness that feels impossible to escape. While struggling with this loss I have searched and prayed for answers and for ways to find peace and healing. I have found moments of peace through various ways, such as faith, prayer, therapy, exercise, time with friends and family, traveling, and hiking, but the most healing tool has been through celebrating Kelly’s life and her beautiful legacy. Kelly was one of the kindest people I ever knew. She forgave quickly, loved easily, and saw the beauty in everything. To put it simply, she was the purest form of kindness.
I knew I wanted to stay connected to Kelly, so I talked to her every day and night (still do) and sought for what she
would have me do to celebrate her life and support her in her new mission. It started with a simple Facebook post asking people to do a kind deed in Kelly’s memory. That led to #kellyskindness. Cards with Kelly’s picture and a challenge to do a kind deed were created and passed out to Crown Point students, family, friends, fellow YMCA members, church members, etc, Kind acts were being done all around the world in Kelly’s memory. As wonderful as this was and continues to be with a weekly Kelly’s Kindness challenge, I knew there was more she wanted me to do. This led to starting a nonprofit organization called Kelly’s Kindness Company.
Kelly suffered from anxiety, depression, OCD, and trichotillomania. She met with multiple therapists and a psychiatrist, and was on strong medications that didn’t seem to make much of a difference. She was so good and so pure – she didn’t understand why people were unkind or unaccepting. She truly was too good for this world. One tool that helped her to cope was artwork. She was a naturally gifted artist – talented way beyond her age of 13. She spent hours getting lost in her sketches and paintwork.
So many young people suffer as Kelly did, and could benefit from discovering how artwork could be a healing tool for them as well. I believe Kelly wants me to reach out to them and bring an awareness of how art can bring healing. So my family and I started Kelly’s Kindness – A 100% nonprofit organization that supports youth who suffer from depression, anxiety, OCD, and/or trichotillomania by providing art lessons, art supplies, and scholarships.
This project is so important to me because it keeps Kelly alive – in a divine, beautiful, and powerful way. It keeps her close to me, and helps me to build a new way of communicating with and growing close to her. I never want Kelly to be forgotten. I want her life to serve a purpose and to bring a change of kindness, love, and purity to this world.
What are some of the challenges you or your project have faced?
Some challenges we have faced with starting this project are: 1. finding time to get everything done that needs to be done. 2. getting donations to support the scholarships and classes. 3. getting more youth to attend the classes 4. getting youth to apply for the scholarships.
What have been your successes with the project?
for a mural design. The chosen design was submitted by Crown Point High School student Bridget Godsen. She spent hours without a break to sketch her design on this mural. She then met with a group of teens for weeks painting it (BIG THANK YOU TO LINDSEY HARRIS AT CPHS FOR SUPPORTING THIS PROJECT!). For her hard work, service, and artistic gift we presented her a $1500 scholarship, which will be given to the accredited school of her choice to help cover her school costs.