'Kindness Rocks' Painted By Groups In Stony Brook, Marking National Recovery Month

STONY BROOK, NY — The Purple Rock Project joined community organizations on Sept. 29 at Stony Brook's Reboli Center for Art and History for an evening of painting kindness rocks in recognition of National Recovery Month and those affected by substance use disorder.

The event was part of Assemb. Rebecca Kassay's (D-Port Jefferson) Monthly Mission series, which brings community members together each month to learn about local issues while participating in hands-on service projects designed to make a meaningful impact.

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Also participating were representatives from Port Jefferson's Sunshine Prevention Center, the Suffolk County Police Department, Michelle Schindler of YMCA Family Services, and the volunteer-run Brookhaven Drug Prevention Coalition.

Members of Warrior Angel Moms also helped decorate rocks during the Reboli Center event.

Purple Rock Project founder Carole Trottere spoke to attendees about the project and how its memorial rocks are bringing comfort to families who have lost loved ones to the opioid and fentanyl crisis.

The project creates hand-painted purple memorial rocks bearing the names and photographs of people lost to opioids and fentanyl. The rocks are placed in public memorial displays as a way to honor those who died while reminding their families that their loved ones are remembered.

She started the project after her son, Alex Sutton, died from an overdose in 2018. It also included organized Narcan demonstration for the public.

Trottere said that "knowing that someone is saying their loved one's name means so much to these families."

The Purple Rock Project joined community organizations on Sept. 29 at Stony Brook's Reboli Center for Art and History for an evening of painting kindness rocks in recognition of National Recovery Month and those affected by substance use disorder.

"The comments we have received from parents are so moving and heartfelt that I know this undertaking is worth every second we spend on it," she added.

During the evening, Trottere presented Lois Reboli, president and co-founder of the Reboli Center, with a Narcan box from MATTERS NY for the museum. The Narcan was provided by Suffolk police's Emergency Medical Service Officer Jason Byron.

The Purple Rock Project currently has memorial locations in Islip at 550 South Bay Avenue; at the lakeside park adjacent to Babylon Town Hall, 200 Sunrise Highway in Lindenhurst; and at Hope House Ministries in Mt. Sinai.

For more information about the Purple Rock Project, email catrottere@gmail.com or visit The Purple Rock Project on Facebook.