LACIE SILVA
Writer
Last November, Debra Nelson started the Nelson Legacy Project as a tribute to her mother Patricia Nelson, hoping to spread the same love and kindness her mother shared with everyone around her. Patricia wasn’t just a teacher—she was a source of warmth, a guiding light, and a true example of selflessness. Inspired by her compassion, Debra launched this project to bring people together, uplift the community, and create meaningful acts of kindness that ripple far beyond Bedford County.
Each month, the Nelson Legacy Project spearheads a unique act of kindness tailored to address community needs and uplift spirits. One of the most recent efforts, coinciding with Valentine’s Day, involved organizing groups such as church congregations and preschools to create heartfelt Valentine’s Day drawings for senior citizens. These tokens of love were distributed to local facilities, including The Carriage House, spreading warmth to elderly residents.
A simultaneous initiative in February, known as the “Rose Drop,” encouraged individuals to distribute roses—real or artificial—accompanied by uplifting notes. The notes carried simple yet powerful messages such as “You are loved,” “Have a wonderful day,” and “You are enough.” Volunteers handed out these roses in public places like grocery stores and dollar stores, witnessing touching moments of gratitude, tears, and even a ripple effect as recipients passed on their roses to others.
The project, which officially launched in November, began with an initiative called “Kindness Notes.” Community members were encouraged to write positive messages on sticky notes and leave them in unexpected places such as gas pumps and bank counters. These small but meaningful gestures quickly gained traction, with notes being discovered across town, bringing unexpected joy to those who found them.
December’s project, “Warm Wishes,” focused on collecting and distributing blankets to those in need. The donations were placed in blessing boxes and soup kitchens, ensuring warmth for the less fortunate during the winter season. The overwhelming response demonstrated the community’s eagerness to contribute to a worthy cause.
In January, the “Snowflake Kindness” project took shape, urging participants to commit random acts of kindness and document them on paper snowflakes. The initiative found immense support from the National Honor Society at the local high school, which covered school hallways with these kindness-filled snowflakes, inspiring students and faculty alike.
Looking ahead, March will introduce the “Signs of Kindness” project, which will encourage individuals to create and display motivational signs in their yards or public spaces with permission.
Messages such as “Smile,” “Wishing You a Wonderful Day,” and “You Matter” will serve as daily reminders of positivity and encouragement throughout Bedford County. April’s initiative will focus on keeping blessing boxes stocked with essential supplies, ensuring that those in need have access to non-perishable food and basic necessities year-round.
Debra, the driving force behind the Nelson Legacy Project, emphasizes that she could not bring these ideas to life without the unwavering support of friends, family, and even strangers who have embraced the initiative. She expresses deep gratitude for the community’s involvement and believes that while negativity often dominates conversations, the overwhelming ratio of good far outweighs the bad.
With ambitious long-term goals, Debra envisions expanding the project’s reach to include mentorship programs, educational initiatives, and community beautification efforts. She hopes to strengthen partnerships with other local organizations and create ongoing opportunities for residents to engage in meaningful acts of service. Her ultimate dream is for Bedford County to be recognized as a place of kindness, inclusivity, and positive change.
Even for those who prefer to remain anonymous, the Nelson Legacy Project welcomes all contributions—big or small. Whether through direct participation or silent acts of kindness, every effort plays a role in making the community a better, more compassionate place for everyone. Please contact Debra at nelsonlegacyproject@gmail.com.
