Kiwanis clubs place painted rocks in downtown Kent parks

According to the Green River Area Division of Kiwanis, Kiwanis clubs will place painted Sunshine Stones in parks in downtown Kent later this month to “spread joy and positivity and encourage everyone to explore their surroundings and connect with nature.”

That group announced the placement of the stones in a July 5 press release. Kiwanis clubs from Aktion Club, Auburn, Covington, Federal Way, Kent, Kent-AM and Renton are participating in the event.

The AM club will place the rocks it painted in downtown Kent parks and flower beds on or about July 20, according to the Green River Area Kiwanis. The lunch club will place its rocks in Kiwanis Tot parking lots on or about July 27. The action club will place its rocks at the Three Friends Fishing Hole on July 29.

The Aktion Club is a Kiwanis club for adults with disabilities that develops initiative and leadership skills through hands-on work, said Ann Sappington of the Kiwanis Green River Area Division. The Kent Aktion Club was founded in 2014 and has provided service to the community by serving seniors at the annual senior breakfast, making hygiene kits to assist the homeless, making Mother’s Day and Father’s Day cards and distributing them to senior living homes, supporting a pajama drive for Akin (formerly Children’s Home Society) and a diaper drive that supported 17 nonprofits in 2024.

Each club painted rocks, some with pictures and many with inspirational messages, Sappington said. Fifteen to 20 rocks per club will be distributed at the selected locations.

Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to making the world a better place, one child and one community at a time. Their mission is to help the world’s children, promote higher standards and build better communities.