ANDERSON TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Rock painting is gaining a lot of attention throughout Anderson Township and beyond.
It’s the handiwork of Charlotte Criger’s friends, who are sharing messages of love in memory of the 7-year-old. Charlotte came down with the flu and a staph infection in February. After several surgeries, she died in April.
"We're putting hearts on it. We're putting pictures of her on it, writing her name," said 8-year-old Maggie Hartong.
"It's meant to give somebody a smile who needs a smile,” said Sarah Criger, Charlotte's mom. “Charlotte loved art as well, so this has been wonderful for our family to see love all over the neighborhood."
After Charlotte’s friends paint the rocks, they spread them across the community.
"This is the cool part. You get to hide them in the park or anything,” said 7-year-old Landon Baumgartner.
Like the playground bench and the slide. The rocks have even been taken as far as North Carolina and Iceland.
The messages have also boosted Charlotte’s family.
"It's amazing,” said Charlotte’s mom. “It's restored our faith in humanity."
Charlotte’s parents want to spread love and support to other families and reach out to people who can help.
"It's one of those events that you truly wouldn't wish on anyone,” said Rob Criger, Charlotte’s dad, “so it's anything you can do, including her story."
"We'd like to bring awareness to blood donations and how that's important,” Sarah Criger said. “She had almost constant blood transfusions. And also flu shot awareness.”
They said they’re planning a charity, "Charlotte's Heart,” to support others in Charlotte’s memory.
