BURRILLVILLE – The tradition of spreading Easter cheer by a local group focused on kindness hopped into motion once again this week as Roger Bourbonniere began passing out baskets, cards and brightly decorated rocks to lucky recipients.
Bourboniere, known locally as the “Rock Father,” and other volunteer bunnies have put together 40 assorted Easter baskets with the help of donations to Burrillville Rocks. The rock painting group, started eight years ago, is going strong in 2025 with some 7,700 members in a social media forum sharing creations, finds and hiding spots.
Inspired by the international “Kindness Rocks” movement, the group’s mission is to pay-it-forward through rocks decorated with positive messages or fun images, hidden in unexpected places in hopes to brighten someone’s day. A massive rock garden with changing themes decorates Bourbonniere’s Oakland lawn, and his group has been featured on local televised news.
For efforts like the Easter mission, Bourbonniere puts out the call for help and the community responds, with families, business and local organizations dropping off painting supplies, gifts, monetary donations and more.
In 2023, the group started Bronco the Boa, a painted rock snake that runs along a walkway in Remington Park in Oakland, adding color and fun to the area.
The do-gooder can always be found at local events and gatherings, passing out small gifts to children or leading groups in rock painting. Often in costume for the season, Bourbonniere leaves his brightly painted rocks by store fronts and surrounding grounds at businesses throughout northern Rhode Island.
Hesaid he plans to begin passing out Easter baskets at random beginning on Saturday, April 5, and will continue until he runs out.
The following week, on Saturday, April 12, Bourbonniere will visit Overlook Nursing and Rehabilitation Center to deliver Easter cards to staff and residents. The cards were made by members of the group and others in town, including classes at A.T. Levy and Callahan Elementary Schools.
“The residents will also receive an Easter rock, done by members in the group,” he said.
Members will also be at the Downtown Pascoag & Neighborhood Association’s Easter event at the Lodge on Saturday, April 12 offering rock painting. Those who would like to participate in DPNA’s egg hunt are asked to sign up here.
And Bourbonniere won’t stop there. The group has collected hundreds of brightly colored Easter cards, and extras will be distributed to local first responders, health care workers and more that same week. Children in grades kindergarten and first at A.T. Levy created giant Easter thank you cards, to be given to all town fire departments, Well One, the police department and local nursing facilities.
It is all part of a mission by one group led by Bourbonniere to spread a little bit of kindness, with small gifts and random acts, whenever they can.
