DELANO, Calif. — A man from Delano uses his artistic talent to spread joy throughout his community.
As 23ABC's Kallyn Hobmann tells us, Will Lumabao has always loved creating art, but now he’s extending that passion beyond himself. Three years ago, he started a Facebook group called Delano CA Rocksin hopes of making other people’s days. He said when COVID-19 hit, the group became significantly more prominent in the community.
"People were staying home and they’re doing arts and crafts, and we started blessing other people and sending rocks by mail and putting them out in the community just to, you know, brighten somebody’s day," Lumabao said.
Lumabao joined a rock painting group in Porterville back in 2017.
The group members painted rocks and gifted them to others, or left them in places for people to find. Lumabao said he decided Delano needed a group of its own.
“You never know what somebody’s going through and it could change their day, brighten their day," he said.
In light of the pandemic, and the recent shooting in Delano that killed two young girls, Lumabao said this is the perfect way to connect community members with each other.
Lumaboa has loved art his entire life. He was the president of the art club at Delano High School until he graduated in 2000, and has since participated in art shows, designed t-shirts and created artwork for actors. Now he shares that passion with his entire community, as well as his eight-year-old son. A hunt for rocks to paint led to a father-son memento Lumaboa still treasures today.
“I was like oh they fit together like a heart, so that has a lot of meaning because me and him went scouting for rocks and he found a piece and I found a piece and I was like, that’s perfect," he said.
Delano CA Rocks group members paint rocks and leave them somewhere for others to find. Sometimes they’ll post clues pointing to their hiding spot on the group’s Facebook page.
Lumaboa said they expect nothing in return, and the finder is welcome to keep the rock or re-hide it for someone else.
All Lumaboa cares about is putting some joy into other people’s lives.
“They could be having a bad day and, you know, they start walking and they see a rock on the ground and they like it, and they have a big smile on their face right after that," he said.
Lumabao said anyone is welcome to join the Delano CA Rocks Facebook page, which can be accessed by clicking here.
