Lisbon Woman Spreads 'Be Kind' Message After Boat Vandalized

WAUKESHA COUNTY, WI—A simple sign with a big message is taking over yards across Waukesha County.

"I'll be here for a while," said Bethany Bernhard, who spent Tuesday afternoon making a hundred signs with the same message "be kind."

The inspiration came in August after Bernhard and her neighbor, Stephanie Kosidowski, helped a local elderly man.

Emmanuel, the elderly man who chose to only be identified by his first name, told Patch he parked his boat at a local intersection to try to sell it. On Aug. 6, someone used green spray paint to write "(Expletive) BLM!" on the boat.

Bernhard was horrified not just over the language but what the message represented. The Lisbon resident co-leads a racial reconciliation group called, "Be the bridge," whose aim is racial bridge building in Milwaukee and Waukesha counties.

"We are known as the number one segregated area in the United States and it is really sad," Bernhard told Patch.

She said she thought of her Black friends after seeing the message of hate. Bernhard was concerned about what that would do to their hearts if they spotted it and she immediately jumped on Facebook to post about it.

"People don't think racism is a thing out here and I strongly disagree," Bernhard said.

Bernhard and her neighbor Stephanie Kosidowski decided the vandalism needed to be covered. She grabbed a king-sized sheet and can of red spray paint.

Emmanuel was scrubbing the boat with paint thinner to remove the spray paint. The man told both women he wasn't the one who wrote the message.

"I wanted to cover up the bad message and write something positive," Bernhard said.

Emmanuel offered a blue tarp instead of using a sheet. Bernhard spray painted a heart with the phrase, "Be Kind" on it.

"Our hearts are the common denominator for how to be the change we need to see," she told Patch.

Emmanuel told Patch he was now considering donating the boat to Rawhide, which is a charity that provides services to at-risk youth and their families throughout Wisconsin.

Be Kind Signs

Bernhard decided to create yard signs to spread her message. At first, she made 40 and now those signs are sprinkled around her neighborhood. She is receiving requests for signs and already sold out another 40. Bernhard has signs heading to Oconomowoc, Mequon, Menomonee Falls, Brookfield, and a few sent to Wauwatosa.

The Lisbon resident said the year has been rough with the pandemic and now as we move into a heated election season.

She said people judge others for signs in their yards. Her resonating message is to remember to be kind no matter what political affiliation or ethnicity a person is.

"I am a strong faith woman and Jesus loving girl," Bernhard said.

Bernhard is asking anyone with a sign to take a picture and use the hashtag #bekind1221.

The "1221" comes from Romans 12:21 “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

The signs are $10 each but Bernhard said she is not profiting or making money off of the signs.

To request a yard sign, send an email to Bethany@bekind1221.com.