From listening to the news on the COVID-19 pandemic sweeping the nation, Chantal Allen was feeling down in the dumps.

She needed a lift.

So the Macomber School art teacher turned to her passion and began the HaveHope project, which is asking her students and others in the community to spread kindness through kind words, phrases and artwork at their homes.

“With all the fear and negative information, I’m finding it hard for myself and people I know to stay positive,” said Allen, who teaches preschool through second grade. “I wanted to find a way to do something positive for my students and leave it open for the community.

“A lot of people are walking around because that’s one of the things you can still do so I figured why not leave a nice message so when people walk by they can smile.”

Allen said she’s had several people stop in front of her Fall River home and take photos of her colorful artwork, which includes a sun, heart and peace sign along with the words: Have Hope.

“When I thought of a name for the project, I thought about what I’m going through right now with the anxiety,” she said. “To have hope is so important.”

Allen said the artwork can be made with anything from chalk to paint and that it should encompass something that provides hope.

“What does hope mean to you?” she said. “It could be the words as well. It could be quotes. It could be thanking essential workers. It’s broad and gets that positive outlook out there.”

Allen has had the project shared on social media through Westport COmmunity Schools, but she’s hoping it catches on and spreads across the entire community.

“It’s a really nice uplifting thing,” she said. “I’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback that people like it. It’s a thing that is contingent on the weather. Once the weather gets nice again, I predict more and more people will be doing it.”

Follow Laurie Los Lee on Twitter @LaurieLosSCT.