Jenna Potak, an officer with Catasauqua Police Department and a school resource officer for Catasauqua Area School District, loves her community and has been working harder than ever to keep spirits high in her borough and beyond.

She has assisted with donation drives in the area, does a daily storytime video with fellow SRO Officer Pat Best, initiated the Chalk the Walk and Flat Pat campaigns and started the JD Potak Rocks group.

This latest effort was started in September 2020. According to Potak, rocks are painted with cheerful pictures or sayings and placed out in the community. She said she often puts them outside of businesses to make sure people will see them.

“People will find the rocks and are asked to take a photo and share the photo on my JD Potak Rocks Facebook page, stating where the rock was located and if they will keep or re-hide the rock,” Potak said.

She tries to paint JD Potak Rocks on her rocks to track them in their journeys.

Her goal for the project is to spread kindness, joy and love throughout the community.

“I want to inspire people to be their best,” Potak said, “and, at times, rocks have been located and brought a special meaning to the person who located it.”

She noted she makes sure to paint some rocks to coincide with holidays or the time of the year. She also makes “Stay Strong” rocks regularly, an homage to the large “Stay Strong” chalked message she’s been maintaining at St. John and Walnut streets.

She noted seeing many other rock Facebook pages, such as LV Rocks, and wanted to bring something to Catasauqua residents.

“I wanted to give people something to look forward to while out on walks,” Potak said.

While the JD Potak Rocks campaign began in Catasauqua, it is spreading out to the surrounding areas and beyond. Her rocks have been found in Whitehall, Northampton, Walnutport, Palmerton - and even New Jersey. Potak said she makes sure to carry a few rocks with her as she travels to spread the cheer around. Many people who find the rocks also re-home them.

“One rock made it to Maryland when a family located it in Catasauqua, took it on vacation and placed it there,” Potak said.

The JD Potak Rocks Facebook page is filled with photos and posts of people finding the rocks. They take photos of the rocks and often share how it felt finding them.

“It seems to be bringing joy to the community who locate the rocks,” Potak said. “So far, I have gotten great feedback that the community enjoys what I have been doing.”

Potak plans to continue her efforts. She wants to expand the project over the summer, if the COVID-19 pandemic will allow. One idea she has is to attend local events and set up a table where children and adults can paint their own rocks to place out in the community.

To see more, check out the JD Potak Rocks Facebook page.

Be sure to keep your eyes open while you’re out in the community for these cheerfully painted rocks. Don’t forget to take a photo and share it on Facebook!