Hundreds of rainbow flags are flying in a small town thanks to a 13-year-old

Pride Without Pictures: Seoul
A spectator holds a rainbow flag at a 2015 Pride Parade. Photo: Shutterstock

Ava Mackian just wanted to celebrate Pride Month when they started to give away rainbow flags. Now over 200 of them are flying all over their small town.

Sturbridge, Massachusetts, population 9,200, has been covered in rainbow flags after Mackian started giving them away so residents could celebrate Pride during the pandemic.

Related: That time a woman’s brilliant response to their anti-LGBTQ neighbor lit up the block

“I was sad because they’re really fun and I like supporting people of that community, especially because I’m part of that community and I was just bummed out,” Machian told local station WGGB.

Instead, they had an idea.

“During Pride Month, since everything’s canceled, we can’t do parades and stuff, so why not hand out flags?”

And that’s exactly what they did (with a little help from mom).

Using the Facebook page Somewhere Over the Rainbow, the two offered to give away free Pride flags to local businesses and residents. They had no idea how many responses they would get.

The two quickly ran out of flags, but that’s when people started donating rainbow flags for distribution and money to buy more.

“It grew, businesses were reaching out. My business was like yeah, put one up. I was ordering bigger flags. It got to the point where we’re at over, I think, 215 flags now,” Mackian’s mother said.

“It gives me a feeling of celebration to see the rainbows as I drive through town,” she told Out.

Even Bigfoot got in on the celebration. No kidding.

Ok, I’m officially filled with so much joy and pride to live in this community. I’ve had so many people stop in to get…

Posted by Somewhere Over the Rainbow on Tuesday, June 16, 2020

Loving all of this… everyday more and more! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈#paintthetownsrainbowAnnie’s Country Kitchen is…

Posted by Somewhere Over the Rainbow on Wednesday, June 17, 2020

Loving all of this LOVE! Pride Month! #paintthetownsrainbowFrancesco’s Italian Bakery is located at 14 Powerstation…

Posted by Somewhere Over the Rainbow on Thursday, June 11, 2020

Somewhere Over the Rainbow would like to thank Sarah Ashley Lemovitz for her generous donation of 150 Pride flags! Thank…

Posted by Somewhere Over the Rainbow on Friday, June 12, 2020

Brimfield Bigfoot supports!!! 🏳️‍🌈

Posted by Somewhere Over the Rainbow on Monday, June 15, 2020

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