New Bedford Artist Hiding Mysterious Wrapped Gifts Around the SouthCoast

Imagine going about your day here on the SouthCoast. It might be a dreary day in December. Maybe you are scrambling around trying to finish up your Christmas shopping. Then, your Christmas shopping comes to you.

I'm not talking about Amazon. I'm talking about the SouthCoast Stash and Dash project. It was started about a year ago by New Bedford-based artist Tyson Andrade and his fiancée, who live in Fairhaven.

Andrade said he and his fiancée have been creating crafts and hiding them around the SouthCoast to help put a smile on a stranger's face.

"It can get heavy out there, I like to lighten it up a little bit," he said. He also wants to teach his boy about the importance of giving and the joy that comes from it.

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This month, Andrade, his fiancée, and their six-year-old son have decided to stash wrapped gifts somewhere on the SouthCoast at least once per day until Christmas.

Some recent hiding places include a couple of spots in the Dartmouth Mall (by the ATM and the vending machine), and in historic Downtown New Bedford near this red sleigh and Christmas lights.

Andrade said he often tries to wait to see people finding his gifts, but he's never actually witnessed a find. However, he has heard other people relay the stories to him.

He'll leave hints in his SouthCoast Stash and Dash Facebook group to let people know he is going out to stash another gift.

The notes on the gifts read: "This stash is part of the SouthCoast Stash and Dash project. I hope finding this made you smile. Sending lots of positive energy to you. Smile often."

Here's a hint: he'll be hiding a gift around the area of the downtown branch of the New Bedford Free Public Library on Friday. Good luck!