Brighter Lipstick, Bigger Earrings

                                                    

I am so excited to announce that I have partnered with UF’s Pre-Dental Society
and will be starting the Gainesville Young and Young at Heart chapter
of the Brighter Lipstick, Bigger Earrings Inc.!   

BLBE is a registered non-profit organization founded by Pam Sawyer 
who was diagnosed with aggressive Stage 3 breast cancer in 2014.  

On the day of her first chemo treatment session, her nurse said to her, 

“Pam, you’ll be just fine as long as you wear brighter lipstick and bigger earrings!” 

-A statement that she would not forget.   

While undergoing chemo treatments,
 she discovered kindness and happiness in many ways.
 Remembering what her nurse said, 

she took on the idea of bringing her learned craft of making earrings 

to give to chemo patients at her infusion center.   

The earrings became a small treat for the patients to brighten up what could be a bleak day. 

 The earrings became such a hit that Pam had to gather the help of friends and sister to make more. 
 Trees were purchased to hold the many earrings that the ladies would create for the patients. 

The patients are then able to choose a pair to have for free- 

just to enjoy having something new and beautiful. 

Since then, earring trees can be found in infusion centers

 throughout central Florida down to Boca Raton and in Pittsburg, PA.   

 2 years ago, UF’s Pre Dental Society started the Gainesville chapter 

with students making and replenishing the earring trees.   

There are currently 4 trees in Gainesville:

 2 at Shands, 1 at the VA and 1 at North Florida Regional Hospital. 

Today, I have been given the fantastic opportunity by Pam 

to start and coordinate the Gainesville Young and Young at Heart
 of the Gainesville chapter of BLBE.

My goal is to not only help the Pre-Dental Society group 

but to strengthen the Brighter Lipstick, Bigger Earrings Program 

while creating an outlet for middle and highschool students to volunteer
and for others to come and engage as well.

                    

I believe that Brighter Lipstick, Bigger Earrings can provide a fantastic venue

for the young and young at heart to engage and work together for a great cause. 

I cannot wait to see the interactions and the friendships formed!

 At this time, I am seeking donations of jewelry tools to be used by the volunteers here in Gainesville

and to purchase findings since the hook and clips that go in/on the ear will need to be NEW.  

 Of course, we also welcome any types of beads either new or old jewelry for us to recycle.

We welcome volunteers of ALL AGES, backgrounds and talents.   

If you have never made an earring in your life, 

do not worry as you will be taught the techniques! 

If you don’t want to make earrings but have marketing and communication skills,
social media advertising and web design, we can also use you! 

  Oh, and did I mention that you can earn volunteer credits for helping?? 

 Lastly, if you have a venue that you are able to provide for our use, please let me know! 

Come and Be an Angel...help us share beauty with cancer warriors!
 

By the way, Pam's story?  You can read about it HERE!

It has a happy ending! ;)

***

You can follow Brighter Lipstick Bigger Earrings
on facebook HERE!

To donate for the Gainesville Young and Young at Heart Program

or to volunteer

please contact Ellen Kostewicz at

evacasile@gmail.com