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
