Shoppers pulled out their wallets to buy jewelry and help women in Uganda at a BeadforLife fundraiser on Saturday, July 14. The sale was held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Wilmington Yoga Center. Women bought colorful bracelets, necklaces and earrings made out of recycled paper crafted by impoverished women in Uganda. They also bought note cards, CDs and jewelry bags. All proceeds benefit BeadforLife members. They use the money for food, medicine, education and community development projects. Heike McDoniel organized the sale. She said she first heard about BeadforLife on CBS news. She looked at the BeadforLife Web site and called the owner. She said the owner asked her if she would be interested in hosting a jewelry party.
“I thought, ‘Wow, that would be so nice to do. You can do this out of your own heart to help other women,’” she said.
McDoniel said she went online and signed up to host a party. They sent her the supplies, and she laid out the jewelry. She says they sold about $1,000 worth of CDs, jewelry and jewelry bags in three hours. Prices ranged from $5 to $30.
BeadforLife members are women with children living on less than $2 a day, and many have fled the war in northern Uganda. More than 40 percent of the members have experienced malaria at least once in the past year. In addition, 43 percent are HIV positive, and many have tuberculosis.
McDoniel said the experience has been great, and she would love to host another party.
She picked up a CD with some of the women’s faces on it and pointed at their smiling faces.
“Look at these women — they have been through so much. They are beautiful — so happy. They are amazing women,” she said.
BeadforLife is a nonprofit organization based in Bolder, Colo. People interested in hosting their own jewelry parties can visit www.BeadforLife.org for more information.
