Big, beautiful bouquets to 5-year-old Lily Bredon of East Canton, for her surprise Lenten sacrifice.
GinaKaye Maddox, who works alongside the little girl’s grandmother, felt so strongly about Lily’s big sacrifice that she shared it with me:
“Lily — a real girly girl — had been indecisive about getting her hair cut since last summer. After all, you seldom see a princess with short tresses … Lily’s mom, Angel Bredon, asked her daughter if she wanted to donate her hair (just like she and little brother Grant are periodically encouraged to donate their ‘gently loved’ toys to other kids who might not get to enjoy them).
“Her mom explained that sometimes other children become ill and it causes them to lose their hair. Lily was excited and willing and she wanted to know if her hair was long enough at that time (which it was not).”
Now fast forward to last week and what the preschooler did.
“This little 5-year-old made the commitment last summer to allow her hair to grow for the sole purpose of donating it! Well, on March 4 mother and daughter went to Great Clips (Target Plaza on S. Arlington) and Lily’s aunt, Rose Rosegreen, a stylist there, did the honors,” Maddox continued.
“Lily’s ‘love offering’ was nearly a foot in length!”
Locks of Love Inc. of Cleveland will fashion the donated hair into a wig for a child who has suffered medical hair loss whose parents have a limited income.
Friendships bloom
Bloom where you’re planted, my late Breakfast Club friend Carol Oaks Smith was fond of saying.
The Bloom Society, which is actively recruiting members, certainly would have attracted her time and attention. And for good reason.
Listen to its philosophy, as shared on its website: “We believe that great friends and great fun can lead to great changes in the world. Our groups are committed to helping organizations that make a difference in people’s lives while growing our friendships to deeper levels.
“People truly ‘bloom’ when they feel cared for and have a forum where they can participate in doing good works. At The Bloom Society, we allow each group to choose their own way to help members bloom …
“It is our belief that small numbers of people really can make a difference if we stick together. We also know it is easier to keep something going if we are having fun doing it. At The Bloom Society, we are sowing the seeds of friendship and philanthropy.”
So the invitation has been extended for local women to start their own chapters, with not more than 10 women each, to meet every month and each donate $25 to a charity of your choosing. “Join a group and become one of the proud Bloom members by taking a small amount of time and resources to be part of something much bigger than yourself and to make a real difference in the lives of people in your community,” the invitation reads.
To help you get started, a Bloom Society social gathering is planned for 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at Prestwick Country Club, 3751 Glen Eagles Blvd. (off Raber Road), Uniontown. Sponsorships, available for $25, give you the opportunity to put products, coupons, business cards or brochures in the 100 bags that will be distributed that evening.
For more information please visit www.thebloomsociety.com or call 330-714-8839.
Bald is beautiful
St. Baldrick’s is one of the most entertaining and meaningful philanthropic events going.
The event — happening around St. Patrick’s Day — raises research dollars for childhood cancer research. Men and women volunteer to make a “bald” statement by getting their heads shaved, while their friends pledge money to support them.
At last two local events are planned:
• The Medina County Career Center is hosting a “shaving of the heads” party 2 to 6 p.m. Friday at the center, 1101 West Liberty St., Medina.
Please contact Becky Hambley, cosmetology instructor and event coordinator, at bhambley@mcjvs.edu or 330-725-8461 Ext. 316.
• The Canton chapter of the St. Baldrick’s Foundation — an all-volunteer effort in its 11th year and led by Sue Stevenson — is encouraging brave heads to meet March 24 at Quaker Steak & Lube, 6073 Dressler Road NW, Jackson Township for the signature head-shaving party.
Stevenson started the Canton event in memory of her niece Abbey Foltz, who lost her cancer battle in 2000 at the age of 19. A silent auction and lots of raffles are planned, with Quaker Steak donating 15 percent of its food sales during the event.
Sign up for either event at www.stbaldricks.org/events.
Vet appreciates gesture
Tallmadge’s Robert (Ken) Cool was kind enough to share something sweet and unexpected that happened to him:
“Recently my son-in-law bought a cap for me. It is the Seventh Infantry Division, WWII. My old outfit. I have worn it with pride ever since.
“On Friday, March 3, we stopped at the Village Restaurant on State Road in the Falls. A young man came by the table and shook my hand and thanked me for my service. I always feel a little strange when that happens because in that war, most of us didn’t volunteer … Anyway, when we had finished eating, the waitress told us that the bill had been paid.
“I know that there are many acts of kindness every day that go unthanked, but I was deeply touched and just wanted to tell someone Thank You!”
Relay Benefit Show
Tallmadge High School’s Relay for Life team is hosting a “Relay Benefit Show” 7 to 9 p.m. March 21 at the school, 140 N. Munroe Road, Tallmadge.
Team member and senior Dominic Cevasco said the show will be a smorgasbord of student acts including singing, dancing, juggling and other talents. “We also have testimonials from students whose lives have been affected by cancer,” Cevasco said. A bake sale and basket raffle are planned.
Tickets are $5 at the door. All proceeds go to the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.
Jewell Cardwell can be reached at 330-996-3567 or jcardwell@thebeaconjournal.com
