"Little Breaths" COVID-19 Relief Bangles

When things really started breaking with this pandemic, I started to assess the various circles of needs around me that I could control. 1: Is my family taken care of? 2: Are my employees paid and safe? 3: How can I help my community? Having answered positively for the first two (thus far), I have spent the last few days developing ways for our business to give back to others who perhaps don't have the first two circles quite so covered...  So, I am pleased to announce the debut of our "Little Breaths" COVID-19 Relief Bangles. These sweet bangles are handmade in sterling silver in three sizes - small, medium, and large - and you can find them on our website for a steal at $100 each. Here's the best part: for each purchase we're donating $50 to the ACT for Alexandria COVID-19 Relief Fund! That's right, $50 of each $100 purchase is going straight to this amazing local organization and will directly benefit Alexandrians who need it most.    The ACT Now COVID-19 Relief Fund is facilitated by ACT for Alexandria and generates weekly grants to local businesses and organizations who are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Grants can cover anything from purchasing emergency supplies for vulnerable populations to funding the cost to cover developing new service delivery models for non-profits (among many other emergency relief needs). What I appreciate about this model is that it allows agencies to develop their own hands-on approach to addressing needs they see most while granting access to desperately needed money to fund these programs. Organizations can apply each week and grants are released on a rolling weekly basis, contingent upon available funds each week. This means that funds get allocated efficiently and effectively, and the fund is set up to be nimble enough to accommodate the ebbs and flows of the crisis as it develops. 

The Little Breaths Bangle shown against our Simple Bangle, for sizing perspective.

 I love our Little Breaths Bangles so much. I wanted to do something fun, creative, but most importantly, attainable for our little shop. I particularly wanted to do something that would allow our polisher Stevie to continue working, albeit from home, while our workshop is under intermittent working hours. And, I wanted to do something that would be financially attainable for people to partake in (I'm aware that budgets are tight right now!) I'll be honest with you: I'm not making any money on this project. But, what I am doing is ensuring that Stevie has work to do from his bench at home and that we are raising money towards causes that need it most. We'll ship the bangles out on a weekly basis, and we'll offer weekly curbside pick-up options from our sister studio, The Seedling Collective.Stay tuned next week when I unveil our online shop where you'll be able to make those milestone purchases we're otherwise known for carrying. We'll continue to raise money for the COVID-19 Relief fund through those sales as well, but our Little Breaths Bangles are a great way to show solidarity for our fellow Alexandrians right now. I hope you love them as much as we do!