Hope in Bloom: Turning a gemstone into flowers.

In early 2021, I established my Jewelry for a Cause line, consisting of pieces for which 100% of the proceeds would be donated to local, charitable organizations. A short time later I learned that a mother of five, who had become a dear friend to me after over a decade of caring for her children as a pediatrician, was battling a serious recurrence of breast cancer. I immediately started to search for an organization I could donate to in honor of her fight and came across “Hope in Bloom.”

Hope in Bloom is a Massachusetts non-profit organization, which plants flower and vegetable gardens free of charge at the homes of women and men undergoing treatment for breast cancer. The first healing gardens were planted in 2007 and close to 200 have been planted since. Incredible. With a few clicks, the Calypso Variscite Floating Hope Pendant was listed and sold in one day, benefiting this organization. Not only did it allow me to make a sizable donation in honor of a warrior, but it also added richness and meaning to a piece which would be worn by someone else. This pendant was special - I had created it months prior using a gemstone chosen by my daughter and it had been meant to deliver a message of hope, for which it had been named.

The story came full circle on May 7, 2021 when the hard winter soil was turned over and gardens were planted for my friend. The generous volunteers of Hope in Bloom showed up at her home with smiles and helping hands, making it happen just in time for Mother’s Day. It was a bright and uplifting morning as she & her children watched the grounds around their home fill with new life and it certainly filled my heart with a deep sense of gratitude for the good in our community. After all, “it takes a village” and healing shows up in many forms.

To learn more about Hope in Bloom and its founder, Roberta Hershon, or to make a donation, please visit:

https://www.hopeinbloom.org