Local jewellery designer Sarah Moleme, owner of downtown Orillia's Sarahannedipity, is uniting her passion for her work and her community to aid Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital (OSMH) during the global pandemic.
Moleme has designed and created bracelets that feature grey agate grounding stone representing strength, love, composure and stress relief. The bracelet includes a single amethyst gemstone representing the new OSMH colour, and a hand-stamped heart charm that symbolizes the hospital being the heart of the community.
The bracelets are being sold for $50, with $15 from each purchase being donated to OSMH.
So far Moleme’s bracelets have been a hit, along with the thank you cards she is selling for $7 with $5 being donated to OSMH. The project has been so successful that Moleme actually ran out of supplies for a short time.
“The community is wanting to do whatever they can and thankfully they want to support me as well, which I really appreciate,” Moleme said.
“If I can pay it forward by doing something specific for the hospital I’m happy to.”
Moleme reached out to OSMH and wanted to help when she learned that some equipment needed to help fight the coronavirus is not funded by the government, leaving OSMH reliant on community donations.
“I wasn’t aware that the hospital was having to put out so much money to cover all the added expenses that they have right now,” Moleme said. When she did discover that, she jumped in to help.
The bracelets can also help those who wear them, she said, noting jewelry can help act as a source of healing.
“There are so many awful things going on, sad stories and feelings of hopelessness and it's things like jewellery that help in some small ways,” she said.
Kaitlyn St. Pierre, who is a Development Officer for the OSMH Foundation, says Moleme did a fantastic job creating the bracelet that represents front-line health-care workers.
“It’s lovely. I think that the silver hand-stamped heart charm is really beautiful and symbolizes that OSMH is the heart of our community which is most definitely true especially in these trying times,” St. Pierre said.
The funds that Moleme’s bracelets are generating for OSMH are crucial, says St.Pierre.
“We just don’t know what’s around the corner. We started out preparing for the days ahead and then it turned into the weeks ahead and now we are planning for months ahead," she said.
"Budget and equipment-wise and making sure we are prepared for the next stages, making sure we have those crucial funds is necessary right now.”
The hospital is thankful that community members purchasing the jewelry aren’t only supporting OSMH but also Moleme and her local business during times where local businesses are being hit hard financially.
“It’s really nice to see the community coming together to not only support our front-line workers but also realizing there are much needed funds that the foundation needs right now, combining all of that in one initiative is so lovely," said St. Pierre. "It also helps her local business stay afloat which is so important to the community and the hospital as well.”
For those interested in purchasing the fundraising bracelet, visit www.sarahannedipity.com.
Once orders are placed, Moleme will deliver orders to local residents and will be shipping to those who order from out of town.
“The Foundation is so thankful for folks like Sarah who are going out of their way to give back and recognize our front-line workers. There is nothing more important to us right now and we are very appreciative of everyone’s support."
