Kids band together for charity

Anyone who was growing up in the late 1980s can remember when slap bracelets were the must-have accessory. That fad is long gone, and today’s hot item for children is rubber band bracelets.

A group of students at Holy Name of Mary decided to take the popularity of those bracelets and combine it with their desire to do good for others. Led by seventh-grader Natalia Kulis, the children created hundreds of bracelets, sold them at school and raised money for charity.

Using Rainbow Loom products, which are easily found at any mall, the girls created rubber band bracelets of all different sizes, colors and patterns. Just like a business, they took orders and made custom products. They asked students to fill out slips of paper with their name, grade, desired color and style, and quantity of bracelets. Even some teachers ordered.

Kulis said that the most popular design was the star burst, and the most desired color pattern was rainbow. Some requested colors based on their favorite sports team. More than half of the students in the school bought at least one bracelet, Kulis said, and the items were especially popular among the younger students.

When the sales finished a few weeks ago, Kulis and her friends had raised close to $900, which will be donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Manhattan. She said it is fitting that the proceeds of a project spearheaded by kids be used to help other kids. “I just thought they would really appreciate our effort,” she said. “People need a little bit of help and we should try to make them feel better and put a smile on their face.”

“We know some of them are going through a rough time,” added Annette Bosko, a seventh-grader, about the children being treated at St. Jude. “We just want to make someone’s day.”

The average bracelet takes between 5 and 15 minutes to make, depending on the size and complexity. Kulis said many of the larger bracelets require the use of a loom. She and her friends completed many of the orders at home, and sometimes they got together at lunch to work. They then sold the bracelets for $1 or $2 a piece.

“If you go into one of the classrooms, you’re going to find at least six people having a bracelet,” said seventh-grader Kelly Carey, who helped with the project.