Beads needed to raise money for animal charities

Since its inception in 2009, Tucson’s Beading Divas to the Rescue has raised more than $60,000 by selling one twenty-dollar bracelet at a time.

The Beading Divas depend on the public’s generous gift of beads in order to continue making and selling one-of-a-kind handmade bracelets where all sales go to designated 501(c)(3) animal charities.

After selling more than 3,000 bracelets — HELP! — Beading Divas need more beads!

Bead Drive 2013 kicked off in late January and runs through March 8 (although beads are gratefully accepted all year).

Until March 8, when you donate beads, your name and an animal charity of your choosing (must be 501c3) will be entered in a random drawing and on March 16, one lucky charity will be chosen to be the recipient of bracelet sales for April. The charity must be located in the continental U.S. The last time the Divas held a Bead Drive (2011), Greyhound Support Transport  won the random drawing. GST transports retired racing greyhounds out of Florida (where there are 13 dog tracks!) to non-racing states.

The random drawing will be held at March 16, at 4 pm at Silver Sea Jewelry, 330 N. 4th Avenue, in the 4th Avenue Shopping District, 520-624-9954. The public is invited. Other small prizes will also be awarded.

Many Tucson venues have volunteered as locations where people can conveniently drop off beads. (Thank you!)  Be sure to bag or box them and add your name, contact info, and the name of a 501c3 animal charity. Here is a list of the venues:

GEM SHOW
–The Purse Museum at Tucson Bead Show
February 5 – 10, 2013
Windmill Inn
4250 N Campbell Ave, Tucson, AZ 85718
Suite 109

Midtown/Central
-–CataVinos Wine Shoppe, 3063 N. Alvernon Way, 323-3063
-–Clues Unlimited, 3146 E. Ft. Lowell Road, 326-8533
–Jay’s Beads of Tucson, 4627 E. Speedway (by Sprouts), 323-1123
-–Silver Sea Jewelry & Gifts, 330 N. 4th Avenue, 624-9954
–Pet Designs Salon, 2549 E Broadway Blvd, 323-9599
-–Speedway Veterinary Hospital, 3736 E. Speedway, 321-4235
-–Kismet, 2627 E. Broadway Blvd, 207-9994 (open Wedn – Sat)
-–The Grey House Antiques & Home Décor, 3067 N. Campbell Ave; 325-0400

Foothills/NE/Eastside
-–Bone Yard Doggy Daycare, 8963 East Tanque Verde Road, 209-1650
–Robek’s Juice, 50 S Houghton Rd (Broadway/cross street), 731-2888
-–Sunrise Pet Clinic, 5635 N. Swan Road, 299-5044 (Foothills)
–Pantano Animal Clinic, 8333 E. 22nd Street (Sarnoff/cross street), 885-3594
-–Humane Society Thrift Store, 5331 E. Speedway, (west of Craycroft), 327-0010

North, Northwest, Oro Valley, Marana
–Long Realty, 10445 N Oracle Rd #121, Oro Valley, 401-5874, (Dawn Heinemann)
-–PAWS Veterinary Center, 300 E. River Road, 888-7297
-–Sissy’s Pet Grooming, 7350 N La Cholla Blvd (Albertson’s Shopping Center), 229-9898
-–Marana Feed & Supply, 9643 N. Casa Grande Hwy, 744-6147
-–San Giorgi’s Coffee, 6435 N. Thornydale Road, 544-3069
-–Twin Peaks Veterinarian, 7555 W Twin Peaks Rd, Marana, 572-8300
-–Alchemista Aromatherapy Sanctuary & Spa, 6955 N. Oracle Road (Casa Adobes Plaza), 334-1919

South, Green Valley
-–Animal Care Center Of Green Valley, 555 White House Canyon Road, 625-0433
-–The Animal League of Green Valley (TALGV), 1600 W. Duval Mine Road, 625-3170

So far, money has been donated to 30 different dog, greyhound, cat, horse, pig, and wildlife charities in five states. You can view the donation history here.

Got Beads?

Animal rescue groups are encouraged to let their supporters know about the Bead Drive and ask supporters to donate beads on their behalf.

All kinds of beads are welcome and even old jewelry that can be taken apart and reused. You can read the fine print here as far as rules, etc.

For the month of February, bracelets are being sold on behalf of Operation Greyhound of San Diego. They rescue dogs from Tucson and  Tijuana racetracks.

On February 9, you can drop off beads (and buy bracelets) at the 4th Avenue Trunk Show, look for the Beading Divas near Silver Sea Jewelry; look for the mermaid in the window between Moon Smoke Shop & Bison Witches Cafe. You can buy bracelets online too.

Beading Divas Bracelets

Disclosure: Karyn Zoldan is one of the original seven Beading Divas as well as Michelle Caillet, Cynthia David, Loren Dawn, Lizzie Mead, Angy Shearer, Glenda Taylor. Now there are dozens of Beading Divas, young and old and hip, who help create dazzling bracelets.

Beads! Beads! Beads! We need them!  Please call 520-955-9061 or email tucson.tails@yahoo.com with questions/more info. PDF available to share upon request.  Please make this blog post go viral. Like on Facebook too. Thank you