OUR SERVICE PROJECTS

Part of the mission of Florida West Coast Bead Society is to give back to our community. Our members make beaded jewelry for, and/or do projects with the organizations listed below. Our local bead shops, on a rotating basis, generously allow us to hold our Service Project Workdays at their stores, which we usually do once a month. Beaded jewelry may include bracelets, badge reels, eyeglass leashes, and key rings. We provide all of the beads and findings to make these items and members bring their own tools, needles, etc. Additional information and photos are shown below.

1.  Sarasota Memorial Hospital – Gift Shop and Oncology Unit – 100% of the proceeds from the sales of our donated beaded items in the Gift Shop, including badge reels, badge holders, eyeglass leashes, earrings, and bracelets, goes to the Oncology Unit, allowing them to purchase unfunded items for the benefit of their patients.  Every October during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we partner with the SMH Oncology Unit in a Bake and Bead sale to raise funds for the unit and for support of “Make Strides Against Breast Cancer”.   The Bead Society has had this relationship with Sarasota Memorial for over 20 years.

2.  The Pines of Sarasota – finished costume jewelry donated to our service project is given to the Pines thrift shop, where 100% of the proceeds goes to  support their resident clients. The Bead Society also donates beaded items for their annual resident "Santa Shopping" event held in early December.  Prior to the pandemic, we also did occasional projects with residents of the skilled facility, as well as with residents of the assisted living.

3.  Sarasota Safe Children Coalition– The Bead Society added this service project in 2017. Safe Children Coalition operates a youth shelter--a short-term residential facility for kids in crisis. The youth, aged 10-17, stay in the shelter for 30 days at most--and some may be repeat clients. We schedule sessions to do beading projects--making such things as memory wire bracelets; elastic bracelets; stringing of bracelets or necklaces--using materials which the kids love, such as alphabet beads, leathers and charms.

4. Association of Florida Teaching Artists (AFTA) — We provide donations of beads and findings to Florida Association of Teaching Artists to use in their art programs. AFTA provides arts-based programming and community efforts and involvement to:

  • Address social issues through art experiences.

  • Expand and diversify existing in-school arts programming.

  • Connect artists to teachers and schools through short and long-term residencies both in-school and after-school.

  • Connect artists to teachers and schools through short and long-term residencies both in-school and after-school.

  • Provide special programs for community groups and institutions. Participate in public, private and community programs which promote education through the arts.

AFTA artists are professionals in their field, visual artists exhibiting in local galleries, published authors, classical and jazz  musicians, videographers, and theatre and dance performers who present  at venues locally and internationally.

AFTA provides afterschool programs for at-risk youth for schools, recreation and community centers providing them the skills to become successful in life.

AFTA also provides community programs for adults at the Robert L. Taylor Community Center.

Once a month we hold a Service Project Workday at one of our local bead stores. They have graciously allowed us to use their shops as a place to get together to make our beaded projects for SMH and The Pines. All are welcome to attend.

5. Association of Florida Teaching Artists (AFTA) — We provide donations of beads and findings to Florida Association of Teaching Artists to use in their art programs. AFTA provides arts-based programming and community efforts and involvement to:

  • Address social issues through art experiences.

  • Expand and diversify existing in-school arts programming.

  • Connect artists to teachers and schools through short and long-term residencies both in-school and after-school.

  • Provide special programs for community groups and institutions.

  • Participate in public, private and community programs which promote education through the arts.

AFTA artists are professionals in their field, visual artists exhibiting in local galleries, published authors, classical and jazz musicians, videographers, and theatre and dance performers who present at venues locally and internationally.

AFTA provides afterschool programs for at-risk youth for schools, recreation and community centers providing them the skills to become successful in life.

AFTA also provides community programs for adults at the Robert L. Taylor Community Center.