make light and give light
So, here’s something cool:
If you know me in real life, you know that I have a thing for bracelets. I have a couple of bracelets that are heirlooms (given to me by my grandmother) a few that I purchased in Trinidad, and an ever-rotating few that I wear on my left wrist, along with my watch, every single day. And a few years ago, I stumbled upon the Etsy shop Kisii, owned by jeweler Reena, and her beautiful, simple pieces of jewelry. Over the years, I’ve purchased a few bracelets from her, especially since Reena always ensures that a portion of the proceeds from each sale goes to a charity or organization whose mission she believes in deeply. And over the years, Reena and I became friendly.
A few weeks ago, however, out of the blue, the necklace above arrived in my mailbox — a delicate thing, with a pendant stamped with the words “make light.” In the package was the sweetest note, explaining why she made the custom piece for me — I was incredibly touched. I immediately contacted her to thank her, and let her know how beautiful I thought it was.
“By the way,” I said, “any chance you’d make these available to the public? I’d love to write about your work, and tell folks who visit my site about this.”
She immediately agreed, but was adamant: “First, let me see if I can find an organization that we can both feel comfortable donating to. I’ll do some research and get back to you.”
Within days, she’d found LuminAID, an organization that makes solar powered lanterns, founded by two women, and whose mission is to “share safe light around the world.” From their website:
"We work with organizations large and small to share safe light with those in need. We partner with NGOs and nonprofits the world over, including ShelterBox, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières, and Convoy of Hope, among others.
Whether it's a natural disaster, a rural village without access to electricity, or refugees fleeing a crisis, safe solar light can make a tangible impact for those who need it most."
How perfect is this?
And so my friends, with the holidays coming up, consider purchasing your own Make Light necklace from Reena — either for yourself or for someone special! Each piece is hand made, incredibly reasonably priced, and proceeds from each sale will benefit LuminAID’s Give Light Initiative. As the owner of several of Reena’s pieces, I promise you that you or the person you buy it for will absolutely love it.
(To be really clear: I’m not making a dime off of the sale of any of these necklaces — I just love supporting people who use their superpowers to make light in service of others. And Reena is an absolute beacon of light, herself.)
Enjoy, friends. Reena ships internationally, so wherever you are, help me spread the make light mission around the world, while helping bring light to those who need it most.
It’s all about rhythm.