North Vancouver resident Hayley Kelly is encouraging people to rummage through their jewelry boxes, pull out the bling and baubles they no longer wear, and donate them for a good cause.
For the past few weeks, Kelly has been busy organizing the inaugural North Vancouver Jewelry Drive in support of the Autism Society of B.C. Until next weekend, residents are invited to drop off all manner of accessories – rings, necklaces, bracelets, etc. – to the Delany’s Coffee House locations in Lynn Valley Village and on Denman Street in Vancouver. There are no requirements for the donations, Hayley notes. Inexpensive costume pieces and quality metals and gems will all be gladly accepted. “Anything that you’re not going to use anymore that you’d love to give away for a good cause,” she says.
On Saturday, Aug. 27, from noon to 4 p.m., there will be a sale of all the jewelry Kelly has collected in the plaza at Lynn Valley Village.
“It’s all by donation,” she says, explaining shoppers can pay what they want, provided they meet the $5 minimum.
In addition to the jewelry sale, there will also be live music, a raffle, and a barbecue provided by Shay Kelly the Caterer. Proceeds from food sales will also go to the autism society. Kelly’s goal is to raise $5,000 at the charity event.
“My goddaughter is autistic and I see the struggles that parents have with autistic children and I just thought that I could help in some way, so I decided to create a jewelry drive,” she says.
When pondering how she might help, her mind immediately turned to jewelry – something that has always played an important role in her life.
“Jewelry runs in my family. My grandmother ran a diamond store and my mom ran a jewelry and second-hand jewelry store,” she says.
Kelly inherited many pieces from her family members and has amassed a considerable collection of her own choosing over the years.
“I’ve travelled the whole world and wherever I go I collect jewelry,” she says. “It’s just a big passion of mine.”
As well as being an avid collector, Kelly also designs and makes jewelry. None of her original pieces will be available at the jewelry sale, though.
“Because I work with gold and silver, it takes so long to make,” she says. And being a busy mom of two young children means she hasn’t had much studio time lately. “I’ve got a two-year-old and an eight-month-old.”
Another of Kelly’s interests, aside from jewelry, is attending and holding garage sales and she describes herself as “a garage sale fanatic.”
“I’m very successful at throwing them because everyone that leaves my garage sale after buying something always says they love how organized it is.”
She plans to put her organizational skills to good use when it comes to attractively showcasing the jewelry for sale at Lynn Valley Village next Saturday and has already enlisted all her girlfriends to help man the display tables.
“So it will be organized for sure,” she says.
For more information about donating jewelry or the Aug. 27 sale, visit facebook.com/northvancouverjewelrydrive.
