Beadin’ for a cause: Bead ’n Feeds benefit food banks

Published: October 12, 2009

Blue Dragon Beads is hosting several six bead shows this fall that benefit local food banks.

Upcoming shows include Bead ’n Feed Benefit Bead Shows in Helena, Oct. 17-18 at the Wingate Inn; in Kalispell, Nov. 7-8 at the Hampton Inn; and in Missoula, Nov. 14-15 at Wingate Inn. Shows were also held in Great Falls, Bozeman and Billings.

According to the shows’ organizer, Missoula resident Elizabeth McCubbin, last year’s shows brought in 3,690 pounds of food for local food banks. The largest amount was reeled in during the Missoula show, where participants donated 1,086 pounds; Kalispell had the second largest tally at 986 pounds.

Incentives abound for food donations. McCubbin offers a free packet of beads for each donation; in addition the two people donating the most food at any location receive $50 gift certificates. This year she’s also offering discounts of 25 percent on either glass or stone strands for those who bring six items, and discounts of $25 percent on both types of bead strands for those who donate a dozen items.

She also offers $25 gift certificates for those who volunteer to deliver food contributions to the local food banks. “So there are lots of benefits to bringing food,” she says.

Throughout the year, about one-third of the Blue Dragon shows are benefits, including a fundraiser for The Nurturing Center in Kalispell every May and a benefit for SpectrUM each August in Missoula. She’s also hosted benefit bead shows for Raptors of the Rockies (Beads for the Birds) and for the Ravalli Child and Family Center in Hamilton (Beads for Babes).

“When I started my business three years ago it was very important to me to give back to society,” says McCubbin. “Good breeds good, pay it forward, positive karma and such – without that forward momentum there gets to be just too much ‘ugly’ in the world.”

For more information, call 406-360-6063 or visit bluedragonbeads.biz.