Arlington Heights Student Helps Girl Scout Troops Earn Badges
Arlington Heights student Lizzie Ferrazza could certainly teach fellow students a thing or two about time management and multitasking.
In addition to a busy schedule at school, Lizzie has been making beaded jewelry for the past year and one-half. She has been selling her creations at several locations including the Arlington Cat Clinic, the Arlington Heights Promenade of Art, and Bentley's Block Party. She has then been donating the net proceeds to local no-kill pet shelters in the area. She has donated $4,680 to date to 11 different pet shelters in Illinois.
As if this isn't enough to keep the average student busy after school, Lizzie has now reached out to share her jewelry making skills with several local Girl Scout troops. In January of this year, Lizzie taught a class for Patton school's Troop #41722, headed by Troop Leader Maribeth O'Dell. Twenty-five girls attended. Ms. O'Dell found Lizzie at the St. James craft bazaar in December of 2015. Lizzie had a booth at that event selling her jewelry and the Troop Leader had the idea to have Lizzie teach her girls how to make bracelets. According to Ms. O'Dell, "Lizzie did a phenomenal job leading our fifth grade Girl Scout troop meeting in which the girls earned their Jewelry badge. She planned the project and presented it to the troop like a pro. The kids loved making beaded bracelets, but even more importantly, they were inspired by Lizzie's passion for animals in need and her dedication to making a difference."
Lizzie will be teaching another class in April for a troop of twelve girls at Olive Mary Stitt elementary school. Lizzie was a Girl Scout in grade school (Olive Mary Stitt) from first grade through fifth grade. Lizzie had previously taught a class for Girl Scouts in February of 2014 for Olive Mary Stitt's Girl Scout troop #41676. There were fifteen girls at that class.
Lastly, Lizzie is working on a concept she's calling "second chance bracelets" where she's using beads from jewelry that have been donated to make bracelets. The bracelets are sold for $5 and 100% of the proceeds go to a no kill shelter. What's different about this is that at each participating retail venue, there will also be a jar (basket, can, etc.) where you can donate old or broken costume jewelry thereby giving it a second chance to help a homeless animal.
If you would like to help, the donation of costume jewelry is a tremendous help as it helps to save money and allows Lizzie to donate more of the proceeds to select causes. Please feel free to contact Lizzie at info@lendmeyourears.net. She also has a website at www.lendmeyourears.net, and a Facebook site she runs with the help of her dad, lend-me-your-ears-jewelry.
Lizzie will be selling her "second chance bracelets" in Arlington Heights at The Arlington Cat Clinic, Berry Yo Frozen Yogurt and Thrown Elements Pottery. Lizzie will also be a future guest instructor at Thrown Elements Pottery and do special events to benefit area pet shelters.