By Nance Ebert, Contributing Writer
Marlborough – Bridgit Masciarelli and Heather Gould are friends on a mission to help make a difference in people’s lives and they do so through their involvement in a company they are passionate about – Thirty-One, a direct sales company.
Masciarelli, an independent director at Thirty-One, and Heather, an independent consultant at Thirty-One, decided to work together with a Mother’s Day Craft and Vendor Fair Sunday, April 24, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Marlborough at the Moose Lodge, 67 Fitchburg St. All of the proceeds that each vendor paid for their tables as well as the proceeds from the raffles will be used toward purchasing and filling “Chemo Comfort Bags.” The hall was donated for this upcoming event.
The bag, one of the vast products from Thirty-One Gifts, will be filled with a host of items to help make patients receiving chemotherapy more comfortable during their treatments. Some of these items will include, lip balm, activity books, tissues, hand sanitizer, hard candy, socks, blankets, hats and more. There is also an inspirational key fob that says, “U R Strong, U R Bold, U R True,” from Thirty-One Gives, the charitable arm of Thirty-One Gifts.
“Bridget sells Thirty-One bags and they were having a deal that if you spend $35 that month, you would get an additional bag for $10. She would fill it up with comfort items from her commissions and she would bring it to the chemotherapy ward at Brigham and Women’s Hospital,” said Gould.
The women each have their own reason for choosing this project and have both been affected by their loss of a loved one with cancer.
“Both my father and grandmother passed away from cancer. I put together this project knowing that I wanted to donate to Emerson Hospital, where my father went to receive care as well as Saint Elizabeth’s, where my grandmother was in Brighton in honor of both of them,” said Masciarelli.
“My father-in-law also passed away from brain cancer two years ago and it was a very difficult time for our entire family,” said Gould.
Thirty-One supports women’s charities to help them get strong and portions of proceeds go toward various charities. Their products range from bags, home organization, personalized and monogrammed gifts, jewelry, decorative pillows and more.
The women are looking forward to the Mother’s Day Craft and Vendor Show and are expecting a big turnout. There will be 30 vendors selling crafts, food, jewelry and more. There will be a box for donated items to help fill the bags, and each vendor will be donating an item for the raffle.
“Chemotherapy is very taxing on the patient but the illness effects the whole family. Once these bags are filled, they will then be donated to the UMass Chemotherapy Ward in Worcester to be given to patients having treatments. We’re hoping to make a crappy period in a person’s life just a little more bearable,” said Gould.