Give a Gift That Gives Back

LifeTown is excited to debut an all-new gift shop just in time for the holiday season! The shop offers an array of items such as branded towels for summer beach days, comfy sweatshirts for the first chill of fall, and Rachael’s Gems – handcrafted bracelets that carry a special message.

The idea of a gift shop was born from bracelets created in memory of Rachael Kaflowitz and her passion for jewelry making. Rachael was a teen volunteer who unexpectedly returned to Friendship Circle as a participant after being diagnosed with Niemann-Pick Type C, a very rare and fatal genetic disorder. In both roles, she inspired those around her with her joy and creativity until her passing in 2018 at age thirty-three.

“Rachael loved jewelry. She made bracelets for a long time,” said Rachael’s mother, Debbie Kaflowitz. “Happiness comes from being successful at something. This was something she could do. And anything we can do to keep her memory alive is what I need to do.”

To prepare for the holiday season, a group of volunteers came together on November 5 to assemble more bracelets for the shop. The jewelry is made of beautiful, gold-plated and silver-plated beads. Each bracelet is meticulously wrapped in a white box, adorned with purple ribbon – Rachael’s favorite color. It was evident Rachael touched many lives through her effervescent personality and genuine kindness. Those who knew her reminisced about her impact.

“She was young, vibrant, and full of life. She was just smiling all the time,” said Friendship Circle volunteer Claire Messulan. “She loved jewelry. She loved to make it and she loved to share it. She’d be so happy to know people were coming together to make jewelry.”

“Everybody that knew Rachael loved Rachael. She was just a sweetheart,” said Rachael’s religious school teacher, Nancy Hersch. “Rachael lives on through memories and I think that’s what this is all about.”

All proceeds from gift shop items are gifted back to LifeTown to help support programs for children, teens, and adults with special needs. You can find the gift shop at www.lifetown.com/gifts.

What could be a better gift than one that gives back?