Our Story
The Front Porch Beaders are a diverse group of women who live on or near Amelia Island, FL. We started getting together to make beaded jewelry on a front porch in 2018.
Our plan was to sell our jewelry and see if we could raise $1000 for a local charity. We chose Micah's Place, which helps survivors of domestic violence.
​
We all had such fun working with beads, learning new skills, and making many new friends along the way, that we have been doing this ever since!
Click HERE to read an article by Dickie Anderson about the "Beader Leader" published in Amelia Islander magazine back in 2020.
Our Donations
Every time we raise another $1000 (and often more these days!) we donate it to a local charity picked by our volunteers when it's time to make a decision.​
So far, we have donated to these organizations, but we always welcome suggestions for future donations. The parameters for picking a charity are:
​
-
501c3 status
-
local
-
mission is broad and inclusive
-
most of the donation goes to the cause
And we especially like donating to charities where our small gift will make a difference!
Some of Our Recent Donations
Habitat for Humanity
January 2025
Carol Bolton, Executive Director, accepted our check on-site at their latest development on South Division Street in Fernandina Beach.
Habitat for Humanity works to help build and improve homes for families of low-income or disadvantaged backgrounds. Homes are built using volunteer labor, including that of Habitat homeowners. Habitat makes no profit from the sales.
From left to right: Linda Busler (Front Porch Beads), Carol Bolton (Habitat For Humanity), Kathleen Fleming and Debbie Pakradooni (Front Porch Beads)
Take Stock in Children - $3500
December 2024
From left to right: Donna Paz Kaufman (Story & Song); Dan Groth (Front Porch Beads); Robin Lentz (Take Stock in Children)
After fabulous sales at the Holiday Trunk Show hosted by Story & Song Center for Arts & Culture in December, we were delighted to present a check for $3500 to Robin Lentz, Executive Director of Take Stock in Children of Nassau County.
Take Stock in Children is a non-profit organization helping low-income youth escape the cycle of poverty through education. “This donation will be matched dollar for dollar by the Florida Prepaid Foundation to help fund four years of tuition for a deserving Nassau County student,” Lentz explained. She also gave a brief update on the progress of Casstain, a student whose tuition was funded by an earlier donation.
Micah's Place - $2000
December 2024
Front Porch Beads had a beautiful ending to a very successful year!
​
The ladies who attended our holiday workshop loaded bags full of goodies for domestic violence survivors. Our gift bags contained many needed products plus a lovely bracelet made just for them by our many devoted volunteers.
A representative from Micah’s Place, Kaylee Duenas, came to chat to us about what they do, receive our donation check, and collect the gift bags to distribute to folks in the shelter over the holidays.
​
​Everyone in the room had some holiday cookies and made a bracelet to take home.
Katie Duenas with our gift bags, surrounded by Front Porch Beads volunteers
Wounded Warrior Project - $1500
December 2024
From right to left: Suellen Smith, Holy Grounds owner; Joan Shelley and Mary Collins, Front Porch Beads volunteers; and Arianna Segich, barista
Front Porch Beads recently held a one-day sale at Holy Grounds Coffee House which generated a $1500 donation for the Wounded Warrior Project.
Wounded Warrior Project provides mental health services, career counseling, rehabilitative care, and advocacy efforts to veterans and active military members who have incurred a physical or mental injury, illness or wound during or after their service.
“We were proud to have this special event at Holy Grounds” said Suellen Smith, owner of the coffee house located in the Gateway Plaza on Amelia Island. “Many of our customers are retired military and showed their support by purchasing lovely jewelry, with 100% going to Wounded Warriors.”
Boys and Girls Club - $1500
June 2024
Pictured: Holding the check from left to right, Kathy Mason (beader), Tanya Orr (Development Officer, Boys and Girls Club), and Lucy Bryan (beader). In front, beaders at the workshop take a break to hear from Tanya about how the donation will be used.
The donation will cover college tuition for the upcoming school year for a deserving young man. The assembled volunteers heard a little about his story and his hopes and look forward to hearing more about his progress later in the year.
Nassau Habitat for Humanity - $3000
March 2024
At a recent beading session at Story & Song, Front Porch Beads donated $3000 to Nassau Habitat for Humanity.
Nassau Habitat for Humanity’s vision is to create a world where everyone has a safe and dignified place to call home.
​
This is our second donation to Habitat for Humanity.
Pictured: Center, Executive Director of Nassau Habitat for Humanity, Carol Bolton, and beaders Marcie Votava (left) and Cheryl Heise (right).
Story & Song Foundation - $3000
February 2024
Front Porch Beads presented Story & Song Center for Arts & Culture with a check for $3000 to support children’s literacy right here in Nassau County, FL.
The program aims to foster a love of reading in children by providing books to those who might not otherwise have access to them and hosting events to encourage excitement about reading, like the one pictured here.
Pictured: Children pose for a picture with Ms. Dearsha and Corduroy the Bear at a recent children's literacy program in a local Montessori School.
A few of our favorite donations
Gracie's Kitchen - $3000
April 2023
When the news came in that a power surge had taken out vital freezers at Gracie's Kitchen, the Front Porch Beaders were unanimous in voting that we send them a donation immediately to help out.
​
We love Gracie's Kitchen! This was our fifth donation to this cause.
Pictured: From left to right, Sonya Shortkroff, Kathy Mason, Maryellen Crocker (Director, Gracie's Kitchen, sitting on the freezer), Debbie Pakradooni, Fran Peters, and Linda Busler.
Meals On Wheels - $3000
(people and pets)
March 2021
​
We decided to split the donation between people and pets after hearing from the volunteers at Gracie's Kitchen that hungry people (if they don't have any pet food) will share a much-needed dinner with their furry friends.
Pictured:, Front Porch Beaders together with volunteers from Meals On Wheels For Pets plus, left to right, Buster (Westie), Gracie (Cairn Terrier), Lucy (Beagle), and Luna (Pyrenean Mountain Dog mix).
Habitat For Humanity - $2500​
March 2022
Back in 2022, Front Porch Beaders visited Habitat for Humanity's last project in Fernandina Beach to present a donation check of $2500.
The volunteers donned hard hats for a tour of the site.
As you can see, we had fun!
Pictured from left to right, Sharon Mooney-Hughes, Karen Thompson, Karen Guest (Volunteer Coordinator, Habitat for Humanity Nassau), Frances Peters, and Kathleen Falk. (Building project volunteers are on the ladder and far right.)
Amelia Island Singers - $500
October 2022
We were happy to provide a little assistance to this incredible choral group, which enriches our island life!
Pictured: Toni Myers (Director) center, flanked by Sophie and Jackson Groth (two of our youngest Front Porch Beaders) at a recent choir practice.
​
The Amelia Island Singers choir members are seated behind them, some expressing their enthusiasm with a thumbs-up!
Take Stock In Children - $2500​
July 2022
In the summer of 2022, Fernandina Beach Library hosted two beading events led by Front Porch Beads, one for teens and one for adults.
​
When they realized how many people had signed up for the sessions, Front Porch Beaders came out in force to help.
With so many gathered in one place, it was a great opportunity to present a donation - $2500 to Take Stock In Children.
Front Porch Beads volunteers (from left, Lucy Bryan, Sonya Shortkroff, Connie Rodante, Fran Peters, Nancy Hemperly, and Kathy Mason) present a check for $2500 to Robin Lentz, Executive Director, Take Stock In Children, Nassau, at the Fernandina Beach Library. (Fran’s husband, Dan Groth is standing at the back because he matched the donation with a second check for $2500!)
Micah's Place - $2000
December 2023
Front Porch Beaders present a check and Christmas gift bags to Lisa Rozier from Micah's Place.
This is our third donation to Micah’s Place!
This wonderful organization offers free and confidential services to survivors of domestic violence in Nassau County, Florida. Services available include an emergency safe shelter, 24/7 hotline, legal aid, individual counseling, safety planning, as well as financial assistance and planning. The Outreach Program is available to survivors who do not need emergency shelter and at any point in their healing journey.