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Oct 30, 2024

This retired West Allis woman is creating bracelets for a cause

After 44 years as a cosmetologist, West Allis resident Linda Minckler recently opened an online bracelet business to support causes close to her heart. Minckler's reason for starting Jewelry-On

After 44 years as a cosmetologist, West Allis resident Linda Minckler recently opened an online bracelet business to support causes close to her heart.

Minckler's reason for starting Jewelry-On Purpose is because she believes everyone can contribute to society, and this is her way.

“For me, it’s making jewelry. For others, it might be something entirely different. But we all have the power to support causes we care about, no matter where we are in life," she said.

"I have a bleeding heart, Minckler said. "When I hear about a cause, I want to help."

Minckler hand-strings each bracelet with a stretchy cord. She affixes a metal logo to indicate the cause. Every bracelet is designed with the specific cause in mind.

The bracelets are sold for $10 each through her website. The proceeds go directly to her chosen charities and to fund supplies to sustain her business.

This past summer, Minckler sold bracelets at the Brookfield Farmers Market and at Food Truck Friday + Mini Makers Mart in West Allis. She said in the future, she is looking at selling at more farmers markets and community events.

Here are the five causes Minckler chose for her bracelet business.

When Minckler learned from her church about the Tim Tebow Foundation's work to combat human trafficking, she immediately wanted to help.

She said she was shocked when she read the foundation's website and learned more about the scope of human trafficking. From 2016 to 2021, according to the International Labour Organization, human trafficking rose by 10 million people. Also, 50 million people are in modern slavery.

"Human trafficking is so horrendous," she said.

The Tim Tebow Foundation, according to its website, "brings faith, hope and love to those in need" by working with people with profound medical needs, orphan care and prevention, and special needs ministry. The foundation creates support programs to keep families together, undertakes physical rescue missions and helps with survivors' long-term care and recovery.

Minckler said because of the scope of human trafficking, she donates 100% of the bracelets' profits to the cause. For the other charities she supports, she donates 20%. So far, she said she has raised nearly $500 for the Tim Tebow Foundation and will be sending a check soon.

Because Minckler adopted a rescue dog, Shadow, the Humane Animal Welfare Society of Waukesha County better known as HAWS, is one of her top charities.

Shadow, who is now 12, was underweight, covered with fleas and had seven teeth missing when Minckler adopted him. "He is now the most lovable dog," she said.

"I have a soft spot for all animals," said Minckler.

Minckler is also passionate about gardening and growing vegetables, so The Bee Conservancy is another important charity for her.

"We like to grow vegetables, and if all the bees disappeared, we would have nothing," she said. She pointed to how 4,000 bee species in North America are in decline, according to the Center for Biological Diversity, as cited on The Bee Conservancy website.

Minckler said she supports The Bee Conservancy because it provides education in the community about the value of bees and how community members can save the bees, such as by planting bee-friendly plants.

Because Minckler's son, Dakota, was on the spectrum for autism, the Autism Society of Greater Wisconsin is another organization she is supporting.

Although her son is now 30, she said she wished she had more information concerning autism available to help her son.

"Everyone who has autism is different, and people need to know that," she said.

Minckler had multiple family members who died of breast cancer, so it's clear why the Susan G. Komen nonprofit is close to her heart.

Her mother, Donna Waarvik and aunt, Judy Craft, both died of breast cancer. Her mother-in-law, Beverly Minckler, survived breast cancer before she died of lung cancer — unrelated to her breast cancer. But it was the loss of her sister, Diane Dutcher, who died at age 41 with three children in 1995 that pulled at her heartstrings.

She noted that since 1995, there have been a lot of advances in breast cancer research, such as the development of all 19 breast cancer drugs approved by the FDA since 2012, according to the Susan G. Komen website.

"It helps a little bit that I am contributing a little to the research," she said. "The world needs everyone to feel involved and educated about things. People don't want to know the ugliness in the world, but once you do, you can't turn your back on it."

To order a bracelet or to get more information, visit jewelry-onpurpose.com

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Cathy Kozlowicz can be reached at 262-361-9132 or [email protected]. Follow her on X at @kozlowicz_cathy.