Fresno family uses bracelets to raise awareness of domestic violence
FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Bracelets are often an accessory for people to wear, but a Fresno family has a found a way to use style to bring awareness to domestic violence, one bead at a time.
With a kit in hand and plenty of beads to go around, Fresno residents are taking their time to create bracelets with a greater cause. "We've all experienced some sort of domestic violence in one way or another," said Eric DuBois with Tec Beads. "Whether it be family or friends."
DuBois, his girlfriend Tiffanie and son Colin are behind Tec Beads. The bracelets are aimed at bringing awareness to domestic violence.
The idea came last fall from one honest conversation. "Right around football season time, a couple months in, there was a lot of talk of domestic violence charge," Duboe said. "And he just asked me, 'what does that mean?' when I explained it to him he said 'why would someone who loves someone do that to someone else?'"
The idea propelled them to start making bracelets and selling them to friends and family.
Even 11-year-old Colin has become a young ambassador for these beads of change. "They ask me why I have beads on my arm," Colin said. "And I say it's representing for domestic violence."
The bracelets come in different styles, but they use black to show silence, purple to bring awareness to domestic violence and silver or white to signify hope.
"It is therapeutic putting them together and I know it's going for a good cause," DuBois's girlfriend Tiffanie Hemsath said. "It makes it that much more exciting when we come out with a new bracelet or even our signature ones."
The bracelets start at $10. The group made $400 in a few weeks and donated it to the Marjaree Mason Center, and they say giving back was priceless.
Tiffanie, Eric and Colin have taken their charge to online, connecting with people on social media to sell their bracelets. But their bigger hope is to bring more awareness to domestic violence here.
