By Ellie Shalvarjian
Features Editor
Instead of simply watching the news while watching major national tragedies occur, Costa junior Kyra Dates jumps right into action to help those affected.
After learning about the Orlando Pulse Nightclub shooting in June, Dates found ways to help in anyway possible, she said. Dates found a way to be helpful by creating small beaded bracelets, named EqualiBeads, the company’s name, with different pro LGBT+ sayings on, such as “love is love,” them with various colored beads inspired by the different colors of the pride flags representing the sexualities.
“I was so devastated after hearing about the Orlando Pulse shooting and all of the lives that had been lost to it,” Dates said. “I just aimed to help the families and victims as much as I could.”
Dates started off by selling the bracelets to close friends through her personal Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and various other social media platforms collecting the cash and distributing the bracelets in person. However, once the numbers of sales started to steeply increase Dates decided to create an Instagram and Facebook dedicated to EqualiBeads, and created a google spreadsheet that people could fill in if they desired a bracelet.
“I feel so passionate about this since I always aim to spread positivity,” Dates said. “I also always want to be able to advocate for people who can’t advocate for themselves since they’re injured, deceased, or need help.”
Dates now sends her bracelets through the mail to extended family, family friends, and even various strangers who order the bracelets online. Dates contributes the money to the various GoFundMe’s, an online do-it-yourself website that that helps fund projects, of the survivors of the shooting and families of those deceased.
“I’m not completely sure exactly how many bracelets I have sold,” Dates said. “Honestly, at this point it feels as if I have made too many to count.”
All proceeds go to help pay the medical bills, mortuary bills, and various other costs for the families involved. Furthermore, Dates has been vocal on social media about other social and political issues involving the shooting by posting about various occurances.
“I just felt that there was so much hate in the world after the shooting,” Dates said. “I just really wanted to counteract the hate by spreading love.”
Dates hopes to continue the non-profit business that she has already strived in, she said. Furthermore, Dates hopes to continue being verbal about issues regarding the shooting and continuously donating and helping those impacted by the mass-shooting.
“I hope to continue spreading love through these bracelets,” Dates said. “I will continue to make them as long as people still want them, which I hope will be a long time since I really enjoy helping to make them.”
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