Plymouth Woman Helps Stamp Out Breast Cancer

Fifteen community members attended a class at Osseo Junior High Oct. 1 to make greeting cards. More than half will be donated to Hope Chest for Breast Cancer. The Stamp Out Breast Cancer class has been offered by Osseo School District Community Education for seven years.

“I’m the one who originated the class,” said instructor Mary Beth Kissling of Plymouth.

Kissling doesn’t charge the school district for teaching the class.

“It was just a pay-it-forward effort because we’re all impacted by breast cancer,” she said.

Kissling, a Stampin’ Up demonstrator, said she got the idea for the class after she was at a fundraiser where Hope Chest for Breast Cancer Founder Barbara Hensley spoke. Kissling said she thought a cardmaking class could provide an item for Hope Chest for Breast Cancer retail stores while also bringing more awareness of the nonprofit’s mission to class attendees.

Hope Chest for Breast Cancer provides funding for emergency financial support, education, research, treatment and hospice care for Twin Cities’ women fighting breast cancer.

During the two-hour class, attendees make cards using special papers, embossers, puches and stamps. Students bring their own adhesive. There is no charge to attend the class.

Kissling said some students make Happy Birthday cards, while others go with a Thinking of You or a Cancer Survivor theme. The course description says students will take home half of the cards they make and the other half will be donated to Hope Chest for Breast Cancer.

“Some of the students don’t take any of the cards home,” said Kissling.

To date, Kissling estimates students from the class have donated hundreds of cards to Hope Chest for Breast Cancer.

According to Amy Brengman of the Osseo School District Community Education office, the class typically fills each year. It is always held in October to align with Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Kissling said there are many students who attend the class every year.

“I have a very loyal following from the class,” said Kissling. “And we actually had a breast cancer survivor at the class on Monday.”

Kissling said she’ll be delivering more than 30 cards from Monday night’s class to the Hope Chest for Breast Cancer store in St. Paul. 

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