ST. LOUIS’S ANNIE’S HOPE GAINS A FRESH INTERNATIONAL PARTNER

LUSH Cosmetics, based in Canada and known internationally for its handmade, fresh-ingredient bath and beauty products, has chosen St. Louis’s Annie’s Hope—The Bereavement Center for Kids, as a partner in its “Charity Pot” program.  In Charity Pot, LUSH crafts an organic cocoa butter and almond oil hand and body lotion and donates 100% of the product’s sales to its charity partners.  In addition to helping its partners with a financial boost, LUSH allows each partner to label the product with its own design and information.  This can help the charity spread the word about its mission and its work in the community.  LUSH Charity Pots are sold in all LUSH stores and at LUSH counters in Macy’s stores.

Annie’s Hope was chosen in the fall of 2011 as a LUSH Charity Pot partner.  LUSH’s donation specifically helped fund a portion of Annie’s Hope’s 2012 Horizons anticipatory grief program.  This program provides home-based support for families for whom the death of a member is upcoming.  Horizon’s goals are to provide a healing environment and outlet for emotional, psychological and spiritual pain and to help the family discover peace, hope and healing in a manner that is unique and personal to each member.       

Annie’s Hope believes that the LUSH partnership will aid its mission.  Amy Benner LaBelle, Annie’s Hope’s Development Director, explained, “Annie’s Hope has been fortunate in that we have many partners who recognize that grieving children need support.  Most are local businesses, community organizations and grant makers.  Our partnership with LUSH marks the first time Annie’s Hope is receiving international exposure, and more importantly, it’s drawing attention to the issue of childhood grief on a much larger scale.”

The Annie’s Hope Charity Pot official program launch event is scheduled on September 22, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the Saint Louis Galleria LUSH locations.  Annie’s Hope families and children will be there to celebrate the partnership.  And the St. Louis community is invited to join!

To learn more about Annie’s Hope, its LUSH Charity Pot partnership, and the Galleria launch event contact Amy Benner LaBelle at amyl.annieshope@gmail.com, 314-965-5015 or 636-236-7720.  Website: www.annieshope.org.

 Annie’s Hope (located at 1333 W. Lockwood in Glendale) helps grieving children, teens, and families through its no-charge 8-week and monthly support groups, grief camps, the Horizons anticipatory grief program, retreats, social events, a community grief resource library, and school grief support and education.  The organization also hosts a speakers’ institute, which works to educate community counseling professionals about grief support strategies. With more than 4,000 children in the St. Louis area expected to be newly bereaved this year, Annie’s Hope’s programs work together to fulfill its mission of providing comprehensive support services to children, teens and their families who are grieving the death of someone significant.