12-Year-Old Reston Middle Schooler Helps Save the Bees

Twelve-year-old Reston resident Joseph (J.P.) Mackey, a 7th grader at Langston Hughes Middle School, launched BumbleBracelets, a “buzz-ness” he created to help save the bees, which have were recently named the most invaluable species on the planet at the EarthWatch debate due to the fact they pollinate plants that are responsible for one-third of the food we eat.

Within the first two months of his launch in December 2019, J.P. raised more than $1,000 from friends, family, and others who found out about the effort through word of mouth and social media.

J.P. makes the bracelets, which are made from high-quality stones and crystals, such as labradorite, agate, and lava beads, plus a signature “bumble bead.” His family and close friends helped him to register the business, build his website, and purchase the beads. One hundred percent of the cost of each bracelet ($30) is donated to Heifer International’s Gift of Honeybees program which provides a hive for local farmers to help pollinate their crops and earn a little extra money selling honey.

“I want to thank everyone who has bought a bracelet and hope to be making more for years to come,” said Mackey. “While I am a little scared of bee stings, it’s more important to help save bees so that we can continue to grow food and have beautiful flowers and plants.”

According to the Guardian, “Some 250,000 species of flowering plants depend on bees for pollination. Many of these are crucial to world agriculture. Bees increase the yields of around 90 crops, such as apples, blueberries and cucumbers by up to 30%, so many fruits and vegetables would become scarce and prohibitively expensive.”