Looming Large: Springs Girl's Generosity Turns Bracelet Fad into Charity

Rainbow Loom, colorful rubber bands that make bracelets, necklaces and more, are all the rage with kids. One local sixth-grader is using them to bring a smile to children with cancer, and as it turns out one of those patients is a relative of a teacher in her school.

Springs School student Kailee Brabant, 11, didn't even really know first-grade teacher Jodie Hallman, but the two have become partners in a project and they've gotten the whole school involved.

Over the summer, Kailee was making one bracelet after another when it occurred to her that she really didn't need all of them. "And then it came to me," Kailee said, "I could send them to sick children who maybe are not strong enough to make them." Loom for Love was born. 

When class was back in session, she asked principal Eric Casale if she could put up flyers around school asking for bracelets from fellow students. 

Hallman, who taught Kailee's older sister, said she was immediately drawn to the poster — her cousin's then nearly 4-year-old daughter, to whom she is very close, had just been diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. "I just knew this was something I wanted to be a part of," Hallman said. 

Hallman went to Kailee and her parents, Kristen and Pat Brabant, to ask if they'd be interested in sending the bracelets to the children at the hospital where her cousin ended up spending over 50 days while receiving treatment. 

Kailee, whose mother said she's never known anyone with cancer, let alone a child suffering, was now even more motivated to make her an idea a success.

With Hallman's help, she presented the project to elementary school students at a Spirit Meet just over a week ago, and the response was overwhelming.

In two days, she collected 445 bracelets. As of Tuesday night, she had 804 bracelets and half-a-jar of donations to count. During an interview on Wednesday, one little boy took one off his wrist, handing it to her as he passed her in the hallway.

She easily reached her goal of 500 bracelets for Hallman to take to her cousin — who was released the day before her 4th birthday — over Thanksgiving. They'll be distributed at the Barbara Bush Children's Hospital at Maine Medical Center in Portland, Me.

On Wednesday afternoon, Kailee told junior high students during an assembly that she is now expanding her project. "I am moving on to different children's hospitals," she said, asking them to donate bracelets so that she can take them to the Cancer Center at Stony Brook Children's Hospital in time for their holiday party in mid-December. She also wants to send some to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. 

"So please take a few minutes and make a bracelet or two, drop them off in the jar and maybe just throw some extra change in the donation jar and then think of those precious smiles that you are putting on those faces," Kailee told the audience. 

Kailee is thankful to those who have helped her, including Stephanie Tekulsky at Steph's Stuff in East Hampton, which donated some materials, and the PTA, which donated $200 for her to buy six looms and 38 packages of rubber bands for a gift basket. "And most of all the angel who took me under her wing, Mrs. Hallman, for all her time and dedication that she has put into making my dream a reality," she said, presenting Hallman with flowers. 

Hallman said this was all Kailee's doing. "The fact that this kid tok the initiative to do something that's so powerful and hasn't dropped the ball says a lot," she said. "This means the world to my family."  

If you are interested in donating bracelets or money to Loom for Love, email kaileesloomforlove@gmail.com.