NEW BETHLEHEM, Pa. (EYT) — More than one hundred mothers and daughters filled Trinity Hall in New Bethlehem on Sunday for the third annual “Mommy and Me Spa Day.” It turned out to be, by far, the most successful year for the event yet.
With admission to the event, mothers and daughters were treated to various pampering services. Volunteers from local New Bethlehem businesses stepped up to provide services such as face painting, hair styling, manicures and pedicures, and makeup. Outside of the makeovers, Saint Charles Bloomin’ Brushes allowed mothers and daughters to take a painting class together, and Faded Image photography was on hand to provide photography sessions. Zack’s in New Bethlehem helped to meet the appetites that were built up from all of these activities by catering the event.
Beyond the services that were provided with the price of admission, all the ladies in attendance also had the opportunity to shop until they dropped with various vendors on hand with a variety of products from vendors such as Thirty-One Gifts, Lu La Roe, Avon, Studio K, Limelight by Alcone, Mary Kay, Scentsy, Mixed-Lovecrafted Cookies, Color Street, Sabrika, and Paparazzi Jewelry.
As if the makeovers, pampering, photo sessions, painting, food, and shopping were not enough, moms and daughters in attendance also had opportunities to win prizes in the Chinese auction. Prizes for moms included fitness memberships at Fitness Down Under, jewelry, and a multitude of cosmetology and healthcare products. For the younger girls there were many toys and.and even the opportunity to win their very own American Girl Doll.
“The main goal of this event is to provide a memorable day for mothers and daughters to bond,” explained Laura Neiswonger, who is an Independent Director with Thirty-One Gifts and the originator of the spa day. “There are plenty of fun activities for girls of all ages.”
Neiswonger was thrilled with this year’s attendance, noting that prior to this year the most tickets she had ever sold for this event was thirty. When asked what prompted the greater response this year, Neiswonger credited Redbank Valley Community Center’s efforts in marketing the event to the community. Through the combined efforts of Neiswonger and Redbank Valley Community Center, the previous high tickets sales number of thirty was shattered as one hundred and ten tickets were sold this year.
“Within forty-eight hours of the Community Center advertising that the event would be held at the Center, we had sold out of tickets. At that point we decided to move the event to Trinity Hall because of the needed extra space,” explained Neiswonger.
Even the move to Trinity proved to be not enough as ticket sales met the capacity for that location, which is the largest in New Bethlehem, and ended up creating a waiting list.
Redbank Valley Community Center executive director, Jennifer Gold, explained that it was important to her and RVCC board members to provide this special opportunity for moms and daughters. “After seeing the overwhelmingly positive response to the Daddy Daughter Dance last fall, we wanted to help provide the same type of opportunity for mothers and daughters in our community. Teaming up with Laura was the perfect opportunity to do just that.”
For Neiswonger, however, there is another even greater purpose behind the annual event.
“All money raised from today’s event will go towards a program I started five years ago called ‘Bags of Hope.’ We will purchase one hundred bags and fill them with items needed for children and parents at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. The bags are filled with items such as toys and books for the children and toiletries for parents. Most importantly, each bag has a Bible in it because that is what keeps us all grounded.”
For Neiswonger, “Bags of Hope” takes on an extra special meaning.
“I was inspired to create these bags because when my son, Isaac, was diagnosed with Kawasaki disease just short of the age of four we found ourselves spending multiple days in a row at Children’s Hospital. In dealing with the stress that came along with Isaac’s sickness, I was always forgetting items for every trip we made to Pittsburgh. I’m trying to provide those items that I was always forgetting and also items that I know helped make Isaac’s stay in Children’s a little bit better.”
Isaac has been cured of Kawasaki disease because of his time spent in Children’s. That, however, did not stop Neiswonger from making return trips to the popular Pittsburgh hospital.
(PHOTO: A sample “Bag of Hope”)
Since “Mommy and Me” began three years ago, the amount of bags that “Bags of Hope” provides to Children’s has doubled. Neiswonger explained, “We took fifty bags with us to Children’s our first year and this year we will be filling and delivering one hundred bags. In total, we have delivered two-hundred and fifty bags to children and parents in Pittsburgh.” Neiswonger personally delivers the bags to children and parents in the hospital.
Considering the impact that the spa day had on so many mothers and young girls in the New Bethlehem community and the further reaching impact it will have on the children and parents at Children’s Hospital, Neiswonger could not be more pleased with what took place at this year’s event.
“I am very overwhelmed and humbled by the response to this year’s spa day. I sincerely hope that everyone enjoyed themselves and I hope everyone decides to come back again next year.”
If you would like to get involved with “Bags of Hope,” please contact Neiswonger at 814-229-7656.
