By Audrey Levine, Staff Writer
One business owner with a heart of gold is ready to give out a heart of silver.
Bentley’s Fine Jewelers, on Route 206, is joining with other businesses of the Independent Jewelers Organization (IJO), to help those struggling with a loss of a job or home by, in celebration of Valentine’s Day, offering a free sterling silver heart necklace to 100 individuals.
| Event Tuesday to benefit Wellness Community
Bentley’s Fine Jewelers owner Kevin Sweeney will also be taking gold to give some green to benefit those dealing with a deadly disease. In an effort to raise money for The Wellness Community of Central New Jersey, the store will hold a fundraiser, named a “gold buying party,” Tuesday at the Hunterdon/Somerset Board of Realtors, in Branchburg. ”I’m doing some revenue sharing with this fundraiser,” said Kevin Sweeney, owner of the jewelry store. The Wellness Community is an international non-profit organization that provides support and education to cancer sufferers and their families. The community helps all people affected by cancer with nutrition programs, stress-reduction classes, support groups and educational workshops for all stages of the disease. According to Diane Schilke, chair of the Board of Directors for The Wellness Community, at the fundraiser, guests will be asked to bring their gold jewelry to Mr. Sweeney, who will give them cash based on its value. Then, she said, he will make a donation to The Wellness Community. ”He will be giving cash for used, unwanted or just plain ugly jewelry no one wears anymore,” she said. “The jewelry can be 10K, 14K, 18K, 22K or platinum, as well as diamonds of more than one karat.” During the week of the fundraiser, Mr. Sweeney said, he will also donating money from his own sales, and will accept additional gold donations later in the week. ”If people come in later (to the store), I will accept (the gold) toward my donation to The Wellness Community,” he said. Ms. Schilke said guests should just mention, at the store, that they would like to donate to The Wellness Community. With the addition of food and drinks to make the event more relaxed, Mr. Sweeney, who has done similar events for other charities in the past, said he would just like to help the organization. The fundraiser will be held in Branchburg from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call the jewelry store at 908-281-8099. |
According to Kevin Sweeney, owner of Bentley’s Fine Jewelers, a storeowner in California presented the idea this year and members of the organization jumped at the chance to be part.
”What IJO is great at is reaching out and helping others,” he said. “They saw this as an opportunity to make this organization-wide.”
For Mr. Sweeney, being part of this offering is a way to bring happiness to those families who may not be able to afford a gift because of a lack of money at this time.
”I know times are tough,” he said. “So let’s make this offer.”
Mr. Sweeney said the organization recommends that each business think of some way to determine if an individual is worthy of the necklace, and is really in need of help financially.
For him, though, he would prefer not to challenge people when they say they are struggling.
”For me, if they tell me they are here for the free necklace, I will give it,” he said. “Could we be taken advantage of? Yes, but I’m not going to challenge it.”
As of Tuesday evening, Mr. Sweeney said he had not yet given out any of the necklaces, but he is not surprised. He said the bulk of the Valentine’s Day shopping is usually done on the two to three days before the holiday, and not many people know about this project yet.
”With Valentine’s Day, most of the shopping comes in the last few days,” he said. “And the people who come in early don’t need the free item.”
Mr. Sweeney said he is glad to be doing something for the community and helping out others in need.
”I thought this was a great idea,” he said. “We will bring some happiness, rather than people having to say they can’t afford it.”

