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ST. LOUIS, MO (KTVI - FOX2now.com) -
A local jeweler is giving away necklaces just in time for Valentines Day. Robinson Jewelers is giving away heart necklaces to people who are struggling due to the loss of a job or home. All you need to do is bring in proof you've lost your job or your home such as an unemployment check or foreclosure notice.
With the stock market less than stellar, gold has a lot more value these days. Plenty of people have been pouring into Robinson's Jewelers on Chippewa to sell their jewelry. Jesse Robinson's been taking in so much gold they decided to give back some very special silver for Valentine's Day.
"Over the course of the last year we have seen people come in and sell their jewelry because they needed money to pay their mortgages or insurance."
While it was good for business, Jesse Robinson realized it meant less than good times in his community.
"We were so touched by the fact that so many people were affected by the economy," says Robinson.
So the Independent Jewelers Association decided to make sure at least some folks who've hit hard times have something to give and get this Valentine's Day: a silver heart.
"This is like a heart of hope for one day," says Robinson. "It can make people feel a little bit better."
"It brightened my day," says Dana Forister, who is one of those people who does feel a little bit better. "They said 100 necklaces for people who have either lost their homes or job and unfortunately I fall into that category. I lost my job."
Forister also lost so much more. Almost a year ago her daughter suddenly died at five weeks old, which is why this heart means so much more to her.
"I feel like she is looking after me."
And she needs it. A job interview is ahead in the coming days and a heart of hope helps her look forward.
"When a woman goes into an interview she has to have the necessities," says Forister. "I needed a necklace to go with my outfit and it was just perfect for me. It was like it was meant to happen for me."
She hopes a kind gesture from a stranger in south St. Louis means many of the next days will be as bright as this one.
"I have total faith that everything is going to be better."
Fifty silver hearts have gone out already. Fifty more will be handed out on Tuesday at 10am and Robinson's expects to give out fifty more at 2pm. Proof of unemployment or foreclosure is needed and the necklaces are first come first serve.
Robinson Jewelers is located on Chippewa in south St. Louis.
With the stock market less than stellar, gold has a lot more value these days. Plenty of people have been pouring into Robinson's Jewelers on Chippewa to sell their jewelry. Jesse Robinson's been taking in so much gold they decided to give back some very special silver for Valentine's Day.
"Over the course of the last year we have seen people come in and sell their jewelry because they needed money to pay their mortgages or insurance."
While it was good for business, Jesse Robinson realized it meant less than good times in his community.
"We were so touched by the fact that so many people were affected by the economy," says Robinson.
So the Independent Jewelers Association decided to make sure at least some folks who've hit hard times have something to give and get this Valentine's Day: a silver heart.
"This is like a heart of hope for one day," says Robinson. "It can make people feel a little bit better."
"It brightened my day," says Dana Forister, who is one of those people who does feel a little bit better. "They said 100 necklaces for people who have either lost their homes or job and unfortunately I fall into that category. I lost my job."
Forister also lost so much more. Almost a year ago her daughter suddenly died at five weeks old, which is why this heart means so much more to her.
"I feel like she is looking after me."
And she needs it. A job interview is ahead in the coming days and a heart of hope helps her look forward.
"When a woman goes into an interview she has to have the necessities," says Forister. "I needed a necklace to go with my outfit and it was just perfect for me. It was like it was meant to happen for me."
She hopes a kind gesture from a stranger in south St. Louis means many of the next days will be as bright as this one.
"I have total faith that everything is going to be better."
Fifty silver hearts have gone out already. Fifty more will be handed out on Tuesday at 10am and Robinson's expects to give out fifty more at 2pm. Proof of unemployment or foreclosure is needed and the necklaces are first come first serve.
Robinson Jewelers is located on Chippewa in south St. Louis.
