GREAT FALLS — Colleen Dues wanted to show support for her community in a unique fashion, and used a fashion accessory to do so, selling metal bracelets with the words “MT Strong” to financially aid local health care workers and the food industry workers who keep them fed.
Dues began selling her $15 bracelets and using $10 from every sale to purchase meals from Great Falls restaurants for the city’s essential healthcare workers. “I’m going to be purchasing meals from local businesses, local restaurants and using that to buy food for people in the medical field, so people at Benefis and people up at the clinic.
“I’m going to be purchasing meals from local businesses, local restaurants and using that to buy food for people in the medical field, so people at Benefis and people up at the clinic.
The Great Falls native said after seeing her community struggle, she knew she had to do something to help. “I'm from Great Falls. I'm raising my kids in Great Falls, and it just kind of made sense to do something for the community,” Dues said.
She said she came up with the phrase “MT Strong” from other positive social media posts during this pandemic. “I had seen other people posting stuff on Facebook around the state just how we’re supporting each other and how we’re all kind of in this impossible situation together and so I just decided to go with it,” Dues said.
While she’s made bracelets for a cause in the past, they haven’t received attention like this. “I've done fundraisers in the past but this one has just kinda blown up...I’ve had to order more bands, more supplies,” Dues said.
While Dues is currently out of bracelets , she does have a new shipment coming in and will be able to fill new orders by next weekend.
You can message Dues on her Facebook page or contact her via email at colleendues42681@gmail.com if you’d like a bracelet. She can deliver or mail bracelets to interested buyers.
