PEABODY — Two sisters are doing their best to make sure that those who are struggling with illness and other difficult life challenges feel loved.
Former Lynnfield residents Tina Morris and Lisa Dana are the president and vice president, respectively, of LadyBug Love, a nonprofit that donates specially designed blankets to local charities.
Based in Peabody, LadyBug Love started during the pandemic as a way to give back, connect to family, and honor the memory of loved ones who have passed. Dana, who recently retired after 18 years as the superintendent of schools, said its mission is to “give back by wrapping our community in love with one blanket at a time.”
“We are a family nonprofit created to honor our late mother, who we believe sends ladybugs to let us know she is watching over us,” Dana added.
Dana said the idea for LadyBug Love really started to take shape when their families began spending more time together as the pandemic dragged on.
“The idea just came together at our Sunday dinners,” said Dana. “We both said, ‘Let’s just try to put this together and do something good for people.’ We had been talking about trying to do something since our father was in hospice at Care Dimensions and we noticed they really didn’t have blankets for families. That truly was our most meaningful relationship and after that we started doing their fundraising walks, so it was fitting that our first donation was to them.”
The blankets are gray flannel and are purchased from a vendor. They sport a yellow heart, which was their mother’s favorite color. The embroidery is a replication of their mother’s handwriting and was designed by Morris’ son, Kingsley Corona.
“He has a knack for graphic design and found a font that matched her handwriting,” said Dana.
Since May 2021, LadyBug Love has donated blankets to about a dozen nonprofit organizations.
Three donations have been made to Care Dimensions and two have been made to the Lynn Family Resource Center. In March, LadyBug donated 50 blankets to Citizens Inn’s linen initiative.
Dana said other organizations that have received blankets include the Boston House, the Lynn Shelter Association, Mission of Deeds, Johnny’s Bags, Lynnfield for Love, Riley’s Rocks, and Plummer Youth Promise.
News of the organization’s good work is spreading. In 2022, the Savings Bank donated $2,500 to the cause, and Eastern Bank donated $500. In late April, LadyBug Love received a second grant from the Savings Bank, this time of $2,000.
The organization has also conducted fundraisers with Kendra Scott at MarketStreet Lynnfield and the Lynnfield Childcare Center, which until recently was owned by Morris. LadyBug Love has also partnered with small businesses to sell LadyBug Love products and conduct raffles of LadyBug Love gift baskets. The businesses include Rustic Marlin, Izzy Candles, T. Jazelle, and North Shore Vendor Events.
Dana said LadyBug’s support started with family and friends, but then branched out to the Savings Bank and Eastern Bank foundations.
“We are looking to other connections with banks and some smaller foundations for grants,” said Dana.
Next up for LadyBug Love is the May 13 Mother’s Day Mingle Sip and Shop sponsored by North Shore Vendor Events, at which the team will be selling welcome signs and conducting a raffle for a LadyBug Love Gift Basket Raffle. The event will take place at 69 River St. in Middleton from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
To learn more about LadyBug Love, visit its website at www.ladybuglove.us or check it out on Instagram @ladybuglove_2020 and Facebook @ladybuglove20.
