The Healing Headbands Project, a local Long Island charity based out of Glenwood Landing, NY is designed to help children with serious illness in hospitals. Through the combined efforts of using laughter and art as a therapy, original artwork is made and then fashioned into wearable headbands.
“The artwork produced in our Laugh Create Heal workshops are turned into headbands the children can physically wear,” said Healing Headbands co-founder, Joanie Accolla. “Laughter is the source of healing and as trained Laughter Yoga instructors, we offer specialized exercises that help change the body’s chemistry hastening the healing process.”
Whatever the ailment laughter is the gateway that harnesses our personal creativity and the artwork is turned into something you can wear.” Accolla continued.
The children can actually wear the artwork which we print on very soft UV protected fabric. “The fabric is wonderful. It has a great four way stretch and is considered a smart fabric. Not only does it protect you from the sun’s damaging rays, it keeps you warm in the wintertime and cool in the summertime by wicking away moisture,” said founder, Barbara Grapstein.
The idea for the Healing Headbands Project first came to Grapstein during her travels to Central America, she said. “While I was there I saw many people wearing headbands made from colorful madras fabric. I thought these headbands could protect the heads of those losing their hair while going through chemotherapy. So Joanie and I went on a hunt, looking for the perfect material that would protect the scalp and more importantly, feel amazing on sensitive skin.”
We created the Laugh Create Heal workshop and discovered there was a need for this type of experience in hospitals.
The headbands are made in a state of happiness that instill a feeling of mental and physical well-being. “When a family receives news their child has cancer, their lives changes drastically. These headbands help children and their families stay connected and positive while moving through these challenging times.” Says Grapstein.
Today, the Healing Headbands Project has touched hundreds of thousands of people throughout the United States. We are now sending our wristbands overseas helping support children and families in war torn countries. The Laugh Create Heal workshop benefits many other nonprofit organizations; including Kiwanis International, Girl Scouts of LI, Garden of Dreams, Paul Newman’s Hole in the Wall Camp to name just a few.
We are very proud to have created a project that helps so many people, plus the workshop is easy to facilitate and duplicate,” says Grapstein. “Healing is the buzz word for the future and we have found a fun way to do that!”
As a not-for-profit 501 (c) 3 volunteer driven organization, anyone interested in finding out more about the Healing Headbands Project, and how their special workshop can serve your organization through fundraising or volunteering at one of their special events; visit: http://healingheadbands.com or call (516) 606-7022 or (917) 497-1449.
