Hi, I'm Sarah Lister. (Kerstin’s sister)​
In 2016, I was quite unexpectedly diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. My life was saved by a bone marrow transplant. After 127 days in the hospital, I realized that many patients are isolated with little support during their stay. This inspired me to create The Zinnia Project.​
​​​To give back, I founded The Zinnia Project in 2017, my privately run charity to deliver cheer to blood cancer patients and their caregivers.
Each month I bring in:
* baskets of toiletries and supplies
* art therapy coloring kits
* inspirational cards and quotes
Plus, each Christmas we give Kerstin's Zinnia tote bag filled
with a journal, pen, highlighter, hand sanitzer, KN95 mask, and special gifts.
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I never knew that most hospitalized cancer patients cannot have any live plants or flowers in their room. My sister helped me create holiday tote bags with a hand-illustrated Zinnia bouquet, so now patients and their caregivers can have a safe and lovely “bouquet to go."
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Here's some lovely news coverage of The Zinnia Project:
WLEX Heroes Among Us - Dec 2024
Daily Points of Light - May 2024
WKYT news segment - June 2023
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Follow on Facebook: The Zinnia Project
BECOME A SPONSOR TODAY!
Please select from the options below. Be sure to write in the PayPal notes the name and street address of each person you are honoring with your gift. If you have any questions, please email Sarah at ZinniaProjectSarah@gmail.com
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$25 - Sponsor a beautiful Holiday Tote bag featuring Zinnia bouquet artwork by Kentucky native artist Kerstin Rao.
$50 - Sponsor five “Mini Zinnie” patient welcoming kits that include a supply of toiletries and comfort items.
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$100 - Sponsor a Large Patient Basket full of comfort bedside essentials and art supplies for special patients who have limited resources and support.
Want to donate a different amount to help fund the continuation of Zinnia Projects in 2025? Great! More info below.
When my little sister Sarah was diagnosed with a life-threatening blood cancer in 2016, I flew down to Kentucky every chance I could get. We all circled around Sarah as she was treated for 120 straight days at the Markey Cancer Center at the University of Kentucky.
Every day since is a ‘bonus day’ filled with blessings and gratitude. Sarah remembers how lonely it was on the hospital ward, so she started The Zinnia Project - hand-curated baskets of gifts to meet the specific needs of the patients and their caregivers.
Donors to Sarah’s Zinnia Project lift her spirit every single day, and make a meaningful difference to patients fighting for their lives.
SARAH CAN ALSO TAKE DONATIONS AS FOLLOWS:
BY CHECK:
Sarah Lister, 2213 Shannawood Drive, Lexington, KY 40513
(Please write ‘Zinnia Project’ in memo line)
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VENMO:
@Sarah-Lister-1
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The Zinnia Project is not a 501(c)3 organization. Gifts are not tax-deductible.
THE ZINNIA PROJECT TOTE
When you buy a Zinnia product from the Vivid Cottage shop 10% of the profit goes to help my Sarah's wonderful efforts. I’m so proud of my little sister and so humbled to help her bring comfort and joy to patients and their caregivers…