December 28, 2023
West-Aircomm Federal Credit Union chose Bags & Blessings as their choice of charity for 2023. They raised $19,000.00 for our organization! We are incredibly grateful for their radical generosity and hard work!! We THANK YOU for walking alongside us in 2023!
Bags & Blessings was awarded a Proclamation from the Board of Commissioners of the County of Beaver. Bags & Blessings Day in Beaver County is December 9! Thank you to the Beaver County Commissioners Daniel C. Camp III, Tony Amadio, and Jack Manning for this honor.
Educational Discovery Center at Brady's Run Park
October 2023
Bags & Blessings was invited to the groundbreaking ceremony for the Educational Discovery Center at Brady's Run Park.
VOTES ARE IN! Bags & Blessings is a finalist in the Best of The Valley – Beaver County's Official Community Choice Awards!
We thank everyone that voted for us and made us more visible to our community. The First Place winner in our category will be announced in August. All top 3 finalists will be featured and the first-place winner will be announced. The Beaver County Times will publish the Best of The Valley special section which will include all the categories, winners, and finalists.
Robin Redfern received the Young Lawyers Division Civic Appreciation Award on April 28, 2023
April 28, 2023
She was nominated by the Bar Association of Beaver County.
Criteria for the YLD Civic Appreciation Award:
Some of the greatest contributions to our community are made by individual citizens. We often forget to show our appreciation for the good work these people do. This award recognizes the vital contributions and services of these individuals. Nominations are accepted for individuals who deserve recognition for his or her tireless efforts to better our community.
Beaver Valley Federal Credit Union and Elan Credit Card Donate $15,000 to Bags & Blessings Charity
February 28, 2023
(Photo of the recent check presentation from left to right: Amy Cole-Operations Manager, Aaron Kniess-Manager & CEO, Jayne Wiggins, Louanne Gordon, Debbie Ramer- Bag & Blessings Treasurer, Robin Redfern- Founder Bags & Blessings, Terri Lenox- Bags & Blessings Secretary, and Brandee Cercone- Bags & Blessings Event Coordinator. Photo provided with release) Story by Frank Sparks, General Manager Beaver County Radio
(Beaver Falls, Pa. ) The Beaver Valley Federal Credit Union and Elan Credit Card have teamed up to make a $15,000 donation to Beaver County non-profit Bags & Blessings.
In a statement that was released by Elan they said they are continuing their commitment to their partners and communities by donating $15,000 to 25 different credit union partners to be given on behalf of the credit union to a local charity.
Elan said that the program is part of the 2023 Charitable Giving Program which has now donated over $1million since it began last year. John Owens, Elan Credit Card General Manager said “Over the last year we’ve heard and seen firsthand how our charitable giving program is making an impact, These nonprofits are doing incredible
work for community members and it’s an honor for us to be able to support them.”
Brighton Township Partnered with Bags & Blessings
Your Brighton Township Newsletter | WINTER 2022-2023
Brighton Township partnered with Bags & Blessings for a memorial tree planting project at Two Mile Run Park as part of their Tree Memorial Program. The Road Department planted the 23 memorial trees within the park.
Cancer survivor launches nonprofit following stranger’s act of kindness
BEAVER COUNTY, Pa. — A Beaver County woman has launched a nonprofit organization aimed at providing gifts and support for people as they battle cancer.
Robin Redfern told Channel 11 that the idea was generated following a touching encounter she experienced while battling cancer herself.
“When I was diagnosed in 2009 with breast cancer and I was in treatment... I wanted to quit,” she said. “I had just told my husband I had given up.”
By Liz Kilmer, WPXI-TV
December 15, 2022 at 5:52 pm EST
Something Good: Bags and Blessings
In today's Something Good, a woman in Beaver County is lifting up cancer patients one bag and one blessing at a time.
CBS Pittsburgh
SEPT 5, 2022
2020-2021 Annual Report
Beaver County Chamber
of Commerce
Entrepreneur of the Year
ROBIN REDFERN, BAGS & BLESSINGS,
BEAVER, PA
The Beaver County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the recipients of our 2021 Business of Year Awards. Among all the outstanding organizations and members of the Beaver County Chamber of Commerce, these organizations and individuals stand out this year for their exceptional contributions as business people and community leaders. They work well beyond their own self-interests, in collaboration with others in the community, to improve the quality of place and lives of all residents in our region. They are committed to making Beaver County and our surrounding region a better place to live, work and do business.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,
September 5, 2021
‘Watch it grow’: Beaver County's Bags & Blessings branches out to honor those we've lost
KAREN KADILAK - A Beaver County nonprofit that hands out large gift bags at Christmastime to people undergoing cancer treatments is growing in more ways than one.
Bags & Blessings partnered with the county earlier this year to launch the Tree Memorial Program at the county’s largest park, Brady’s Run in Brighton. People were invited to buy a tree and place it in memory or in honor of someone.
The Times Online,
July 8, 2021
Clearview names Robin Redfern their 2021 community service award recipient
PITTSBURGH — Clearview Federal Credit Union has announced Robin Redfern as the 14th Annual Joseph C. Cirelli Community Service Award recipient.
Redfern is not only a Beaver County sheriff's deputy and a dedicated volunteer – she founded Bags & Blessings.
The vision for her organization started when she was dealing with her own cancer diagnosis.
Redfern received a gift bag in a moment when she felt like giving up and giving in. After going into remission in 2010, she started Bags & Blessings in her kitchen.
Bags & Blessings at WBVP-WMBA Live!
Beaver Life,
March, 2021
A Bagful of Blessings: How One Bag Turned Into a Mission
Sometimes a seemingly small moment can completely alter the trajectory of your life. A conversation with a stranger, joining a gym, or even receiving a gift from a friend can inspire someone to take a leap in an exciting direction. There are a plethora of these transformative instances that can come to mind. The three just mentioned, though, actually happened together in the same narrative, resulting in the creation of a nonprofit organization based in the community.
Read more.
Beaver County Times,
January 11, 2021
Bradys Run tree memorial launched by Bags & Blessings
BRIGHTON TWP. — A new program lets people memorialize or honor a loved one by purchasing a tree that will be planted in their name in Bradys Run Park.
Local nonprofit Bags & Blessings has launched the new Tree Memorial Program.
“Trees are very symbolic, as they embody life, strength, growth, and hope,” Brandee Cercone, Bags & Blessings event director, said. “An individual tree memorial is a tall tribute to a loved one. As part of a forest, the memorials will serve a purpose much bigger than themselves. They will create healthy ecosystems and a stunning park for all to cherish.”
Bags & Blessings will sell red maples, Kousa dogwoods, white pines and pin oaks. The trees start at 10 feet tall in a burlap ball that's secured to ensure their health and longevity.
Read more.
July 14, 2020
VOTES ARE IN! Bags & Blessings is a finalist in the 2020 Best of The Valley – Beaver's Official Community Choice Awards!
We thank everyone that voted for us and made us more visible to our community. The First Place winner in our category will be announced during our Best of The Valley On Demand Broadcast on Thursday, August 27th. All top 3 finalists will be featured and the first place winner will be announced. Friday, August 28th, The Beaver County Times will publish the Best of The Valley special section which will include all the categories, winners and finalists.
January 30, 2020
Bags & Blessings is now member of the Beaver Area Chamber
of Commerce.
The Times Online,
Aug 16, 2019
New Brighton woman blesses cancer patients with comfort bags
Nonprofit Bags and Blessings, founded by Robin Redfern, provides care items to 100 cancer patients at Christmastime.
Beaver County Radio,
August 9, 2019
“Bags & Blessings” To Hold 5K On September 14 In Bridgewater
The ongoing struggle with cancer is something that affects all of us, as most of us know someone who is either dealing with the disease or is close to someone who is. And within the struggle, there are two things that nobody should forget:
You do not have to give up.
You do not have to fight cancer alone.
WTAE, December 18, 2017
Christmas bags full of organic food delivered to women going through chemotherapy treatment at Magee Women's Hospital
A special delivery was made at Magee Women’s Hospital last week – Christmas bags full of organic foods and all natural products for women going through chemotherapy treatments. The delivery was made by a former patient, Robin Redfern, who remembers how a gift bag during her treatments helped get her through it.
Beaver County Times,
December 9, 2016
A cancer survivor pays
it forward
Robin Redfern beat breast cancer six years ago. She gathered friends and family to her New Brighton home on Wednesday to fill Christmas gift bags for cancer patients at Magee Womens Hospital of UPMC.
Beaver County Times,
October 23, 2016
Paying it Forward
Robin Redfern won’t let cancer define her. Instead, she’s moving on, grateful for her remission and doing what she can to pay forward the help she got from ‘an angel.’