Sherri Steiner of Yankton has always been an avid crafter, but for almost three years she’s been turning her natural eye for jewelry design into cash for cancer patients.

A lifelong scrap book enthusiast, Steiner found herself unable to continue the hobby when her daughter was diagnosed with breast cancer.

“I’m not usually a crier, but after almost losing her a couple times I just couldn’t look at pictures anymore without bawling my eyes out,” she said. “It doesn’t matter who’s in the picture I just can’t look at it.”

While helping her daughter through treatment Sherri spent a lot time in waiting rooms and needed something to occupy her time and her mind.

“A friend gave me a tiny box of beads,” she said. “I’d never beaded anything in my life but I thought I’d give it a try. I’ve been doing it every day since.”

Sherri began making bracelets, necklaces, earrings, rings – anything she could think of and people began to take notice.

“I was making jewelry like crazy and people were literally buying it off my arms,” she said. “I was selling the earrings right off my ear lobes. I decided to get organized and sell the jewelry as a way to raise money for the Pink Ladies and for those battling cancer.

“I’ve always watched the Pink Ladies throw (darts) and seen the good things they’ve done to help those with cancer. I’ve always been really impressed by what they do.”

Sherri currently hosts jewelry parties (on location or in her home) to raise money for specific cancer patients.

“I started throwing a party here and there, but now it’s pretty steady,” she said. “Family members or friends usually set it up, I provide the jewelry and they get everyone to come. All the proceeds go to that particular person.”

A typical jewelry party raises more than $1,000, Sherri said.

“The recipient can use the money to help them get to appointments, to buy groceries, to pay doctor bills, buy medicines, pay rent, whatever they need,” she said.

Sherri said she is able to do two shows per month.

Any proceeds from extra sales and special orders go to the Pink Ladies, who distribute funds within a 30-mile radius of Yankton.

Sherri said she spends a minimum of three hours, sometimes up to 12, a day making jewelry.

Kerry Hetzel, a local Pink Lady, helps Sherri set up, work and pack up all her shows.

“We are really good team and I couldn’t do these parties without her,” Sherri said.

Sherri has no training in jewelry making and doesn’t follow patterns, she just instinctively knows what will look good and works by trial and error.

“I call it my therapy,” she said. “It’s cheaper than going to therapy and it provides me a way to help others at the same time.”

Although her daughter is her inspiration, Sherri said her husband, Don, is her support system.

“My husband is the reason I can do all this,” she said. “He supports me so much. When he came back from Vietnam he said that if he ever gets to the point where he can help someone else he would do whatever he could and this is our way of fulfilling that.”

When Sherri isn’t making jewelry she is searching out deals for beads and other materials.

“I like to use high quality materials,” she said.

“Recently, I discovered Ebay and have been bidding on beads and getting some really good deals, but if people have excess beads they’d like to donate I would never turn anything down.”

Sherri and Kerry believe working with the Pink Ladies and supporting cancer patients is a way of paying it forward.

“Every little bit helps,” they said.

For more information on booking a party or donating beading items, call Sherri Steiner at (605)665-4652 or e-mail her at ssteiner@hotmail.com.