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Lowell schools turn to Michigan made fundraiser
Submitted by WZZM 13 News Staff on Tuesday, September 7th, 10:19 am

Lowell, Mich. (WZZM)- For Jarrod Napierkowski, carving wood started out as a hobby. Five years later, it's turned into a small business.

"Someone said those would make good earrings. So, I gave it a shot and started doing it."

Jarrod now makes all kinds of jewelry out of wood or seeds he finds on his journeys. His products are sold through his dad's fundraising business called "Great Lakes Promotions".

Rich Napierkowski says, "';We have 20 people that own businesses who have products in our brochure. specifically designed for Michigan."

Most of the products go to school fundraisers. They range from hand-made soaps from Muskegon, to hand-knitted bottle "cozies" from Grand Rapids. Rich's wife has also developed a coloring book. "What we've tried to do with this coloring book, is create over 100 pictures from the Upper/Lower Peninsulas of unique areas."

Napierkowski says people seem to be more receptive to a fundraiser if it means supporting an organization, and a michigan business. "So, we're finding that people are buying local items more than ever."

A local business has to be ready to produce hundreds, even thousands of the items. "So, we started out with cookie cutters of Michigan and we bought 5,000 of them. We went through them the first year."

For Jarrod, it's meant a few late nights making jewelry. but, he says it's worth it, in the end. He enjoys turning a piece of nature, into a piece of art.

Rich says each year, he tries to find a new "Michigan" business to feature in his brochures.