Dublin's Glitter Girls Guild helps uplift families through medical hardships
DUBLIN, Ohio (WCMH) -- A local non-profit is dedicated to giving to central Ohio families who have faced medical devastation, hardship or who just need a helping hand.
Dublin-based Glitter Girls Guild shines a light on the lives of those like the Meiring family, who shared the impact the group has had on their lives with NBC4.
It was the last thing Krista Meiring expected for her family of four: her husband Alex was diagnosed with stage four colorectal cancer in 2020.
"I would have never thought at 30-some years old that my husband would be in this we'd all be in this situation," Meiring said.
A few years later, they learned they don't have to face things alone.
"We strive to help people that have families in our community that have an on going medical condition," Katie Allen with the Glitter Girls Guild said.
Allen is one of the four women who founded the Glitter Girls Guild in 2023.
"We all have different strengths and weaknesses and coming together we really form a really good team," Allen said.
The name stems from glitter's ability to shine through reflection, as the group helps through small actions of light and kindness. The Glitter Girls take on everyday tasks like doing laundry, mowing the lawn, raking leaves, laying mulch and Tuesday diner deliveries, but they go beyond that by sharing words of encouragement and making the holidays fun too.
"It's small little things like that can just spark some joy in everybody's day and really give families time together. And that's our whole goal," Allen said.
The Glitter Girls also work to connect the families they help with others who might understand what they are facing.
"Life is really hard and I feel like I'm drowning and no one really gets it, but I get together with these other people and they do really understand how hard it is and all the things," Meiring said. "It really does provide support and strength for me too."
Meiring said she feels honored to have this kind of support from within her own community.
"I just really really want to get to the other side one day and help them because I see all that they're doing and I just believe in it and I know that they can just -- as they're growing continue to help even more," Meiring said.
"Those families that we've been helping ... It's unbelievable that they give back to us and it is so heartwarming," Allen said.
As for Alex, Meiring said he is continuing his fight with cancer and undergoing chemotherapy treatments. The Glitter Girls plan to continue to be there for them through the journey.
As the group expands, the Glitter Girls are always welcoming volunteers and donations. You can also nominate a family you believe would benefit from the Glitter Girls by visiting their website.