Janine Kelker
Janine Kelker was a beautiful young woman. On March 12, 2006, she was killed in an accident caused by a drunk driver.
This story is about the power of an image, a face, a smile and, ultimately, about hope. I am not sure I would have thought twice when I read the newspaper story about the accident had it not been for the photograph of Janine. I did not know Janine, but her picture is forever etched in my mind and now yours. I was drawn to the story and learned that a group of Janine’s friends and family planned to honor her by walking in the Mothers Against Drunk Driving Strides for Change walk.
I contacted Janine’s friend Steve Hallmark to see if "Janine’s Team” might be interested in having a photo button of Janine to wear during the walk. Given their grief and the sorrowful circumstance, I did not know what to expect from the group. We agreed to make the buttons, and Steve later confided that the walk was much harder emotionally than anyone imagined but that the buttons helped - they made a difference. With the buttons, the team walked with Janine in their hearts and over their hearts as well!
What happened next proved to me that the promise of Buttons of Hope might be much more powerful than ... just the button! Several weeks after the walk, Janine’s mom Mary contacted me to see if I could make more buttons for her family in Pennsylvania. Meeting Mary to deliver the buttons was one of the most moving moments in my life. Mary had recently returned to work as a nurse, and when she walked in she was wearing Janine’s photo button on her uniform. Words cannot describe the emotion of that moment. I am told that Janine’s parents still wear those buttons everyday!
Janine has inspired quite a legacy, and her friends and family are determined to continue building on it. In 2007, "Janine’s Team” plans to build a Habitat for Humanity house in Janine’s honor. We made buttons for their fundrasing efforts and will make more for the team to wear while they are building the house!
Janine Kelker’s story and the dedication of her family and friends is testament to the power of love. Janine’s picture is testament to her life and to her spirit. We hope that our buttons will continue to help tell Janine’s story and that her smile will live on in the hearts of everyone. This is the powerful promise of Buttons of Hope ... it's not just about the button!