The holiday season brings joy and togetherness but can also highlight grief for many families. In our community, remarkable individuals turn personal challenges into missions that uplift others.
From the Pettit family’s Dreams from Drake, which honors their son by spreading holiday joy, to 13Thirty Cancer Connect, founded by Lauren Spiker, who channels her loss into supporting young adults facing cancer, these stories show how love can transform grief into action.
We also see inspiring work from Mama J’s Southern Lemon Pound Cakes, where Brittany Jones combines her baking passion with a commitment to hunger relief, and Teri Pink, who helps dogs and the community through her organic treat business, Pink’s Pup Treats. Finally, Kim Rouleau’s RocMadeWithLove initiative highlights the power of handmade gifts to bring warmth and dignity to the unhoused and refugees in our area.
These stories reflect resilience and hope, reminding us that even in tough times, we can find light through acts of kindness. Let’s explore how these individuals and their initiatives are spreading love this holiday season.
The Pettit Family
DREAMS FOR DRAKE • DREAMSFROMDRAKE.ORG
The holidays can be especially hard for families grieving a loved one. For the Pettit family, this challenge is particularly profound after losing their four-year-old son, Drake, in 2012. To honor his contagious generous spirit, they created Dreams from Drake in 2013, a non-profit supporting children and teens who have lost a sibling or parent. While many programs focus on grief support, Happy Hearts for the Holidays brings a different light to the season.
This program was born from Drake’s love of sharing. “We didn’t want the foundation to be all about grief. This program lets us spread holiday joy in Drake’s memory,” explains Jaime Pettit, Drake’s mother and co-founder.
Happy Hearts for the Holidays collects toys for St. Peter’s Kitchen every December, helping Rochester-based families receive gifts. St. Peter’s Kitchen hosts a holiday shop where parents, grandparents, and guardians “shop” for toys, blankets, books, and children’s coats. With much of the inventory donated by Dreams from Drake, families who might otherwise struggle to provide Christmas gifts can choose several items per child.
“Since we could no longer give Drake gifts, we give to others on his behalf, so he’s still part of Christmas and holiday shopping,” Jaime shares. Her other five children help organize the toys and make drop-offs, often involving their sports teams and shopping as a group.
The Pettit family, Dreams from Drake board members, local businesses that serve as toy collection sites, and friends and family from all over contribute to this program. An Amazon Wish List makes it easy for anyone to donate, and the family gathers donations at their home to deliver to St. Peter’s Kitchen.
This year marks the 12th year of giving, and Dreams from Drake has become the largest donor to St. Peter’s holiday shop. For the Pettits, the program offers some solace during an otherwise painful season.
“Grief is awful, but programs like this help you focus on something positive,” Jaime says. “Everyone has to find their own way, but there is a way to still have joy in your loved one’s memory. You can still spread holiday cheer.”
Brittany Jones
@MAMAJSSOUTHERNLEMONPOUNDCAKES
In the heart of Rochester, Mama J’s Southern Lemon Pound Cakes does more than satisfy a sweet tooth— it nourishes the community. Brittany Jones founded this seasonal pastry shop specializing in lemon pound cakes and has a mission rooted in giving back.
“Our mission is to support hunger relief,” Brittany shares. “With 10% of each cake sold, we provide hot meals for families on Sunday mornings from our church kitchen in Rochester.” Their generosity extends beyond local borders, as Brittany and her team also provide hot meals during annual mission trips to Rwanda.
Mama J’s goes the extra mile during the holiday season to spread joy, donating pound cakes to individual families and a local non-profit. For Brittany, the act of giving is not just about the cakes but about sharing hope and creating meaningful connections with the community. “We enjoy giving back and sharing hope with others,” she says, reflecting the season’s spirit.
Brittany’s passion for her business is inspired by her grandmother, Mama J, who taught her how to bake the family’s signature pound cake and taught her courage, determination, perseverance, patience, faith, and selflessness. Mama J, who is turning 87, is delighted to see how her recipe has blossomed into a beloved brand.
What started as a fundraiser in 2019 to support a mission trip to Rwanda transformed into a business thanks to a single Instagram post that caught the attention of local entrepreneur Christina Kostar, who says, “If you want to find people supporting your vision, they are in Rochester. The love and support we receive is incredible.”
Brittany’s holiday wish is simple yet profound: to serve more people. She dreams of securing a scholarship for a mission trip to Rwanda in 2025 and expanding her hunger relief efforts locally and abroad, adding, “I wish our business could get the proper funding to be full-time.”
For Brittany Jones, Mama J’s Southern Lemon Pound Cakes is more than a business—it’s a way to brighten lives, one slice at a time. “I often hear our customers say, ‘This cake brightens my day,’ and ‘This cake brings me joy,’” she shares. That joy, paired with a commitment to giving, makes Mama J’s a cherished part of the Rochester community all year long.
Kim Rouleau
@ROCMADEWITHLOVE
Kim Rouleau, a Rochester native, is on a mission to warm her community with handmade items through her grassroots initiative, RocMadeWithLove. The project gathers handcrafted hats, scarves, mittens, and blankets for the city’s unhoused and refugee populations.
Her passion for crochet began over 20 years ago, taught by her mother-in-law. Kim often crocheted while watching Bills games with her friend, Sandy Stevens, a librarian at Aquinas Institute. When Sandy passed away in 2020 and the pandemic prevented any goodbyes, Kim felt powerless.
Struggling with grief, Kim reflected on how to make the world a little better and decided to use her crochet skills to help others. She discovered Warm Up America, a movement that leaves handmade items in public spaces for people to take as needed—an idea that resonated with her.
“Handmade products are full of intention and love. Even if you don’t know who’s going to get it, it’s still very humanizing,” Kim says. She began organizing donation drives for handmade scarves, mittens, and other cold- weather gear. The events and donations support the unhoused in Rochester and partner with the Rochester Refugee Resettlement’s Welcome Blankets program, gifting blankets to new Americans.
Libraries became key partners, as Kim says they “are one of the last places in our society where you can just go in and exist.” People can access services without needing money. Kim hosts crochet events at branches such as Charlotte and accepts donations at various locations, including the Charlotte Branch Library in Rochester, Crafting for Good in North Chili, Our Space Yoga & Wellness in LeRoy, St. Rita’s Church in Webster, SewGreen Rochester on W. Main St., South East Area Coalition Tool Shed on University Ave., and Sue’s Finishing Touch in Henrietta. Follow RocMadeWithLove for updates on donation locations and special events.
Kim hopes to grow RocMadeWithLove into a non-profit that strengthens Rochester while bringing dignity to those in need. She plans to set up a GoFundMe to cover material costs, ensuring the warmth and love her community needs will continue to spread throughout Rochester. “When we give someone something handmade, it shows that they matter,” she says. “That’s powerful.”
Get Involved: Donate handmade or handcrafted scarves, hats, gloves, mittens, socks, blankets, knit or crochet squares, plastic Ziploc bags, or clothespins.
Teri Pink
@PINKSPUPTREATS
Teri Pink’s lifelong love of animals, especially dogs, has driven her to create a unique venture that combines her passion for rescue with a mission to help shelter dogs find loving homes. Raised in Honeoye, NY, Teri grew up with dogs as cherished family members and has continued that tradition with her two sons, ages 14 and 16.
Despite overcoming domestic violence and raising her boys as a single mother the past twelve years, Teri’s love for animals has only grown stronger. The family’s first dog, Henry, was rescued through Pibbles N More Rescue, sparking their journey into dog fostering.
Over the years, Teri and her boys have fostered 87 dogs, from puppy mill chihuahuas to a Great Dane whose owner passed away of old age, and she says, “There have been tears, heartache, laughter, cursing, but most of all sooooo much immeasurable love and happiness.” She loves bringing joy, love, and second chances to those in need.
In August 2024, Teri launched Pink’s Pup Treats, a line of organic dog treats made from simple, healthy ingredients. Inspired by her desire to ensure her own dogs, Walter (bull mastiff), Mabel (Pitty mix), Betsy Mae (American Bulldog/ pitty mix), Greta (“we have no idea what breed, but she’s cute”, Teri says), and Prince (American Bulldog/boxer mix), were getting the best nutrition, she started creating treats filled with wholesome ingredients. “Our pups are only with us for a short time, and I want to make sure it’s as long as possible,” Teri said, explaining her commitment to using organic ingredients.
The business quickly gained momentum, and her current foster, Rudy, inspired her to feature foster and shelter dogs on the packaging to help them gain exposure
and hopefully find forever homes. Teri loves spreading the word about the dogs on social media as well, exclaiming the tool as a free way people can help their local foster and rescue dogs even if they can’t take them in themselves.
Teri’s goal is to continue fostering, rescuing, and providing care for dogs in need. She dreams of building a foster care facility to give older or dogs with special needs a place to decompress and thrive. “No living soul deserves to live an unhappy life, especially one that truly has no other desire than to love and be loved,” she says, reflecting her deep commitment to giving dogs the love and care they deserve.
Lauren Spiker
@13THIRTYCANCERCONNECT
The founder of 13Thirty Cancer Connect, Lauren Spiker, has been profoundly shaped by her personal and professional experiences, culminating in a mission to help young people facing cancer. Growing up in Rochester within a loving Italian- American family, Lauren’s life has always revolved around teaching and empowering others. With degrees in special education, she spent over twenty years as a special education teacher and corporate trainer before launching her own leadership training company.
Her life took a heartbreaking turn when her daughter, Melissa, was diagnosed with cancer at just 19. Melissa’s dying wish inspired the creation of 13Thirty Cancer Connect: “If you’ve learned anything from me, do something with it,” she said. As a mother of four, Lauren felt she had no choice but to say, “I promise.” Three nights later, Melissa passed away, leaving Lauren with a vow to fulfill. She knew she had to channel her grief into action and create an organization supporting adolescents and young adults (AYAs) like Melissa during critical developmental years.
Lauren recognized that AYAs often fall through the cracks between pediatric and adult medicine, leaving them underserved and unsupported. For the past 24 years, 13Thirty Cancer Connect has aimed to fill this gap, fostering a community where teens and young adults can access the emotional and physical resources they need to thrive in the face of cancer. “Cancer disrupts the development of self-identity, independence, and life goals for AYAs,” Lauren noted. “The needs of this group have long been unrecognized and unmet.”
Every moment at 13Thirty Cancer Connect is a step toward fulfilling her promise to Melissa. Lauren hopes her work honors her daughter’s memory and makes a lasting impact on the Rochester community and beyond.
Get Involved: Donate gift cards to Target, Wegmans, VISA cards, local pizza shops, and office supplies (printer paper, ink, card stock) to fuel programs and stock the youth centers.
Watch 13Thirty’s website and social media for information on fundraisers and special events to volunteer or raise funds for the programming.
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