ELIZABETHTOWN — Around 30 ladies took time out from recovering from Hurricane Matthew to be pampered, courtesy of some area Mary Kay consultants, businesses and clubs.

On Saturday, Making Beautiful Happen was held at Elizabethtown Presbyterian Church, an effort to reach out to women impacted by Hurricane Matthew. During the five-hour event, the group sang, heard an encouraging message, received a free makeover, and left with plenty of goodies.

“Southeastern North Carolina is where I’ve spent my life,” said Martha Warner, May Kay independent sales director and organizer of the event. “When I saw the pictures from Hurricane Matthew, I felt a strong connection with the whole area, and wanted to do something to help friends and neighbors.”

Warner, who is also a member of a Rotary Club, talked with fellow Rotarian and jeweler Michael Abushakra and, together, they came up with an idea for a day of pampering for victims of Hurricane Matthew. Abushakra designed a “North Carolina Strong” pendant to sell, and used the proceeds to benefit Making Beautiful Happen. Warner got some of her fellow Mary Kay consultants and customers on board, as well as area businesses like Intracoastal Realty Corporation, which donated $1,000 for the day’s events.

“I want people to know that Mary Kay is more than just lipstick,” said Warner. “We’re about enriching the lives of women, and that’s why we’re doing this today.”

After an ice-breaker called “Spinach Salad,” a time of singing, and lunch provided by Giorgio’s, speaker Becky Raynor, pastor at Acme Presbyterian Church in Riegelwood, encouraged the women present. She spoke of hard times she has encountered and reminded those present that God uses all things for good.

“He didn’t say that He uses all things for our ease, or for our happiness, or for our prosperity, but that He will use all things for our spiritual good,” she said.

A Mary Kay consultant was seated at each table and walked women through skin care and makeup application.

“This day is all about the women who were there and making them feel beautiful inside and out,” said Warner. “We wanted them to feel love and to know they are never alone.”

It must have worked. When Warren asked if anyone wanted to share anything, there was hardly a dry eye in the house by the time the women were done.

“Each of you has impressed me so much that you would come,” Raynor told the 25 or so volunteers. “I’m blown away.”

“I wasn’t going to come,” confessed Wanda Hough, “but I’m so glad I did. My job is under water, my personal effects, the house where I was raised, people dying — ho would have ever though this would happen? I don’t ever, ever, ever, wish this to happen again.”

Each woman was presented a take-home bag with Mary Kay products, a Gideon Bible, a necklace, a book about God using trials, a calendar, candy, and a $50 Food Lion gift card. Women were then invited to a shopping spree at United Way to receive additional free wares.

Make Beautiful Happen was what organizers are hoping is the first of many similar events in counties impacted by Hurricane Matthew. To support the effort in other areas, Abushakra’s pendant is available for purchase at brynneelizabethjewelers.com.

Chrysta Carroll can be reached by calling 910-862-4163.

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By Chrysta Carroll

ccarroll@civitasmedia.com