BEND, Ore — In complex times, the goal is pretty simple for Conscious Ink and founder Frank Gjata.
“We’re an empowerment company. We utilize temporary tattoos with inspiring messages and positive words to help people on their journey,” Gjata said.
The Bend-based company takes pride in supporting people in whatever they may be going through in their lives.
“We, like so many of us, are thinking of ways to support our front line heroes and workers that are doing so much for us, and we can be feeling helpless staying at home.”
So Gjata and his team came up with the idea of Appreciation Ink, a campaign to care for front-line workers. They’re sending two-packs of temporary tattoos to hospitals across the country, and even to Canada and Australia.
The tattoos say, “We see you, we thank you - the world” and “We are all in this together.”
“They’re just a little reminder to them that we’re thinking about them,” Gjata said.
The response so far to these small, but powerful gestures has uplifted the crew at Conscious Ink, too.
“We didn’t realize just how much a small gesture like the appreciation ink…how far it goes for them.”
Gjata expects to send out about 20,000 tattoos just this week, and hopes others will join them in their mission.
“If people want to donate and support this cause, we’d appreciate it. It just allows us to send more,” he said.
So far, the company has come up with most of the money for the effort, but Gjata says that the more people who partner with them, will allow for them to send out even more appreciation.
“It’s a way to appreciate and acknowledge these people that are doing so much for us and it’s a way to say thank you,” Gjata said.
The reward in all this for Conscious Ink isn’t the publicity or attention, their work is meant to make a lasting impression on folks who need it most. Which is why some simple ink, is a perfect gift during these complex days.
“That is a good reminder, that it is temporary. As challenging as it may be, it will pass,” said Gjata
To donate to Conscious Ink's Front Line Heroes campaign, click here.