Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Cathy Angel. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Cathy thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
I met my husband in 2021, we married in 2022 and I became Cathy Angel. One day we were having breakfast at Fat Jack’s, our favorite local diner, and I told him that I have always wanted to do something to give back, since I had so much support throughout my cancer journey. I shared an idea I had about curating customized gift boxes for women going through cancer treatments and other hard times. I wanted to call it Boxed by an Angel, as a play on our last name and as a nod to all the “angels” that brought me joy during my battle. I wanted to do something that would provide a way for anyone to become someone’s angel during a time of need, because I had so many angels surrounding me during my time of need. He loved the idea and has been my biggest supporter since that day. He let me spend money we didn’t really have at the time to purchase enough inventory to gift 10 boxes through a social media contest during the month of October in 2023 for my soft launch.
Giving back has been VERY healing for me. Focusing on growing this business and the mission of blessing others has changed me more than I can explain. I struggled with depression for a long time after my divorce and cancer treatment, as both occurred simultaneously. Focusing on others has given me such joy, and I love the community that I am building. It makes me excited to wake up every day, and I find so much happiness in seeing women get so excited about their boxes and the special touches that I included for them. During my recent reconstruction surgery, these women were checking in on ME and many of them probably felt worse than I did at the time! My faith has grown and my attitude about what I went through has changed. I see the huge blessing that has resulted from my pain. I see now how God worked all things together for good!
Cathy, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
When I was sick, my friends and family became my “angels.” I received so many comforting gifts that kept me going during a time when I was depleted, scared and lonely. My “angels” sent me uplifting cards, blankets, skincare products, meals, and more. Now in remission, Boxed by an Angel is a way that I can pay it forward. These boxes are curated specifically for women going through cancer treatments and other hard times and are carefully packaged with items that I found comforting during my own journey (and a few surprises). I pack each box to help provide comfort, inspiration and joy. I choose each item with intention to show personalization, support and care to the applicants. I like to include small tokens of joy (the handmade friendship bracelets with words of encouragement) and personalized notes to add an extra layer of warmth to the package. I want to make women feel loved and special and take their minds off medications, scans, treatments and medical bills. Most of the women tell me they just want to feel normal! Self care goes by the wayside when these women are prioritizing their treatments and family responsibilities. Sometimes I add items for their children like our Warmies weighted stuffed animals that smell like lavender, or books that they can read to their children. Many say their children are what keep them fighting. I can relate because I know mine are the reason I fought!
The top requests are candles, lip balms, lotions, handmade soaps, cozy socks, books, organic snacks and tea. I also include things like bath salts, shower steamers, skincare, face masks, foot masks, earrings, cashmere blend beanies, scarfs, gratitude journals, inspirational coloring books, embroidery kits and crafts, ginger mints and other candies, chocolate truffles and more! Some love nature and plants, so my friend Austin with The Rustic Jungle found baby succulents that I could pack in the boxes. As an example, one lady mentioned she loved Cookie Monster since she was little, so I gifted her a Cookie Monster tumbler in her box as a surprise. I had one applicant tell me she loves crystals, so my husband went to our local farmers market to find crystals for her. I do what I can to add these special touches and make each box personal to each applicant. I carefully check all of our products to make sure they are chemical free and safe for our applicants. That is very important to me.
I include affirmation cards with all types of inspiration phrases such as: “I see beauty in parts of me that I used to think were broken”, “I choose to see my life through a lens of gratitude, I know I was made for something beautiful”, “When I share the hard parts of my story, I make room to invite others in”, etc. My personal notes usually let the applicant know who their sponsor is by first name only and that we are praying for them. I may mention something about their treatment or any item that was special I included in the box and why I chose it for them. One applicant told me she loved all things France, so I included a beautiful scarf I thrifted in Paris, as a special touch.
I have partnered with some amazing local businesses in my hometown, Lakeland, FL. Rafa Natural, Pixie Suds, Roam and Ramble, Patriot Coffee Roasters, Anna Clayton Jewelry and The Rustic Jungle. Other larger brands who are joining in support are: Headbands of Hope, AnaOno Intimates, Skin Worldwide, We Are Portt, Happi Hippo Organics, Simply Gum, Spa Life Beauty, The Paxton Press and more! These brands are offering product donations and wholesale pricing! We’d love the opportunity to partner with more!
This was one of the sweetest notes I have received from one of our applicants after receiving her box. Her mother nominated her, and her name is Brittany.
“So crazy how well I felt like you just knew me with the items in my box! The soap I got is called Old Florida- I moved to Florida when I was 12 from California and met my husband there and we moved to Georgia 10 yrs ago! The socks are called “wild thing” and my nickname growing up was wild child and the one that really just got me was the scarf you included has poppies on it!!! Poppies are very special to me. I had a miscarriage about 2 years ago…almost 3yrs now and, when going through that, God showed me poppy flowers (particularly the orange California poppy) I’m originally from California and it just gave me peace. I knew it was God’s way of speaking to me and telling me He was with me, and I wasn’t alone. I even got a California poppy flower tattoo on my arm. So, so special! Made me tear up when looking at all the items! Also, I cannot wait to try the tea!! I love peach flavored anything!”
There is no cost to our Boxed by an Angel applicants. There is a cost to the sponsors who come to the site to sponsor a box, they are available in all different price points with shipping included. The sponsored boxes are available for purchase starting at $50.00 and go up to $160.00. There are also boxes available for purchase if you have a loved one you’d like to gift one to. Those are customized as well and start at $40.00 and go up to $150.00. A $10.00 charge is added to those boxes for shipping at checkout.
Those that want to help can also order items to stock our inventory through our Amazon Wish List that we promote on Wednesdays as “Wish List Wednesdays”. Some may not have the ability to purchase an entire box, but our Wish List Wednesdays provide an opportunity for anyone to purchase individual items to help stock inventory to build our boxes. The items are shipped directly to me, so that I can use them to fill boxes even faster while we are waiting on more sponsorships. Again…eventually, I would like to form a foundation to help women with their medical bills and other needs.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
I told my husband I’d like to launch this business during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, October 2023, by giving away 10 filled boxes. We scraped together the funds ourselves to buy the inventory and pack the boxes. They were filled with Barefoot Dreams socks, safe nail polish, beautiful handmade soaps by Pixie Suds, earrings made by Anna Clayton Jewelry and rose tea. I gave several boxes away each week via social media giveaways during the month of October. I remember my husband said to me, “What could go wrong? if it doesn’t take off, you have blessed 10 women that are battling!” Now we have blessed over 100 women, in less than 2 months. After my high school coach learned about what I was doing via social media, he sent me a very large check to help buy inventory for the boxes that our applicants were waiting on! He lost both of his wives to cancer, and he is very active in supporting the breast cancer community. His daughter has been an amazing friend to me and a huge supporter of Boxed by an Angel as well. I feel incredibly blessed.
As long as we have a sponsor that will cover international shipping, we will get a box out. I said when I started this that I will find a way to ship boxes to the moon if I have to! So far, we have shipped to Canada, UK, Germany and Venezuela. We have 13 International fighters waiting for a box, and as soon as we find sponsors that are willing to pay extra for shipping, we will get their boxes out as well.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
I started social media in April of 2023, it was a very slow start with it really picking up after our Instagram giveaway in October of 2023 for the official launch. The website was live around November I believe. I wasn’t sure how it was going to work at that point, I had a few small orders trickle in, but it wasn’t until I documented my latest reconstruction surgery on January 5th via my social media channels that it took off. I woke up from my surgery with 10 orders for boxes and 20 new applicants. I knew my followers that were cancer fighters all wanted the boxes desperately, but that is not something that they would purchase for themselves…so that’s where the pivot came and the idea of finding sponsors to match with the applicants was born. I knew because of the number of women reaching out to me that were needing a pick me up…there would be sponsors willing to gift boxes to them as they face the unimaginable. There was demand, but I had to find people to help! Initially the support came from the same community that provided love and support to me during my battle, my friends and Cathy’s Fight Club! My immediate network gifted enough to fill about 90% of the boxes we have filled so far! Now it’s just about building awareness, as I know there are more people out there that would love to help.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.boxedbyanangel.com
- Instagram: @boxedbyanangel
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551128643775
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathy-angel-707a967/
Image Credits
Luz and Seirra two of our recipients and Rachel Absher Photography