Businesses may be having a tough time in an uncertain economic climate, but that isn’t stopping a Chadds Ford based business from helping others.

Beadscope, in Olde Ridge Village for less than a year, offers classes in jewelry making, but decided to donate the fees from a class on June 25 to Family Support Line, a Media-based children’s charity that helps support victims of child sexual abuse.

“We do prevention programs in schools, churches, child care centers, community centers, then we provide both group and individual treatment to children, parents and families who have experienced the trauma,” said Christine Linvill, an assistant director with Family Support Line and one of the instructors teaching a hand knotting class at Beadscope.

Not only did the store donate its fee for the class, Linvill also donated the amount she would otherwise get for teaching.

The class, attended by eight women including a group of operating room nurses from Crozer-Medical center, was spent making necklaces on a silk cord in a standard pearl or hand knotting technique. “And everyone walks away with a beautiful necklace at the end of he class,” Linvill said.

Rajeevi Subramanian and Susan Losito opened Beadscope in November in the former location of Tales & Toys, which moved to the former location of EZ Beads. One of the things that differentiates Beadscope from EZ Beads is the classes.

The store offers a variety of classes from making necklaces to rings to bracelets and Chrsitmas decorations.

Losito said the classes seem to becoming more popular.

“I think people are starting to get into doing things now with the economy the way it is. It’s hands-on and it means a lot to people. You can make a lovely pair of earrings and a bracelet for under $20,” Losito said.

One of the necklace makers last week was Cheryl Trozzi of Chadds ford Township.

“I like the creativity of designing things,” Trozzi said. “Wearing them is fun, too.”

Subramanian said she and Losito chose to support Linvill and Family Support Line because Linvill has been so supportive of them. In addition to donating the class fee, the store also donated some jewelry for the auction.

Subramanian admits the store is taking a bit of a loss in donating the fees, but added that she really doesn’t see it as a loss.

“I think no matter how well you do, or not do, giving back to society and to people is a really important thing,” Subramanian said. “I’ve done that all my life and I’m not going to stop because I can look out there and see people who have even less than I have–people who can’t pay their bills, lost their job, who don’t have any income and have to find something to do. I think we all have to pull together to help everyone if we want to survive, even in a bad economy.”