-Founder of Korean American Trends by Sun Face Masks (KATbySun) and a natural born trail blazer
Lemonade From Lemons Feature
A mighty flame followeth a tiny spark.
-Dante Alighieri
Born in South Korea in the early 1970s, SunJu Valenta was born a world away from her current home in northern New Jersey. As a child, it was commonplace to see many blind, homeless, and disabled people begging for help, looking for a spark of hope. SunJu grew up surrounded by struggle.
A call to action.
In March 2020, many in the United States (and around the world) had a lot of time for fear and despair. SunJu has never been one to be afraid or stand idle. She is a devout traditionalist Catholic and believes that God puts her to work when she is needed.
SunJu is an interior designer by day. With work at a standstill at the beginning of the Pandemic and with the world struggling, SunJu found a path to light. She saw a need for face masks, and quickly went to work commandeering the help of her architect husband, two teenage daughters and mother-in-law in the task of mask and face shield making. She gave away the masks for free. Anyone who needed a mask was welcome to take one, or two, or as many as were needed.
SunJu would not ordinarily post to Facebook, but she wanted to help as many people as possible. She went from having no social media presence before the Pandemic, to soon having over 600 followers.
The demand was more than she could handle at first, but through Facebook, she connected with neighbors who volunteered to help. That brought additional manpower and SunJu was able to crank out a larger volume of masks. From one spark, a fire was lit. But a blaze was around the corner.
The birth of KAT by Sun Face masks
In speaking with a friend back home in South Korea, SunJu spoke about the ever-increasing demand for masks and the supply chain that would forever be lagging. Her friend commented that there were companies at the ready in South Korea that could fill this void. A spark of an idea was planted when SunJu hung up the phone. SunJu set up KAT by Sun, a face mask company that used a Korean manufacturer to create reusable face masks in abundance. KAT by Sun face masks would, moreover, utilize a silver lining to stop the growth of bacteria. A literal silver lining at a time of darkness and distress.
KAT by Sun exploded. Not only was SunJu able to help others in a greater capacity, but the face mask company also helped provide financial security for her family when they had some economic hardship due to not working during the Pandemic.
A trail of light.
In the span of 6 months, SunJu had lit a spark during a time of need and darkness. By October 2020, the Pandemic was well underway, and so was her face mask company. Things were running smoothly.
Then SunJu happened upon a Facebook post wherein someone asked for a donation of blankets for the homeless in Newark. Her mind is always whirring, and she is a master at connecting the dots. SunJu knew of women a few towns over who made blankets as a hobby. They had dozens of blankets with no recipients. Again, SunJu lit the way. She arranged to pick up the blankets and delivered them to the homeless in Newark.
She brought her teenage daughters with her on this task, and when they arrived in Newark for the first time, SunJu felt like she was home. In the homeless, SunJu sees the familiar. Whereas others might be afraid, she sees an opportunity to bring the light. That Sunday in Newark, SunJu saw a need larger than blankets. She saw a need for shoes and long johns, for jackets and sleeping bags, and food. She saw a need God wanted her to fill. When she arrived back home, she quickly put her organizational skills and her newfound Facebook friends and their connections to work. She ignited the spark in others and mobilized a sleeping army.
Within days, her quiet cul-de-sac was a busy intersection. Neighbors and friends from near and far started dropping off supplies. Neighbors filled SunJu’s front porch and driveway with many donated items.
Remarkably, SunJu was being thanked not only by those she helped physically, but also those she was helping spiritually. She gave people purpose. Families mobilized, making hundreds of PB&J or tuna fish sandwiches and homemade cookies. Ready and abled volunteers consistently filled the roster of SunJu’s Sign-up Genius week after week. She had more volunteers than positions, and more donated items than space. This would continue for months. Over the harsh, cold Northeast winter, SunJu held many hands, and listened to many stories. She tirelessly mobilized an army to feed, clothe and provide hope to those in need every Sunday morning for months on end.
Love is all you need.
When asked about her efforts, SunJu waves away the undertaking. She has no master plan. She is simply a pawn in God’s will. Where there is a need, SunJu finds a way to fill it. When the light goes out, SunJu brings the spark.
When the weather warmed and the need lessened, SunJu took a break from her work with the homeless in Newark. This does not mean that there is an end to SunJu’s charity. SunJu looks at it as a short break, to get renewed and recharged.
If there is one takeaway from her story, SunJu wants you to know that kindness is free. Kindness is hope. Kindness can lead to a turning point. You will be amazed by what your kindness can do for someone else.
SunJu knows that her hands will not stay idle and that she will soon strike the flint to create the spark for the next path she is called upon to light the way. When that time comes, she will know, and then the world will know.
Sometimes, making lemonade from lemons is simply just sharing your spark.
Xoxoxo,
P.S. Has Covid or some other negative life altering event changed your trajectory and helped you follow your dreams? If so, I would love to hear from you.
