FARMINGTON — An idea for a one-of-a-kind bracelet has raised thousands of dollars for area children. 

The bracelet creator, Chris Bourassa, was honored Thursday by Emblem Club 460 as their Community Citizen of the Year.

Last year’s Emblem president, Shannon Smith, and this year’s president, Debbie Holt, have chosen Buttons for Babes as the sponsored charity during their time in office.

Bourassa’s signature bracelet — a simple, colorful elastic band covered with recycled buttons, sewn on one by one — was designed after a family loss of employment, when she wanted to continue volunteering and giving back to her community. Sales of the bracelets helped support homeless children living at a Rumford group home, she previously said.

Last summer, the United Way of the Tri-Valley Area encouraged local volunteers to make the bracelets, raising funds that were matched by Barclays of Wilton.

“2014 will be the year of the child,” Bourassa said while accepting the award from Holt and Emblem Community Service Chairman Theresa Stewart.

During the winter, Emblem Club members across the state collected two gallons of used buttons. In January, local Emblem Club members participated in workshops at the United Way to make the bracelets.

As Emblem president at that time, Smith said the club would make a donation to Buttons for Babes in April when she left the office because it was her chosen charity. After Holt was elected, she also chose the bracelet project as her charity.

abryant@sunjournal.com