10 Alternative Gifts for a Cause

1. Hepburn Newspaper Bag by Gifts and Graces Fair Trade Foundation (P590)

How it gives back: Gift and Graces Fair Trade Foundation collaborates with NGOs and non-profit organizations to help communities and individuals reach their full potential and break free from the cycle of poverty. As the old saying goes, “give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” The foundation markets handcrafted quality gifts made by different marginalized communities like newspaper bags, accessories, cards, journals, and a lot more. By patronizing their products, you are helping these communities have a sustainable livelihood.

Buy it: Gifts and Graces Head Office at Unit 131 Mile Long Building, Amorsolo Street, Makati City or visit www.giftsandgraces.com for more details.

 

2. Water Hyacinth Leather Bound Journal by Jacinto & Lirio for GKonomics (P698)

How it gives back: GKnomics, a Gawad Kalinga (GK) partner in social enterprise development, empowers the poor by involving them in the country’s economic life. It helps build innovative social and business enterprises that harness the wealth of resources in GK communities, both in the Philippines and its vast global network. One of its partners, Jacinto & Lirio, aims to help the environment by clearing out water hyacinths without wasting its potential, thus, they came up with the idea of creating stylish products such as journals and bags. Other GKonomics products include posh candles, woven bags and pouches from around the Philippines, in partnership with various social enterprise groups. 

Buy it: Visit their website at http://www.gkonomics.com/shop.php. 

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3. Chariabella Dolls by Dolls for Life (P650)

How it gives back: Arlyn Quilalang’s daughter, Chariabella, has been battling eye cancer since infancy. She lost her left eye at three months and just recently, her right eye was surgically removed. Arlyn appeals for support for her baby’s medication and treatments with these handmade dolls named after her cute little angel. Help Chariabella have more Christmases to enjoy by sharing Chariabella dolls to your loved ones. 

Buy it from: Soon, the Doll for Life collection be available online in cooperation with Daisy’s Eye Cancer Fund (www.daisyfund.org), United Kingdom with branches in Canada, USA  and Kenya. For the meantime, you may call 0921-5736438 or e-mail db_rlyn@yahoo.com for more details.

 

4. Biscuits and  Shortbreads by Marks & Spencer (starts at P850)

How it gives back: For every P1,000,000 purchase from Marks & Spencer in-store Christmas campaign, P5 will be donated to UNICEF to help children suffering from severe acute malnutrition in Mindanao. This will go towards expanding the Community-based Management for severe Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) program to reach more children and families plagued with malnutrition, especially in the municipalities of Maguindanao and North Cotabato in Mindanao. 

The program involves community screening of children for acute malnutrition and a therapeutic feeding program that is administered by community health workers and volunteers in health centers and hospitals. Mothers are also counseled on breastfeeding, adequate, safe and nutritious complementary foods, as well as other best practices on childcare.  

Buy it from: Any Marks & Spencer outlet nationwide. Promo runs from November 15 to December 31, 2012. Visit their website at http://www.marksandspencer.com.ph. 

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5. Reese Wallet by Rags2Riches (P995)

How it gives back:  Rags2Riches (R2R) helps artisans from community-based enterprises earn a living by creating eco-ethical fashion and home accessories out of upcycled scrap cloth, indigenous, and organic materials. R2R was born in 2007 in Payatas, one of the Philippines’ largest dumpsites and home to some 12,000 families. R2R integrated a fashion solution by partnering with top Filipino designers like Rajo Laurel, Amina Aramaz-Alunan, and Oliver Tolentino, whose vision helped turn scrap materials into fashion handbags.

Buy it from: The Rags2Riches showroom is at Unit 3b, Cubao Expo, General Romulo Avenue, Araneta Center Cubao, Quezon City. Visit their website at www.rags2riches.ph for a list of outlets, or call (02)913-5760 for more details.

 

6. School Pack by UNICEF (P800)

How it gives back: UNICEF’s Inspired Gifts are created to help disadvantaged children survive and thrive, be protected and educated, and be able to reach their full potential. By donating a minimal amount, you can actually make a difference in a child’s life. UNICEF’s School Pack helps provides one child with a backpack that contains basic school supplies, as well as a water jug, t-shirt and slippers to help them go back to school.

Where to donate: Call (02)758-1000 or (02)758-1442 or e-mail psfrmanila@unicef.org.

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7. Face to Face: The Healing Power of Make-up by Bianca Valerio (P795)

How it gives back: Single mom Bianca Valerio’s self-help title and make-up instructional book, Face to Face: The Healing Power of Make-up donates all royalties from the sales of this book to the Philippine National Red Cross.

Buy it from: National Book Store and Powerbooks

 

8. Hiraya Scarf Necklace from Palamuti by PJ Valenciano (P680)

How it gives back: Palamuti’s stunning pieces are made by unemployed mothers in one of the urban poor communities in Commonwealth, Quezon City. The designer, PJ Valenciano, provides them with free training on wiring and embellishment. Creating beautiful accessories gives these groups an opportunity to earn a living. The eco-bags used as packaging are made by another group from Caloocan City.
 

Buy it: Visit the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/palamutibypjv.

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9. Makati Shangri-La’s Be An Angel Adopt-A-Seedling Program (P200)

How it gives back: Makati Shangri-La continues to advocate Philippine reforestation efforts with the annual holiday adopt-a-seedling program, an initiative that started in 2008 in partnership with the Haribon Foundation. This year, Makati Shangri-La invites each individual to Be An Angel to the environment and to the future generations by gifting the seedlings to your family and friends. 

Buy it from: Makati Shangri-La at Ayala cor. Makati Ave. Makati City or visit the website www.be-an-angel.com.ph. Promo runs from November 19 to December 30, 2012. 

 

10. Toscana Glass Holder by Domesticity (P415)

How it gives back: Domesticity employs 20 family members of sugar workers and out of school youth from their family-owned sugar farm in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental to create handicraft products made of Pandan and other indigenous material such as Sabutan, faux leather, ceramic and wood. A portion of their sales will help build houses for the families, and support the various activities of the village. 

Buy it: Visit their website at http://www.mydomesticity.com/beta/images/branches.jpg to learn more about their retail partners.

Go ahead, share your blessings!