Saturday December 9, 2006
A time of giving
When people pitch in to offer help where it’s needed, there is an extra-special lustre to the Christmas season write ELLEN WHYTE, MARIA O’DANIEL &ANGELA SNOW.
THIS Christmas, you can buy pretty handmade trinkets and contribute to the less fortunate at the same time. How?
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Doing good work: (from left) Lisa, Evelyn and Linda. |
“About four months ago a bunch of us were sitting around at lunch, chatting about this and that, and decided that we’re blessed,” Lisa Wong, a 26-year-old purchaser explains.
“So we thought we should give back a little, to organise something to help out a charity. We wanted something personal, something not too big. And we wanted to do it on a regular basis, not just a one-off.”
After discussing alternatives, the group decided to pitch in on a monthly basis to buy groceries for Precious Childrens Home.
Initially just six co-workers, their numbers increased to 13 people within weeks. By November, the group comprised 25 individuals. Later, they decided to look into the idea of having a Christmas party with gifts for the children.
However, the Precious Home administrator said the children were more in need of items like mattresses and mosquito netting. Lisa decided to enlist her sister Linda’s help.
Linda Wong, 33, is a marketing executive by day, and an avid hobbyist good at cross-stitch, quilting, crocheting etc by night and on weekends.
Already contributing to the monthly grocery pool, Linda agreed to lend her artistic talents too. The group decided the best thing would be to take advantage of the Christmas season by offering unique, pretty gifts at reasonable prices.
The result was Passions Craftwork, a range of handmade charm bracelets, earrings and necklaces made from Swarovski crystals and pearls.
As Linda was already making jewellery for herself and close friends, it took just a short time to develop a collection, photograph samples, and circulate the designs (and sales forms!) via the group’s network of friends.
Word-of-mouth advertising was effective, but the Forward button presented by e-mail packages also proved a boon.
“I e-mailed less than 20 people, and they must have sent it on to people they thought would be interested, because I’m getting orders from complete strangers,” a visibly delighted Linda says.
The group hope to raise RM350 to buy mosquito netting, RM2,000 to buy new mattresses, and enough money to set up a safe playground for the kids. While sales orders are coming in, they expect fundraising will likely prove a long-term project. Hoping to kick off the effort in style, the team wants to garner sales by getting companies interested.
“We were offered a stall at a big corporate Christmas dinner,” Linda reveals.
“But as Precious Home wasn’t on their official list of charities, and there wasn’t time to do all the internal paperwork they required, we had to let it drop. However, we hope to be able to interest other companies into giving us a space or channel to sell our goods before Christmas, and to build better connections for next year.”
The group also hopes to convince businesses to support the home by donating goods on a regular basis. Lisa is encouraged by the fact that her employer, Fonterra Brands Malaysia, a dairy product company, has already contributed milk, cheese and butter to the home.
While it will be challenging to raise the necessary funds, there is no doubt that this group is off to a good start at making a difference. W
Anyone wishing to receive a Passions Craftswork catalogue or place an order, please contact Linda Wong via e-mail at lindaykwong@gmail.com or by phone at 013-362 8863.
Related story:
Precious work
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