(Back row, from left) Etiqa chief executive officer Paul Low, Yong, and Wong with committee members of Christmas In Green at Rumah Tangsi, Kuala Lumpur. — Photos: CHAN TAK KONG/The Star
Two social enterprises have come together to collaborate in helping the needy while raising awareness of their causes.
In conjunction with its two-year anniversary, Tug Gelato pledged to raise between RM10,000 and RM20,000 to support Play Unlimited, which sells toys at an affordable price to childcare centres and families.
The Unusual Greens (Tug) turns surplus and less than perfect looking fruits into gelato.
During a “Christmas In Green” celebration, Tug Gelato chief executive officer Hailey Yong said her enterprise had been active in educating children about food sustainability.
“The core value of Christmas In Green is sustainability.
“I wish to change people’s mindset about food sustainability and to achieve this, we must involve children.
Wong says requests have been coming in from several hospitals for toys. (Below) Yong hopes to set up more Tug Gelato outlets.
“Throughout the past two years, we have been consistently conducting awareness workshops in children’s homes and orphanages.
“It’s great to see them accepting ‘ugly fruits’ as part of their daily meals,” she said during the event at Rumah Tangsi in Kuala Lumpur.
She added that 30% of proceeds from the event would be donated to Play Unlimited.
Play Unlimited founder Datin PH Wong said the funds would be used to organise toy donation programmes for hospitals next year.
“We have received requests from Hospital Selayang, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
“We are also giving away 500 to 700 toys to Pertubuhan Amal Uncle Kentang and some orphanages in January,” she said.
Vendors from the food and beverage sector as well as retail industries had set up booths in Rumah Tangsi to sell sustainable and green products during the two-day event that was sponsored by Etiqa Life Insurance Bhd.
Play Unlimited also set up a “Re:Play” toy hub and library to sell toys at discounted prices.
Wong said all toys sold during the event were between 50% and 70% cheaper than market prices.
“We want to make toys affordable for childcare centres,” she said.
Gelato made from surplus fruits.
Inside the toy hub, there was a space for children to play with toys.
Wong said it was also an avenue for parents to have temporary respite from childcare duties.
“I encourage parents to join their children and spend quality time together at the hub,” she added.
Both Yong and Wong wished to expand the scale of their enterprises to benefit more people.
Yong hoped to set up one or two more outlets next year.
A parent spending time with her children at a Re:Play toy hub and library.
“Currently, we only have one outlet in Seri Kembangan, making it hard for us to take in surplus fruits from other states although there is demand,” she said.
Wong hoped to establish more toy hubs around the country to bring greater convenience to families.
Play Unlimited currently has a toy hub in Da Men Mall, USJ 1, Subang Jaya, which opens daily.
