Making every gift count

An interesting array of bric-a-brac from a Salvation Army thrift store.

CHRISTMAS is more than a season of giving; it is a time of happiness.

Not only does the act of giving build a connection between the giver and receiver, the well-wisher also gets gratification from handing out presents at Yuletide.

StarMetro finds a deeper meaning in the act of gift-giving by highlighting merchandise produced and sold by charities and social enterprises.

Komuniti Tukang Jahit

Batik passport holders, handsewn batu seremban sets and festive hampers are some of the merchandise offered by Komuniti Tukang Jahit (KTJ), a social enterprise that teaches sewing to housewives, single mothers and underprivileged women.

Through training, these women produce handmade items, a skill that is not only empowering but also helps them become self-reliant.

Name card holders with batik prints from Komuniti Tukang Jahit.

KTJ’s role is to connect talented tailors with a steady stream of orders.

Buying their merchandise promises a consistent flow of work for a community of women who face challenges in earning a sustainable income.

KTJ merchandise is available at Dulu Kini in Pavilion Bukit Jalil, Artisans Haven in Berjaya Times Square and Kedai Runcit, a push cart located on the first floor of Sunway Lagoon. Shoppers can also visit their e-shop called royaleculture.com

Helping Hands Penan

Helping Hands Penan’s trademark products are its striking, colourful woven bags.

A non-profit accredited social enterprise, the organisation helps the Penan people by providing them with polypropylene strips (due to the increasing scarcity of rattan) and bringing the finished woven bags for sale at the market.

Some of the colourful handwoven baskets from Helping Hands Penan.

It conducts retail, distribution and bulk ordering of handwoven craft through its network of appointed volunteers in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei.

Proceeds from the sale of these woven bags have been used to fund essentials like solar lights for settlements without electricity or power generators, chainsaws and rice milling machines.

The money also goes towards financing transportation costs from settlements deep in the jungle to urban schools, providing school supplies and monthly allowance for Penan students pursuing higher education.

To buy the bags, visit helpinghandspenan.com or call 012-233 8531 (Sally Low) at the 1 Mont Kiara concourse until Dec 22.

Dignity for Children Foundation

Storybooks, bags, key fobs, cakes, biscuits and wooden coasters are some of the merchandise gift hunters can find under the social enterprises created by Dignity for Children Foundation.

Products from this non-governmental organisation, which provides care and education for urban poor children, are 100% made by students or refugee mothers under its care.

As a result, profits are channelled back to the foundation to educate more youths and transform lives.

Children’s drawing notebooks from Shop X Dignity.

A portion of what is paid also goes back to the person who made the product.

The foundation has several enterprises, including a cafe called Eat X Dignity, hair salon Cut X Dignity, sewing and alterations service called Sew X Dignity and retail store Shop X Dignity.

To know more about its products and services, visit the foundation at Sentul Raya Boulevard, Kuala Lumpur.

They are open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday. For details, visit shopxdignity.org

Kitaran

Charms, coasters, beads, pots and carabiners that can hold up to 2kg make up the product range of Kitaran, a Kuala Lumpur-based social enterprise that turns high-density polyethylene (Type 2) and polypropylene (Type 5) plastics into useful and fun items.

All products are made of only recycled plastic material sourced from friends, family and bulk consumers.

Costume jewellery made of recycled plastic from Kitaran.

Kitaran also welcomes volunteers to sort out, clean, shred, melt and inject the recycled plastic into moulds. Collaborations for new merchandise ideas are also welcome.

Visit its Instagram handle @kitaran_ to find out how to get involved, e-mail [e-mail] or call 011-5424 2094. Bulk prices are available as well.

Salvation Army Malaysia

Serving the underprivileged community in Malaysia since 1938, the Salvation Army has been protecting and empowering youth, caring for the aged, supporting refugees and helping families in need.

Its thrift stores are one of the ways it funds its cause.

Proceeds from the sale of donated goods like clothing and preloved items are channelled to its charity arm to help the needy.

Items from the organisation’s thrift store division can also be found on e-commerce platforms.

The preloved items can range from furniture, winter clothes, comics, safety gear, electrical appliances to Blu-ray discs.

In a nutshell, a visit to its stores is likened to browsing through a treasure trove.

The organisation’s thrift stores are located in Melaka, Ipoh (Perak), Subang Jaya (Selangor), Kuching (Sarawak) and Penang.

For locations, business hours and information on how to donate preloved goods, visit redshieldindustries.com.my

Bless Shop

Bless Shop operates as a social enterprise. After deducting operational costs, the net profit is donated to provide meals and educational materials for Myanmar refugee children.

It supports the Kenosis and Rainbow Home drug rehabilitation centres, besides donating clothing and household items to Orang Asli settlements.

The Bless Shop helps refugee children and Orang Asli community. — Photos: GRACE CHEN and courtesy photos

Its five shops – Mid Valley Megamall in Kuala Lumpur and Ara Jaya, Citta Mall, Sunway Mas Community Centre and 1 Utama Shopping Centre in Selangor –carry a wide selection of donated second-hand and brand new goods like clothing, shoes, small furniture, home decor and costume jewellery.

It also hires single mothers, Orang Asli, refugees and former drug addicts to be part of its team to give the community an opportunity to build a career and earn income.

The staff are employed to sort through donations that come in as well as work at its various outlets as retail assistants.

For details, visit kedaibless.com or call 012-406 8002 (10am to 6pm, Monday to Friday).

Seven Tea One

Biscuits, handmade soaps as well as gift packs are the season’s offerings from Seven Tea One, a social enterprise that empowers disabled teenagers and single mothers.

It provides training to people who have the enthusiasm and courage to do more in life but are unable to due to life’s challenges.

Combo gift pack featuring tea, biscuits and gingerbread men from Seven Tea One.

Beneficiaries are trained in various social and employment skills to equip them with basic competencies to enable them to live independently.

Its programmes are designed to enhance the possibilities for job placement and gainful employment.

The organisation also offers full-time employment for the differently-abled and marginalised communities.

To buy its products, visit seventeaone.my, e-mail [e-mail] or call 016-238 5060.

Batik Boutique

Scarves, pillow covers, table runners, journals and DIY batik kits are top picks by Batik Boutique.

Founded in 2013, the social enterprise trains women from low-income backgrounds to produce gifts and fashion accessories made from batik prints.

DIY batik painting kits from Batik Boutique.

More than 300 artisans work with Batik Boutique to gain a fair, sustainable income and marketable skills. Each purchase directly benefits the artisan who made it.

In its efforts to remain sustainable, artisans use low impact dyes and mix just enough dye to limit waste, practise low water usage and reuse when possible.

Online orders are packaged in eco-friendly bags and boxes.

To buy its products, visit batikboutique.com or go to any of their retail outlets at The Row and 1 Mont Kiara in Kuala Lumpur and The Westin Desaru Coast Resort in Johor.