Last year as I was searching for gifts that give back, I came across Haitian Creations, an arm of Heartline Ministries.
Heartline has had a presence in Haiti for over a decade. During the devastating earthquake in January of 2010, Heartline set up an emergency clinic that saved many lives. They run a women's clinic now, as well as a ministry teaching women to do handwork to support themselves.
From their website:
Our dream was to create a place where women could learn valuable life-skills and eventually support their families out of the cycle of poverty. This dream is coming into reality every day as women learn to read and write, learn to sew, learn to make jewelry, learn to cook, and learn to run their own businesses. It is our ultimate desire to see women discover their God-given talents and abilities and to know they are treasured themselves!
We offer four different education classes: literacy, beading, sewing, and new this semester, cooking. Women who graduate from the six-month sewing class or the four-week beading class have the opportunity to work part-time for Heartline at the center. We provide materials, a machine, and a safe place to work. Their beautiful hand-crafted goods are available online at HaitianCreations.com and through hosted Purse Parties around the US and Canada!
The Haitian Creations website sells purses and jewelry hand made by the women in the Heartline program. As of this writing, only the purses are up for sale, as the website is being revamped, but by the end of November you should be able to purchase jewelry from their website as well.
For this giveaway I'm delighted to be giving away a bag from Haitian Creations!
The bag is handmade and signed by its maker, Suzette. Think purse. Think knitting bag. Think library books. It's nice and roomy, with two pockets on the front and two inside. This would make a lovely Christmas gift!
There are three ways to enter the Haitian Creations purse giveaway (please leave a separate comment for each... each comment = one chance to win):
- Visit Haitian Creations' purse page. What style do you like?
- Spend some time reading one of the volunteers' blogs... John and Beth, The Hendrick Family, The Livesay Family
- Share the Haitian Creations Give Back Giveaway with your friends by tweeting or facebooking about it (then leave a comment here). Feel free to use this: "Haitian Creations handmade bag giveaway! http://goo.gl/vEI45 #GiveBackGiveaway "
Please include a way to contact you (via email, twitter or facebook) in one of your comments.
The Haitian Creations purse giveaway will end on Sunday Nov. 20, 2011 at 11:59 pm CST. Winner will be chosen using random.org.
UPDATE 11/21/11: This giveaway has ended. Congratulations Melissa!
Disclosure: I am not affiliated with Haitian Creations or Heartline Ministries. The bag was purchased for the purpose of this giveaway and all funds went to Heartline Ministries.
my fav style is Tie Purse
ReplyDeleteI love the France Purse in blue !
ReplyDeleteuntaintedbeauty AT gmail DOT com
Spent time at The Hendrick Family Blog. And the stories made me smile and others just cry! The pictures are simply beautiful
ReplyDeletetweeted:https://twitter.com/#!/wishfulsearch/status/138324571043536896
ReplyDeleteIt's a toss up between the original and the tie purse.
ReplyDeleteRead some of the Heartline Haiti blog. Wow, I'd love to be a part of something like they're doing.
ReplyDeleteFacebooked it... http://www.facebook.com/melissa.d.ward
ReplyDeleteI love the original style purse:)
ReplyDeletemiamichickens at yahoo dot com
I love the Jess Purse style! I love yellow! :)
ReplyDeletegodzgaljen at gmail dot com :)
Thank you!
ReplyDelete