NBC 6 Interview, South Florida Today show

Robin Merrill, interviewed by Trina Robinson

about Mission Gifts and Fair Trade

June 2011

Thistle Farms

Thistle Farms is a project of Magdalene, in Nashville Tennessee.  They provide housing and jobs for women leaving prostitution, victims of domestic violence, and drug addiction.  The beautiful handmade candles are made with soy eco-wax and essential oils.  Nicely packaged, these are $25 at Mission Gifts store.  The room sprays are also made with a variety of essential oils and only $15 each.  Recently featured on a 3 part interview on NPR radio, view the video and listen to the discussion here: LINK

Hagar Bags are well-loved at Mission Gifts!

Hagar Products also carry the new label:  "STOP/START"  STOP the Trafficking, START a New Life"

Puresa Organics, cotton and jute bags are sold at Mission Gifts (a popular item!)

a visit to Mission Gifts store, by Lew Lautin

XS Project

Bags made from recycled non-biodegradable plastic packaging.

Designed by artist Ann Wizer.  A Fair Trade employment project for garbage pickers in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Small electronics zipper bags available: $10-$25

Laptop Computer sleeves, made from recycled banners: $40

Messenger Bags (such as pictured above): $55

Large Computer Bags: $75

Artist/Designer Ann Wizer, on the dump in

Jakarta, Indonesia

this type of plastic single-use packaging will never break down

LINK TO CNN WORLD VIDEO ABOUT ANN & XSPROJECT:

http://us.cnn.com/video/?/video/world/2009/07/08/iyw.xsproject.jakarta.cnn

Mermaid Bags!

WE HAVE MERMAID BAGS!

from Hagar ministries in Cambodia

providing for women at risk and those that have left prostitution

MADE FROM RECYCLED RICE & FEED SACKS

$25 each

Double lined, interior zipper pocket, and reinforced handles. 12.6" tall, 16.9" wide, 3" bottom

contact robin@christiancultural.com for ordering information

We have many great designs from Hagar, which is now called:

STOP/START  Stop the Trafficking, Start a New Life

Created from recycled fish feed and rice sacks

Made in Cambodia, Viet Nam, and now in Afghanistan.

Your purchase helps women and men escape sexually abusive situations,

provides job skills and rescue centers.

New!  Wine/bottled water carriers

$15

Organic Cotton & Jute Bags

Organic Cotton with

Himalayan Vegan Dyes

Natural Jute
Made with love by women rescued from Human Trafficking.
From Puresa Humanitarian of South Florida, working in Nepal.

  Small Organic cotton bag-$25

Large-$30

Puresa was founded by Giselle Meza of Florida.

Retired model, now tireless humanitarian!

NAMASTE!

Handmade Paper Card packs

VILLAGE HANDCRAFTER CARDS

made in the Philippines

a wonderful livelihood project that continues to change lives

and create exceptionally high quality products.

This is a church-based industry that gives jobs to persons in a resettlement area

and a full time salary to the pastor among the poor.

small card packs, 6 cards and envelopes in a pack

3.25" X 5",     $6  

variety of colors

organic, acid free paper, very high quality, smooth interior

bouganvilla leaves pressed into exterior side of paper

10 cards with envelopes, $15 per pack

very high quality, variety of colors

Large card packs, 4.5"x 6.5"

These cards are great for invitations!

Especially those wanting an Environmentally sensitive WEDDING

or a focus on social-justice for their event.

You won't find a higher quality product than this handmade paper, anywhere!

Designer Wendy Fernando-Regalado (far right)

designs "Light of the World Lamps" from the organic paper produced by Village Handcrafters

Rahab Cards

These cards are made by women leaving prostitution in Bangkok, Thailand.

Rahab Ministries http://www.rahabministriesthailand.org/

Off-white Handmade paper envelopes and card interior, 4" x 6"

$2 each

Jewelry from Thailand

"NightLight" ministry in Bangkok Thailand helps rescue women from the sex trade and human trafficking. Mission Gifts carries a large assortment of their beautiful jewelry made from

semi-precious stones. What a wonderful gift, and great prices! Currently this work project employs over 100 women that have left a life of desperation and are now doing creative jewelry-making in a safe and loving environment. Help us to help them by buying your jewelry from Mission Gifts!

Shoulder Bags

Made from Recycled Rice and Fish feed Sacks, from Cambodia and Viet Nam.
A project of Hagar Foundation, helping women leave prostitution and those at risk.
(Now called STOP/START)

In a variety of colors, these well-made shoulder bags are a perfect size for a cell phone, set of keys and money, when you want to downsize and go for a walk or don't want to carry a bigger bag.

Only $15 each.

Large, lined bags, zippered.  Very well made.

Large: $42, Medium: $35

Handmade Paper & Bamboo LANTERNS

Approx. 12" high...glass covered votive candle inside

"Light of the World" Lamps and Candle Covers.From the Philippines, made by designer Wendy Regalado, from the handmade paper of Village Handcrafters (an economic development project for the poor). Each piece is one-of-a-kind, using bamboo, covering a glass votive candle.
$ 45 each. Limited supply.

Street Kids paper

The "Garden Variety Pack" features four cards on the handmade paper from streetchildren in Manila, Philippines. These kids are from Kanlungan sa Erma, rescue center. They make the paper from recycled newspapers, mashed up and dried in the sun. This packet of cards features two paintings from Mark C. Merrill, and two paintings from Robin Haines Merrill, four different flower paintings.
$12 per pack

HIV-AIDS Art Therapy Cards

Each card is hand-colored by a patient in a hospital in the Philippines.

This project provides funds for the patient's medicines, personal needs and food.

Just as important, it provides joy, distraction from the disease, and a sense of satisfaction.

Price: $2 each, available in packs of 5 and 10 cards.

Every card is signed on the back, by the "artist".

Gift Bags

Assorted, wonderful GIFT BAGS from Village Handcrafters, Philippines.

Made from tree-free, plant based, environmentally friendly papers. Bamboo handles.

Lovingly made by a church based economic development project in a resettlement area for the poor.
Prices:  medium:$ 7.50   large:$ 8.50

Samaritana Cards

Handmade abaca paper, with Philippine Tiboli tribal cloth weaving insert.

Blank card inside, only $4.25

The ladies working very hard on the handmade paper cards.

Samaritana Transformation Ministries is located in Quezon City, a suburb of Manila, Philippines.

http://www.samaritana.org/

Samaritana has been a long-time partner with Mission Gifts.

MANY lives have been changed.

Buy their beautiful cards today, at Mission Gifts!