Kevin Bacon loves our products!

Kevin Bacon visited Thistle Farms recently and took this photo with the Travel Survival Kit

available at your favorite local Fair Trade Store, Mission Gifts!

A merging of two wonderful non-profits helping women: ABAN in Ghana, and Thistle Farms in Tennessee.  The pouch is made from recycled water bags.  Water is shipped in these containers, but then littered everywhere.  An economic development group recycles the used water bags into stylish zippered bags and employs women.  In the U.S, Thistle Farms makes wonderful products from essential oils and healthy ingredients, and creates jobs for women escaping lives of abuse such as human trafficking, prostitution, and violence.  These smart-sized items meet airport regulations for travel!  And perfect for Fort Lauderdale's tourists!  So stop by today and pick up yours!  Only $30.  Great for men or women.  As of March 2015: temporarily SOLD OUT (that's good news) and hope to replenish soon....

New Location! Las Olas Riverfront in Downtown Fort Lauderdale

Mission Gifts will be joining forces with CityChurch and relocating to Las Olas Riverfront.  Products are available for purchase even in the midst of our move, so give us a call or email!
954-592-6021   robin@christiancultural.com

Gift set ideas from Mission Gifts

Gift Bag: $7.50

Box of 10 cards: $15

                    pack of 6 cards: $ 6  SOLD OUT of all 6 packs

this organic, "tree-free" paper is made by Village Handcrafters in the Philippines

the gift bag has bamboo handles and a gift tag on the front, with tissue paper

the cards are the highest quality handmade paper you will find, with smooth interior

and envelopes.  Bouganvilla leaves and tinsel adorn the paper, which is made from Abaca

(banana fiber)  an economic development project in a squatter resettlement area

limit quantities, variety of colors available

Medium sized Gift Bag: $7.50

Thistle Farms soy based, essential oil Candle: $20

Essential Oil room spray: $15

total: $ 42.50

MIX & MATCH!  Call or email for a list of available colors, scents, options!

954-592-6021    robin@christiancultural.com

"Best Gift Store with a Cause"

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.  Packaged with a wonderful message: "Love Heals", these are $20 at Mission Gifts Fair Trade 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"

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

Messenger Bags (such as pictured above): $50-55

Large Computer Bags: $60-75

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

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.

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!
Prices range from $28 for most earrings, $38-40 for bracelets and necklaces range from $50-$85

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. currently Sold Out

$3 each

Street Kid Cards, a big variety of styles.  Some are drawn by the children using oil pastels or paint, scenes of everyday life, or slogans.  Other cards contain reproductions of photographs or paintings by Robin & Mark Merrill.  From Kanlungan Rescue Center for Street Kids and Children at Risk, Manila, Philippines.

Handmade paper from recycled newspapers, right on the streets! 

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".

Fish design!  Adults colored in this children's drawing of fish.  Each card is completely different,
fun was had creating these!  Blank interior.  5.25" x 6.75" envelope included.

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: small $7.00  medium:$ 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!

"Manila Jeepney" cross-stitch on handmade paper of Abaca.  Smooth paper insert for writing on.

Size: 4.25" x 5.5" with envelope $ 4.25  limited quantity!