PAYING IT FORWARD
A guide to charitable gift ideas that can make a real difference to the needy
CONSTRUCTION OF MEDICAL BUILDING
The Ramathibodi Foundation has launched a set of New Year greeting car rds, featuring photos of lotuses captured by Sakchai Guy. Each set comprises th hree greeting cards in green, white and pink and is priced at 45 baht.
Proceeds from the sale will be given to help with the construction of the Cha akri Naruebodindra Medical Institute, the Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospi ital.
The foundation is also offering several other gifts and souvenirs available e at its shop at Ramathibodi Hospital, including handbags (price start from 99 bah ht), caps (170 baht), quillows (339 baht), towels (339 baht), scarves (199 baht) anda many more. Proceeds from the sale will be donated to impoverished patie ents through several charitable projects. Visit www.ramafoundation.or.th or call 02-201-2222.
EDUCATION FOR POOR STUDENTS
The Yuvabadhana Foundation has launched its 2017 collection entitled Pi Dai Chai, Nong Dai Rien (We Have The Goods, Kids Have Education) featuring a wide range of products that can be a good gift idea. They include the 2017 desk calendar (95 baht) featuring award-winning artworks from the Yuvabadhana Foundation art contest, greeting cards (20 baht each), notepads (120 baht for a set of six), T-shirts (120-250 baht), foldable umbrella (290 baht) and pillow (350 baht).
Proceeds from the sale will be given to help provide education for poor children in Thailand. For more information, call 02-301-1093 or email ybf@ybf.premier.co.th and Luksamon.t@ ybf.premier.co.th. Product order form can also be downloaded from www.yuvabadhanafoundation.org.
SUSTAINABLE SANTA
Green Net — a Thai social enterprise advocating sustainable farming and fair trade for 23 years — is providing organic products for sustainable-style New Year gift sets. Among them are gift baskets with organic food products supplied by local small-scale farmers who have been working with Green Net. These organic products are harvested in a sustainable manner with internationally accepted certificates including the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement. Products from Green Net have been famous among the organic export market. Popular New Year’s gifts are gift baskets containing organic food products including jasmine rice, soy beans, coconut oil, coconut milk, sesame oil, mulberry tea and snacks made of cashew nuts and roselle. Gifts baskets come in three sizes —S, M and L — with different grades of gift baskets and cloth bags. Price ranges from 159 baht for a lovely cloth bag containing two packages of organic rice to 1,590 baht for a more luxurious-look woven basket. Gift sets also can be arranged upon request. Please make reservation at least one week in advance. Visit www.greennet.or.th/en/product/ others. Contact the purchasing department of Green Net at 02- 277-9380 ext 18 during working hours Monday to Friday.
HAPPINESS AND EQUALITY FOR KIDS
Started in 1979, the Foundation for Children has produced and sold greeting cards, gifts and souvenirs to raise fund for three children’s shelters — Baan Tantawan in Nakhon Pathom, Moo Baan Dek Sarnrak Kindergarten also in Nakhon Pathom, and Children Village School in Kanchanaburi. They also provide financial aid for several projects to help needy children in Thailand’s remote areas countrywide.
This year the foundation has launched its new greeting cards collection. These cards are made from discarded milk cartons, used papers and other recycled materials. The artwork was created by children from the three aforementioned shelters under the Foundation for Children. Prices for the greeting cards start at 12 baht. To place an order, call 02-881-1734, email product_ffc@hotmail.com or visit www. shareforchild.com.
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Samitivej Hospital has developed the Empower The Disabled project, supporting products made by disabled people so that they and their families can work and earn income for sustainable growth.
As part of the campaign, the hospital has selected four products to be available as New Year gifts made by people with disabilities. Products include support cushions (3,500 baht), neck pillows (250 baht), notebook trays (350 baht) and aprons (120 baht).
All of the products are available at Pantara shop at Samitivej Sukhumvit and Srinakarin Hospital. The purchase of these products supports job opportunities for people with disabilities. Call 02-022-2222.
IMPOVERISHED KIDS WORLDWIDE
Ikea’s charity soft toys are back this year in time for the holiday season. As in previous years, the Swedish home-furnishing giant launched its latest soft toy collection, SAGOSKATT, featuring 10 funny and whimsical plush dolls designed by 10 children who entered Ikea’s global soft toy drawing competition. From now until Dec 24, Ikea will donate €1 from every toy sold to support development and learning for needy children.
One of the dolls, The Red Monster, was designed by six-year-old Thai, Chutirada Sujareerat. Visit www.ikea.com.
CHILDREN IN CRISIS
Unicef Thailand launched the “Basket Of Hope” campaign, providing those who want to give meaningful gifts with the opportunity to buy life-saving supplies for children affected by emergency crises across the world.
A Basket of Hope contains a set of life-saving supplies including 50 doses of the polio vaccine, 20 packs of therapeutic food to treat severely malnourished children, a mosquito net and a set of learning materials. All are essential items for children living in hardship and will be shipped from Unicef warehouses to children in need across the world. A Basket of Hope costs 999 baht and can be purchased online by searching for “Unicef Basket” or visiting www. unicef.or.th/supportus/th/basketofhope. Unicef aims to sell at least 1,000 baskets this holiday season.
HOSPITALS SHORT OF EQUIPMENT
The Kiddee Project is offering various types of bags such as pouches, tote bags and backpacks with prices from 450 to 1,800 baht. The products are made from clean dialysis bags together with polyester as a main material, which is the signature of the brand.
Kiddee Project was initiated to reduce the amount of waste produced by hospitals from dialysis bags used by patients suffering from kidney disease. To add value to the garbage, the Kiddee Project applied up-cycling processes with material received from Nan Hospital. Psychiatric patients at Nan Hospital also take part in preparing the material by helping clean them before handing them to Kiddee Project to turn them into bags.
Net proceeds from the sale go directly to support hospitals in the forms of cash, medical equipment and medical tools. The latest assistance to Nan Hospital in September included patient beds, wheelchairs and syringe drivers. Visit www.facebook.com/Kiddeeproject.Thailand
CHILDREN WITH COMMUNICATION DISABILITIES
You can enjoy crystal clear water and have fun with eco- nature activities during your holidays at Koh Talu, a small island located in Prachuap Khiri Khan province, while helping a good cause.
Koh Talu Island Resort offers a gift card, priced at 7,800 baht (special discount from 12,000 baht) with profits going towards funding ISAAC Thailand, which provides a three- day training camp for children who suffer communication disabilities and their parents.
The gift card includes a one- night stay in Manila Deluxe Chalet for two persons, round- trip transfer from and to Koh Talu, full board ( breakfast, lunch and dinner), an instructor- led snorkelling trip, kayaking, trekking and boat insurance. Shop the gift card online at socialgiver. com.
HELPING THE POOR
Pat Pat shop by the Chaipattana Foundation is offering several products that can be used as gifts for the holiday season. The foundation also has online ordering and delivery services for those living in other provinces.
Among interesting food items are Camellia seed oil available in capsules (300 baht), Camellia, Perilla and Niger seed oils (99 baht), sweet shrimp paste (45 baht), spicy squid snacks (120 baht), white pepper (70 baht) and roasted coffee (220 to 295 baht).
Fabric products are available including handwoven shawls (500 baht), umbrellas (300 baht), handwoven scarves (150 to 250 baht) and cotton scarves (200 baht). Other gifts include books about King Bhumibol’s teachings (99 to 120 baht), palace recipes (100 baht), polo shirts (300 baht) and many more. Proceeds from the sale will be given to help poor people countrywide.