Charity at Christmas

This is the time of the year when Christmas is all about stocking on the goodies and soaking in the merry spirit.

Amidst the raft of Christmas bazaars that showcase foodie treats, handmade chocolates and other hand-crafted products, we pick two of the prominent bazaars in the city that have been around for many years -one by the United Charities and the other by the Overseas Women's Club. As these good Samaritans get set to share the joy of gifting, check out their creations. Handmade is the flavour of the season as most of the stalls at these fairs stock unusual crafts.

United Charities Bazaar

Stephen Dass who has been spearheading the United Charities Bazaar for the last seven years, says, “This Saturday, we will have over 80 stalls selling candles, home made pickles, jams, home made wines, handcrafted crochet, handmade bedspreads and mops. A few foundations that stock interesting products are Diya Foundation, Yuvalok Foundation, Seva Kendra, Access, Kadesh Children's Home and Navodaya, Karuna Animal Welfare Trust, besides others."

Stephen also works as the COO of Fishermen Trust that takes young people from the city on adventure camps to teach them life skills. “The idea behind these adventure camps is to teach them activities that will help them sustain a living and empower them for their future."

Overseas Women's Club

The city's Overseas Women's Club (OWC) brings together a lively set of entrepreneurs and designers and is also involved in raising needed funds for charities.

Debbie O'Neill, president of OWC, from Ireland says, “Out of our 22 charities that the OWC's Foundation trusts, nine charities are participating. OWFB is the charitable trust under which the Overseas Women's Club of the city functions."

Susheela Thomas, who looks after the functioning, says those looking to shop can browse through stalls from Karunashraya that will be selling Rahul Dravid autographed books, fused glass jewellery, paper jewel and gift bags, stain glass decorations and umbrellas and tees with the charity logo.

The Divine Light Trust for the Blind will retail woollen hair bands and purses, diyas, earings and chains, cloth bags, beaded bracelets and hair clips.

Provision Asia will have Nativity sets, greeting cards and photo frames up for sale. Skid plans to exhibit satin ribbon jewellery, Christmas decoration, mobile pouches, cloth carry bags, magnetic note pads and the Shristi Special Academy will have purses in soft jute, bags, lunch bags and camera bags, common purpose files and saree folders, jewellery, gel and spiral candles.

Young entrepreneurs Latika and Bijal who make cards, gift envelopes, bags and wine bags add, “We use modern techniques like emboss, laser cut and foil stamping."