Here be gifts that let you do good and feel better this Christmas.

THERE are gifts, and there are gifts that make more than just the recipient and the giver happy.

These are the Christmas baskets, trays, bags and boxes filled with goodies creatively put together by entrepreneurs and organizations not so much for profit but to help out the less fortunate.

One of these groups is Gifts & Graces, a fierce advocate of fair trade that has recently unveiled a new and more varied line of “gifts that lift the spirit,” which are guaranteed to tickle anybody’s fancy.

Looking to liven someone’s home and kitchen? Gifts & Graces offers a Queen Kitchen Collection featuring his and her aprons made by women from Bulacan; a coffee cup sleeve made from handwoven cloth from Abra; wine caddies from recycled newspapers crafted by fathers from Pandacan and refrigerator magnets made of pine wood done by individuals with special needs from Cainta.

Not sure about what to give young friends? Gifts & Graces also has something to offer the young and the restless. There are beautiful, two-tone leather bookmarks handcrafted by individuals with special needs; recycled flour bags produced by urban poor women from Bulacan and journals with covers made from dyed coco paper turned out by Quezon’s rural poor women.

The Philippine Business for Social Progress, the country’s largest and oldest corporate-led foundation, is also pushing sales this Christmas of products from the communities that it supports.

Among these products are handmade paper from discarded durian peel in Davao City, produced by the Kababayen-an sa Teknolohiya nga Haum sa Kinaiyahan ug Kauswagan (KATAKUS), Incorporated, (which translates to Empowering Women through Appropriate Technology).

KATAKUS produces lampshades, photo frames, photo albums, scrapbooks, all-occasion cards, boxes, candle holders and other novelty items.

Echostore, another firm believer in free trade whose product line is dedicated to everything natural, organic and environment-friendly, also offers gift baskets that give Christmas a deeper meaning.

“Everything in our baskets are from the communities, including packaging. And they are reusable and recyclable in keeping with our vision,” explains Echostore Creative Director Jeannie Javelosa. “We created them so that people will no longer have to crack their heads thinking of a good gift to give loved ones and friends.”

What’s more, Javelosa adds, the “green” gifts would help the giver and receiver take decisive steps toward a more sustainable lifestyle.

The smallest gift basket is a Green Starter Kit (P505) that contains a citronella oil spray, sugarcane hand sanitizer, shampoo bars, abaca bands and a tarpaulin halfmoon pouch. The more expensive ones are the Green CEO Premium basket (P2,015) with a bottle of Malagos fruit wine, barako coffee beans, and a silver tray from Gawad Kalinga, among others, and the Lovers’ Delight Premium (P2,395) with pineapple wine, strawberry lambanog, milkfish pate, and dried pineapple and papaya.

Echostore at Serendra and Podium also had children and mothers in mind when it came up with the Green Baby Delight package (P1,480) containing insect repellents, Hope Onesies, Baby Oil Lotion and a Diaper Bin Odor Absorber, and the Green Mama Delight (P1,444) with a canvas bag, handmade soaps, lip balm and natural hand sanitizer.

“I believe that this Christmas, because of Ondoy and other calamities, people will be giving more to charities and foundations,” notes Javelosa. With their gift baskets, she adds, gift-giving becomes even more meaningful. •

Gifts & Graces. Unit 131 G/F Mile Long Building, Amorsolo St., Makati City. Tel. 759-2525. Email: info@giftsandgraces.com

Echostore Serendra. G/F Serendra Piazza, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. Tel. 901-3485.

Echostore Podium. G/F The Podium, 12 ADB Ave., Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong. Tel. 470-2688.

KATAKUS, 2/F Astorga Handlooms, Carriedo compound, A. Loyola St. Obrero, Davao. Email: katakus@smartbro.net