5 Ways to Give Back this Year

5 Ways to Give Back this Christmas
In the consumer driven world that we live in, it is quite easy to become wrapped up in the materialism of the holiday season. There are many ways to make a conscious effort to give back to those around us. Here are 5 ways you can choose to give back this Christmas:
1. Volunteer at a food pantry or PADs or at least take your children to your pantry cupboard or the grocery store to donate a box of goodies to the needy this Christmas season.
2. Try to purchase at least one of your Christmas, Hanukkah etc. gifts from five ACCESSORIES. You will not only be helping the global artisans we support, but our vendors right here in Chicago at Streetwise.
3. Donate to one of your favorite charities. If you don’t have one, there is Compassion International and Gospel for Asia who have programs that allow people like us to support a child for as little as $30/month to help him or her be fed get an education, and other necessities they require to live. There are also many organizations that are fighting cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetes that you could give to. Then there are gift memberships to places like Green America.
4. Feeding America is an organization whose mission is to provide food for hungry Americans. During this recession, many Americans are hurting like they’ve never experienced before. What better way to give back than to help a “brother and sister” in need.
5. Go Christmas caroling and deliver a plate of cookies to your neighbors! You won’t only be giving of yourself and time, but you’ll have fun too!

Whatever you decide, we urge you to do at least one thing to give back this holiday season.

Children's Memorial Picks Up 'Off The Street' line

We are excited that the Children’s Memorial Hospital Store in Chicago has picked up a couple of our “Off The Street” products; specifically the picture frames and pop top bracelets. The patients and their families are sure to love them!

Women in Film Donation

Last week five ACCESSORIES had the privilege of donating three bag packages to the Women in Film Focus Awards for their honorees.

The Women in Film focus Awards “recognize and honor those women who have made significant contributions to the film, television, advertising or new media industries.” The Awards seeks to celebrate women “who have demonstrated a pioneering and enterprising spirit throughout their careers and who have strong ties to the Midwest.”

See their website.

Social Enterpreneurship

Social Enterpreneurship

“Social entrepreneurs have existed throughout history. St. Francis of Assisi, the founder of the Franciscan Order, would qualify as a social entrepreneur -- having built multiple organizations that advanced pattern changes in his ‘field.’ Similarly, Florence Nightingale created the first professional school for nurses and established standards for hygiene and hospital care that have shaped norms worldwide. What is different today is that social entrepreneurship is developing into a mainstream vocation, not only in the United States, Canada, and Europe, but increasingly in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. In fact, the rise of social entrepreneurship represents the leading edge of a remarkable development that has occurred across the world over the past three decades: the emergence of millions of new citizen organizations.”
-- David Bornstein as taken from http://www.betterworld.net/quotes/entrepreneur-quotes.htm

In light of this, our founder, Christine Hutchison, has spoken at numerous events around. These have been wonderful priviledges and a great opportunities for her to share her knowledge of social entrepreneurship.

Other Resources:

http://www.pbs.org/opb/thenewheroes/whatis/

Donating to Women in Film, Chicago

Last week five ACCESSORIES had the privilege of donating three bag packages to the Women in Film Focus Awards for their honorees.

The Women in Film focus Awards “recognize and honor those women who have made significant contributions to the film, television, advertising or new media industries.” The Awards seeks to celebrate women “who have demonstrated a pioneering and enterprising spirit throughout their careers and who have strong ties to the Midwest.”

See their website at http://wifchicago.org/site/focus-awards/

Emanuel Congregation's Chanukah Market - Fair Trade and Locally Crafted Goods

It is our privilege to be a part of Emanuel Congregation’s Chanukah Market on Sunday, November 8^th from 10:15am to 2:00pm. Emanuel Congregation is located at 5959 N. Sheridan Road, Chicago.

The Chanukah Market is promoting fair trade, while at the same time encouraging buyers to purchase locally crafted goods. Items include fair trade coffee, local foods, jewelry, hand-crafted soaps, textiles and judaica. Many wonderful products that will help give back on a local and global level. We look forward to representing one socially conscious business at this Chicago event.

Fundraiser for StreetWise Chicago

five ACCESSORIES put on a successful fundraiser for StreetWise in Chicago. We launched our new product line called 'Off The Street' featuring products sourced and produced by vendors of StreetWise, a Chicago based social enterprise designed to help elevate formerly been homeless or severly impoverished men and women out of povertly. By employing individuals and enabling to keep them off the street and using littered material off the street of Chicago, we are offering a unique eco-friendly accessory line consisting of bracelets, buttons, belts, pins and picture frames constructed and adorned with the items such as transit cards, bottle caps, ticket stubs and other urban refuse. As with all of fiveACCESSORIES sales, 15% of gross income will be donated back.

Shop The Fair Trader Chicago

five ACCESSORIES is in a New Retail Store – The Fair Traders in Hyde Park

This week marked another new beginning as we partner with The Fair Traders store in Hyde Park to sell our products at a new retail location. We are excited about the possibilities of offering our products to a new clientele. Thank you, ladies at Fair Traders, for your beautiful support and interest in providing your customers with products from five ACCESSORIES.
You may learn more about The Fair Traders, their business and exact location by visiting their website at http://thefairtraderchicago.com/

October is Fair Trade Month

Fair Trade Month – 31 Days and 31 Ways to Support Fair Trade

The month of October is Fair Trade Month and TransFair USA has created a website to celebrate. At the website you will find 31 ways to support fair trade, one for each day of the month. Sorry that we are late in announcing this, but it is never too late to start since there are still close to 20 days left in October.
For example for Saturday, October 10 this is what they had on their home page for fair trade ideas:

Ask for it! – If you don’t see a fair trade item in the store…ask!
Fair Trade Certified at a Store near You – if you don’t know if the store is fair certified…ask!

For more details about 31 Days and 31 Ways to make a difference in fair trade, please visit http://www.fairtrademonth.org/ for some amazing thoughts, ideas and sponsors. Ask and support fair trade!

Climate Action Giveaway

WE ADD UP

Recently, we were given the opportunity to participate and showcase our eco-friendly designer handbags in what is being called The World’s Biggest Green Sweepstakes (And Help Solve the Climate Crisis at the Same Time). Climate week began last week, September 23, and will end with international climate talks in Copenhagen in early December. Here’s the goal:

“The goal of the Climate Action Giveaway is to get 1 million people to learn about the climate crisis and also to participate in short, easy actions each week that collectively will add up to big change. Whether it be e-faxing their Senator or taking part in creative actions about COP15 in Copenhagen, the actions will be directed from non-profit organizations 1Sky and 350.org, who are each working to create a successful outcome during this unprecedented season of climate opportunity.

The Climate Action Giveaway is the world’s biggest green sweepstakes! All participants of this project are entered to win exciting prizes from their favorite brands (like five ACCESSORIES!). Drawing will take place on December 7th, the first day of the international climate talks in Copenhagen.”

five ACCESSORIES has donated the following items: 2 medium Sand Bamboo clutches and 2 Triangle Bracelets. So don’t put off joining the fun, go to www.weaddup.com and enter the chance to win some great prizes! There is no cost or obligation, just enter your name and email and you’ve entered the sweepstakes.