Twenty Twenty... what a year. We are so grateful for the brands, organizations, charities, and all of YOU for making such a beautiful difference through Life Originelle. This year was heartbreaking to say the least. Together, we became silent when facing moments of shock and pain to human atrocities. We learned, we grew, we prayed, we marched, we raised awareness for all the lives close to heart. We shopped, we donated, we raised funds. Together, we rose. In 2021, we will continue to rise. Here's a look at all the love we accomplished together at Life Originelle.
Care Bags
This year was the year we launched with our Life Originelle Pay it Forward Care Bags that are so full of love, care, hope and resources. Inside, the bag is filled with hygiene essentials along with socks and a face mask. Printed on the bag are National Emergency Hotlines including numbers for prayer, depression, suicide, human trafficking, runaway youth, and 211, a direct access phone number that can help connect anyone to the nearest shelter, food pantry, employment / education opportunities and so much more. Over 270 Care Bags were sent to individuals so that together, we can help people experiencing homelessness in our own neighborhoods get the help and resources they need to thrive and live.
Face Masks
Our first cause of the season was helping people during the recent outbreak of Covid-19. We saved 10% of all our profits to source cotton face masks from a family run small business (helping provide an income for them as well!) and were able to supply the entire Hope Gardens' Women Shelter of 100 children and 70 mothers with face masks. With your help and resources from a private donor, everyone residing at the shelter was able to receive one of these face masks.
Graduation Gifts
We adore
Union Rescue Mission's Hope Gardens Center. This year, we
were beyond blessed to have joined their graduation ceremony where 29 women graduated a program of classes including the foundations for spiritual, mental, emotional and social health as well as practical life skill courses such as financial management, parenting and fitness. It was an honor to celebrate the 29 women with little grad gifts from the Marandria collection.
Led by @unionrescuemission, the program helps women transition from homelessness to independence with 12 to 36 months by offering rehabilitation programs, services and spiritual care. Hope Gardens provides precious women and children with a safe place to live while they receive counseling, training, encouragement and the real help they need to escape homelessness forever.
Winter Donations
We were so blessed by one friend of Life Originelle who got a first-look at an entire winter collection of scarves, hats and headbands that were going to be featured on our platform for the Fall and Winter season of 2020. Or friend made the amazing gesture to sponsor many of the products to people in need throughout Artsakh. Together, with the help of this one donor and the amazing ability to donate the rest of the collection, we were able to send more than 240 winter wear pieces along with over 100 socks! You can read more about this in the
Armenia / Artsakh Impact Resource Guide.
Armenia Fund
As an Armenian owned business, the atrocities of the war to Armenians in Armenia and Artsakh this year were far too real and a close reminder to the genocide that happened to our people in 1915. It was truly difficult to watch from afar all the injustices happening to Armenians mid-pandemic by Azeri and Turkish authorities of cruel intentions. We created a
collection of crosses, as a reminder of our faith as the first Christian nation, and gave 100% of our proceeds to the Armenia Fund. The collection was made available from October 5th until October 19th 2020. Together, all the purchases raised $3,995.75 and was matched for a total of
$7,991.50 by
AGBU and
AAA.
Trees Planted
One of our amazing brand partners,
337 Brand, plants trees from every order through an organization based in Vermont called
One Tree Planted who focuses on a healthy environment coupled with reforestation. Together, we raised enough proceeds to plant two trees.
Christmas Gifts & Joy Packages
Our Rescue
This year, we have been extremely impactful for a cause close to our hearts, child and human trafficking. One of our amazing brand partners, Marandria, committed 50% of proceeds from every order to be sent to
Our Rescue - Operation Underground Railroad, an organization that rescues children from trafficking and slavery. This excludes the Marandria sales made during the Armenia Fund Collection period where 100% of proceeds, including our profits, went to the Armenia Fund. Together, we raised $337.80 to donate to the organization.
Women Owned & Family Owned Small Businesses
The cherry on top! Getting in touch with small businesses and being able to make them available to an entirely new community of people that are giving back through their orders on Life Originelle. Women owned and family owned are part of our roots. We know how difficult it is starting your own business, working hard to make something beautiful, affordable and sustainable. We're privileged to create a place for them to come together and meet you in the process. Look for
Brunna Co.,
337 Brand,
Damiano Collection,
Binge Knitting,
HV John,
Myrah Peñaloza,
DINO,
Amy Lynn,
Marandria,
The Christmas Shop,
Bespoke By Mel,
AuMaro and all their original unique pieces and stories.
To all those who followed us in this journey, shared the good news, supported our marketplace and fundraising efforts, we sincerely THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts. We could not do any of this without you. We wish you all the best in peace, love and hope as we head into 2021. We don't know what's ahead of us, but we look forward to growing, learning, loving and making an impact, together.
Much Love,
Life Originelle
