Some of you may remember the tragic event that occurred in Haiti a couple of years ago. An estimated three million people were affected by a massive earthquake. The Haitian government reported that an estimated 316,000 people had died, 300,000 had been injured and 1,000,000 were made homeless (source).
Even after two years, the country still struggles to rebuild it’s self.
To continue to help the people of Haiti, Macy’s has a line of products called Heart of Haiti.
Macy’s Heart of Haiti collection helps Haitian families rebuild their lives after the 2010 earthquake using some of the most unlikely materials to create metalwork, ceramics, quilts, paintings, jewelry and other home decor items and accessories.
From raw materials such as recycled oil drums and wrought iron to papier-mâché and stone, each item is handmade by a Haitian master artisan. By creating art that reflects their rich culture and history, artisans have a sustaining income to provide nutrition, education and health care for their families. The Heart of Haiti collection has led to employment of 750 artists in Haiti providing financial benefits for an estimated 4,000 to 5,000 people in the country.
Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and despite the devastating earthquake, people there are filled with hope and a desire to improve their lives through employment. Options are very limited in this country. Heart of Haiti is a “Trade, Not Aid” initiative launched by artist and social entrepreneur, Willa Shalit, The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund and Macy’s. It provides artists with an opportunity to make a living feed their families and pay their children’s school fees. School in Haiti is not free.
Macy’s sent me two pieces of jewelery from their Heart of Haiti collection. The Heart of Haiti Heart of the Goddess Pendant and the Heart of Haiti Horn Warrior Bracelet.
Both have a very unique style, and like every piece in the pendant collection, each piece is made with metal recycled from oil drums. These one-of-a-kind pendants are handcrafted with textured detail for a look of rustic beauty.
Whether you are looking for a gift for yourself or someone else, when you purchase an item from the Heart of Haiti collection, you are helping to provide for the families in Haiti. All artists receive half of the wholesale price from each piece.
What other reason do you need to shop this collection?
Besides jewelery, the collection features more than 40 home decor items including quilts, metalwork, ceramics, and paintings. Accessories include vases, candle holders, serving trays, picture frames, mirrors, coasters, necklaces, clutch purses and more.
Every piece in this collection is made almost entirely from recycled and sustainable items such as old cement bags, cardboard, oil drums & local gommier wood. Plus, each item your purchase is signed by the artisan and includes a Certificate of Authenticity.
Heart of Haiti products are available exclusively at Macy’s stores around the country and on Macy’s.com.
In honor of showing our love this Valentine’s Day, one reader will win a Heart of Haiti, Heart of the Goddess Pendant. Enter to win below!
I received the products mentioned above to help facilitate my review of Heart of Haiti. No other compensation was received and opinion are my own.
About Hanan Webster
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2013/05/03
2013/04/15
We do something different each year. This year is very low key movie and dinner with all the kids and a special candy treat.
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My family is fairly new so we haven’t established a specific way to celebrate yet. This week we won’t see my husband until Friday so it’s me and my two boys (3 & 1) and we’re spending the day making cookies and heart crafts :)
Monica recent post: Wordless Wednesday: My How Time Flies
Being that Valentine’s is my hubbys bday we tend to not do anything in regards to valentines and try to focus more on his birthday!
Thanks so much for posting about Heart of Haiti! It means a lot to us! Haiti appreciates the extra love! Hope you have an awesome Valentine’s Day! Sorry about all the exclamations, all this love is just too exciting! From, The Everywhere team
Hugs and Kisses!
We have dinner together
stanleybilly(at)bellsouth(dot)net
We exchange cards and have a family dinner
We go out for pizza.
such a great cause. I have one of these from a campaign I did last year.
vanessa recent post: CHUCK & FRIENDS: Friends to the Finish on DVD Today! & #GIVEAWAY #Movie #Family
I am engaged and this year we are getting married on the 18th so we will be creating new Valentines traditions.
We have a special treat with the kids after dinner, make heart crafts and read Valentine-themed books for bedtime.
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We have dinner together! Thanks so much for the fantastic giveaway!
Bored2quickly@hotmail.com
Since my mom passed, we really don’t do much for the day anymore. Although I make cards for my friends.
We usually spend it quietly at home. Last night we grilled up a couple of steaks and just hung out. He travels a lot for work so I take any opportunity I can to just be with him
Lori Hart recent post: Knorr Homestyle Chicken Stock Review
My older kids spend Valentines with there significant others, me and the younger kids just spend the day at home. Sometimes me and my single friends go to dinner.
cshell090869@aol.com
We usually go out for a nice quiet dinner – but sometimes the S.O. has something surprising up his sleeve!
We make a fancy candle lit dinner, and I give my daughter a valentine’s box of goodies.
Thanks for the chance.
mogrill12@gmail.com
A fun family dinner together!
We go out to dinner.
We celebrate by going out to our favorite Italian restaurant and coming home to watch a few of our favorite sappy romantic comedy movies and pig out on chocolate!
we celevbrate with strawberry pie
I am single so I went to work, worked out, then enjoyed a nice relaxing night at home
a quiet dinner
jofo120 at yahoo dot com
with good food and lots of cuddling
We exchange gifts, give each other cards and plenty of candy on Valentine’s day.
A quiet dinner at home with my wife, then we watch her favorite movie. “Breakfast at Tiffanys”
Very Traditional , candy and/ or flowers.
my family rents a good movie, orders dinner and spends time together
We used to celebrate it when the day is at exactly sunday so both of us are free.
Angel Collins recent post: OSHA Says GHS Coming Shortly, Dr. Michaels Talks 2013 Budget
On Valentine’s Day we just go out for dinner we do not celebrate it any other way. I want to thank you for this awesome sweep and hope to win :)
Cupcakes!!!!
This year my hubby made a wonderful dinner and brought home some wonderfully smelling flowers.
I make a heart shaped pizza for the kids.
We keep Valentine’s Day, simple. We make strawberry cupcakes and have a nice family dinner.
cweller75@gmail.com
We have a heart shaped pizza dinner.
dinner and a movie
We get goodies for the kids and then have a nice dinner, cooked by both of us, after the kids go to their rooms for the night.
reejen5 at gmail dot com
We have a nice dinner together as a family.
We usually have a nice dinner.
We all go out for a nice dinner.
Homemade valentines…it’s sweet
Yes we celebrate Valentines Day.
We just stay close and watch tv
we buy each other gifts to show our love
We just have a nice family meal at home.
We exchange cards.
Well this year we celebrated it in bed with 100′s of kleenex, nyquil and coughs.
michedt at yahoo dot com
we do not celebrate valentines day because our daughter died on that day in 2004
we usually celebrate it the day after as my husband and I were married on the 15th—but we usually go out to dinner and a movie
We usually just get each other candy and cards!
flowers for me, quiet for hubby. candy for kids, dinner for everyone :)
With my husband still overseas, this year I was the one who made the homemade Valentine Cupcakes and homemade Valentines. I had a nice quiet dinner with my 7 month old and 3 year old and we were able to talk to my husband via webcam so it turned to be a great day and night.
We celebrate by giving each other a small gift (usually non-candy).
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We celebrate Valentine’s Day by making homemade cards for each other.
We celebrated this year with pizza and cupcakes.
My daughter gets everything hearts…pancakes hearts for dinner, I bought myself flowers and we shared some chocolates
We make valentines cards for each other and cook dinner together.
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We cook cookies & treat watched movies & gave each other cards
Thanks for the giveaway…I ALWAYS take my wife out for lunch or dinner on Valentine’s Day.
senorpiero [at] yahoo [dot] com