What is the Pearls with a Purpose Foundation?
How is the Foundation organized?
How many people are helped through the Pearls with a Purpose Foundation?
Where do you ship the boxes?
Who ships the boxes?
How much does it cost to ship a box?
What physical items can I donate?
How can I donate monetarily?
What is Pearls with a Purpose?
We are a nonprofit 501c3 Tax Exempt organization, which helps those living in the Philippines. It began as a way to give back to the communities by providing food, clothing, educational supplies and other needed items to the women who create the genuine pearl jewelry that is marketed through My Princess Pearls. It has now grown to over 29 different provinces and over 780 boxes have been shipped as of September 2007.
How is it organized?
Under the direction of Wendy Bird, employees, distributors and volunteers sort and package donated items in the United States and ship boxes to the Philippines. Twenty nine coordinators in the Philippines help organize the distribution of supplies.
How many people are helped through the Pearls with a Purpose Foundation?
Pearls with a Purpose Foundation ships between 80 – 100 boxes on a recurring basis to help support 800 – 1000 destitute families in 9 different provinces in the Philippines. We are currently assisting 29 villages with hopes to assist many more villages in the future.
Where do you ship the boxes?
Boxes are shipped to 22 villages in the Philippines that are near five main cities: Quezon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, and Kalibo.
Who ships the boxes?
Every six months we ship donated humanitarian supplies to the Philippines through Atlas Shippers in Las Vegas. Items are always in great need. You may arrange a donation drive or just donate a few items yourself.
How much does is cost to ship a box?
Because we work to benefit the lives of individuals who are less fortunate, we have associated ourselves with a shipping company out of Las Vegas that deeply discounts shipping costs. A 24″ × 22″ × 17″ box filled with 200 pounds of supplies costs $70 to ship. Companies, families and individuals are welcome to sponsor a box. Contact us for information about sponsoring a box.
What items can I donate?
The individuals who will be receiving the donations are in need of many items:
- Clothing: New or gently used clothing for children and adults are needed; clothing appropriate for church and school are especially needed. Also, children’s shoes, raincoats, jackets, and baby clothing and necessities are needed. Please no winter clothing. Uniforms and sturdy shoes for boys and girls are always needed (tan pants or navy blue skirts, and white blouses/shirts).
- Food: Because we ship in boxes, we cannot accept food stored in glass containers. Please donate non-perishable, canned or dried food only. Protein items such as canned meat, tuna, peanut butter and beans are greatly needed. Food items with a high nutritional value are preferred, including vitamin and nutritional supplements, but anything is welcome. Please be considerate of the food you donate. If you wouldn’t eat it, they won’t either.
- Educational Supplies: We want to assist these individuals in becoming self-supporting. There are schools in these villages, but they lack educational tools to teach children. Books in English are great. Children’s books, text books for all levels of learning, learning software, working computers, coloring books, paper, pens, art supplies, chalk and chalk boards, pencils, erasers, markers, globes, maps, book bags, backpacks and other school supplies can be used.
- Other: Small household items such as dishes, cooking utensils, sheets, blankets, towels and other simple necessities are greatly appreciated. We only accept items in working condition. Baby items (e.g., formula, bottles, pacifiers, rattles, diapers, baby food, baby cereal, etc.) are ALWAYS in great need.
How can I donate?
We accept cash/check/charge for shipping the items or item donations. We also run Eagle Projects and other donation drives.