Altruism...

Yesterday afternoon I started a post about big businesses who claim they are donating vast amounts of their profits to charity, who lure people to buy their products because by doing that, customers feel that they are helping children to get better care in developing countries. It turned into big rant about the paltry percentage of their huge profits that ended up being donated while the fat cats sat in their huge offices, rubbing their greedy little hands in glee.

Luckily for you, I had to go out so didn't get time to finish the post and this morning, I have decided that really, the post didn't help anyone and am focusing on the lovely *small* businesses who really do give to charity. The monetary amount might be smaller but these people do care, they choose the charities that they support because it means something to them; maybe a family member has been affected by a disease or the charity strikes a chord with the shop owner.

Since the terrible earthquake in Haiti last week, it can't have been far from many peoples thoughts. I haven't been able to stop thinking about the man who was on the news a few nights ago. One of his daughters had died in the quake and he was in the hospital with his other (dying) daughter, begging anyone to help her but there just wasn't any help, no-one could provide the support that she needed. I can't even begin to imagine being in that situation. We complain if we can't get a Drs appointment the day we want one for a minor ailment, these people can't get any healthcare when they really need it the most.

Yesterday I discovered a great shop that had opened on Etsy. Hearts for Haiti is an 'Etsy collective of donated items from hundreds of Etsy shops to raise money to rebuild Haiti. 100% of the proceeds from this shop (minus Etsy fees and Paypal fees) go directly to Médecins Sans Frontiéres.' There are loads of lovely things on there from artwork to bracelets. If you are looking for something handmade for a gift or for you and want to help Haiti at the same time, go and have a look. New things are being listed all of the time so keep checking back.

I love this hammered copper bracelet made by Minty Fresh Fusions.

As well as Hearts for Haiti, a few other lovely people announced donations to Haiti with purchases from their shops.

• Babylonglegs is offering everyone free postage on all purchases this week. Sarah will then donate what you would have paid, to Médecins Sans Frontiéres.
• Woollywormhead and Carol Feller of Stolen Stitches are both donating 50% of the cost of single pattern sales to Médecins Sans Frontiéres

If you don't want to buy anything but still want to donate, pop over to Englishmum who has started a campaign for donations to a Shelterbox appeal. So far £1150 has been raised which is enough for 2 of the great boxes to be sent over to Haiti.

**E.T.A** I forgot to say, I have donated three 'Rainbow heart' drawstring bags from my Etsy shop to the Hearts for Haiti shop. Here is the final one, the other two have already sold!