I was running towards the “Polona” street between cars, in a hurry and with a ruthless sun who didn’t go easy on my shoulders, and I was asking myself: Why do I want to do a good deed?
I want to tell you about a profound idea, which has a link with our soul: Merci Charity Boutique. I was heading to Acuarela, to a fashion presentation with ordinary people, with faces from various domains (stomatology, psychology, banking, bakery television, etc.), which have shown Merci workshop’s summer collection.
What is Merci about? Charity Boutique is a non profit association, founded in 2012, which has opened the first charity concept store in Romania. The protagonists are Alina Tiplea, Daniela Staicu, Catinca Mihai (leather craftsman for 88forHim and tailor artist at Merci) and Dan Manasescu (volunteer). I made contact with Daniela and Alina, which have won my heart on the spot. They explained how people can help through the cool ideas they have put to practice so far:
1. You can spend your free time on the MERCI’s pontoon. 30% from your consumption (whilst on the pontoon) is donated by Acuarela towards Merci’s missions
2. Making a donation for a Merci cause
3. Donating 2% (form 230) and/or 20% from your profit tax
4. Donating diverse products (clothes, supplies, furniture, food – all in good functioning state, clean and in term)
5. Donating your birthday
6. Purchasing a product from the social tailoring workshop (my dress from the photos is one of them! I love them!!!)
100% from the profit gained from the products sold at the social tailoring workshop “Merci” go towards the humanitarian causes of the association. Now the girls have the stomatology treatment for children campaign – social causes “Caravana Zana Merciluta” ongoing. At the end of the month of August they will visit villages from the North of Moldovia and, equipped with 2 stomatology doctors and a mobile dental unit they will assure the stomatology treatment for the children there. If you wish to contribute towards their treatment, you can do so by purchasing from www.ateliermerci.ro the t-shirt with the message “Azi sunt un OM mai BUN” (“Today I’m a better person). 2 t-shirts = free stomatology treatment for a child.
Merci Charity Boutique and Acuarela can be found at: Polona Street, nr. 40.
FB/Mercicharity
Let’ get back to my question, why should we do good deeds? Do we do it for someone else, really bestowing out of love, unconditional, without expecting something in return or without wanting to feel better?
I imagined that there’s a child in my face watching me, the girl that’s in a hurry, jumping out of the car, which has new clothes in each season, who kisses her mother on the forehead on holidays, who gets at least a few calls per week from her friends who are worried about her, who has where to sleep comfortably every night, who eats what she wants each and every day, who laughs a lot and consumes life non-stop.
I paused all the agitation and I came into contact with myself. I froze, all the warmth has gone and a chill pierced me. The child from inside of me reacted, I took her in my arms and we both walked to the presentation.
So it doesn’t matter anymore for who we do a good deed, what’s important is that we do it. That way we move something in us as well as in the world. When was the last time you did a good deed for yourself and for someone else?
Location: Acuarela
Photo by: Eugen Alesiuc
Simona Preda 
