Christmas Bags from Ikaria for Brussels, Antwerp and Rotterdam
The „Christmas Bags from Ikaria“ is our new long term project to generate money for our association to support projects on Ikaria.
We’ve been working in cooperation with local producers on Ikaria, selling and delivering „Christmas Bags“ containing Ikarian products in Brussels, Antwerp and Rotterdam. The income is financing our support for the making of the „Hiking Paths“ on Ikaria, a project carried out by the Ikarian Hiking Club „OPSIkarias“.
Christmas bags 2021 and 2022: 81 bags
Total income: 2735 EUR
Income raised for the local producers on Ikaria: 1800 EUR
Financial aid for the hiking paths on Ikaria: 670 EUR
Supporters: the buyers of our Christmas bags, „Throubi“ (the shop for local Ikarian products in Agios Kirikos), Akroria, Tsantiris Winery, the honey maker Karimalis, Metaforiki Kandias, Lambros Line S.P.R.L/Brussels
The story behind the project
From 2020 to 2022 the COVID-19 pandemic has limited our possibilities to organize events and to use proceeds from those events to support projects on Ikaria. As those events had always also been a good opportunity to promote local products from the island, these have been limited, too.
On that basis, we came up with the idea in 2021 to make the most of Christmas time for selling Ikarian products in Brussels, Antwerp and Rotterdam. This would not ony give us the chance to promote Ikarian products again and to bring back some income to the local producers on the island, but by adding a small amount to the price of the bags we would have the possibility to combine the sales of the Christmas Bags with the financial support for the hiking trails on Ikaria.
And we made it happen in 2021 and 2022! In cooperation with local producers, such as „Throubi“ (the shop for local Ikarian products in Agios Kirikos), Akroria (the Ikarian producer of olive oil and herbs), the Tsantiris winery in Proespera and the Ikarian honey maker Karimalis we were able to fill the Christmas bags with high quality and delicious Ikarian products. The producers offered us a special price and the transport companies Metaforiki Kandias (Ikaria) and Lambros Line S.P.R.L. (Brussels) joined in by organizing a smooth transport from Athens to Brussels, free of charge.
In Brussels, Antwerp and Rotterdam „Friends of Ikaria“ ensured the free delivery of the Ikarian goodies to the doorstep of our buyers. We put in some effort to deliver the bags by bicycle at least in Brussels and we were rewarded with friendly encounters with our supporters. We learned about the many stories our buyers have with Ikaria and we hope that we can consolidate these contacts for further projects on Ikaria.
In challenging times it is great to work with a group of supporters, who are dedicated to making things happen. In that way, we were able on the one hand to continue our financial support for the local Ikarian Hiking Club „OPSIkarias“ in their efforts to extend the network of hiking trails on Ikaria. On the other hand, we were able to deepen and broaden the community of friends and supporters of our association. And as a nice spin-off this activity was also able to generate some income and marketing for the local producers on Ikaria. This means that a „Christmas Bag from Ikaria“ offers so much more than just a Merry Christmas time.
Christmas Bags from Ikaria for Brussels, Antwerp and Rotterdam
The „Christmas Bags from Ikaria“ is our new long term project to generate money for our association to support projects on Ikaria.
We’ve been working in cooperation with local producers on Ikaria, selling and delivering „Christmas Bags“ containing Ikarian products in Brussels, Antwerp and Rotterdam. The income is financing our support for the making of the „Hiking Paths“ on Ikaria, a project carried out by the Ikarian Hiking Club „OPSIkarias“.
Christmas bags 2021 and 2022: 81 bags
Total income: 2735 EUR
Income raised for the local producers on Ikaria: 1800 EUR
Financial aid for the hiking paths on Ikaria: 670 EUR
Supporters: the buyers of our Christmas bags, „Throubi“ (the shop for local Ikarian products in Agios Kirikos), Akroria, Tsantiris Winery, the honey maker Karimalis, Metaforiki Kandias, Lambros Line S.P.R.L/Brussels
The story behind the project
From 2020 to 2022 the COVID-19 pandemic has limited our possibilities to organize events and to use proceeds from those events to support projects on Ikaria. As those events had always also been a good opportunity to promote local products from the island, these have been limited, too.
On that basis, we came up with the idea in 2021 to make the most of Christmas time for selling Ikarian products in Brussels, Antwerp and Rotterdam. This would not ony give us the chance to promote Ikarian products again and to bring back some income to the local producers on the island, but by adding a small amount to the price of the bags we would have the possibility to combine the sales of the Christmas Bags with the financial support for the hiking trails on Ikaria.
And we made it happen in 2021 and 2022! In cooperation with local producers, such as „Throubi“ (the shop for local Ikarian products in Agios Kirikos), Akroria (the Ikarian producer of olive oil and herbs), the Tsantiris winery in Proespera and the Ikarian honey maker Karimalis we were able to fill the Christmas bags with high quality and delicious Ikarian products. The producers offered us a special price and the transport companies Metaforiki Kandias (Ikaria) and Lambros Line S.P.R.L. (Brussels) joined in by organizing a smooth transport from Athens to Brussels, free of charge.
In Brussels, Antwerp and Rotterdam „Friends of Ikaria“ ensured the free delivery of the Ikarian goodies to the doorstep of our buyers. We put in some effort to deliver the bags by bicycle at least in Brussels and we were rewarded with friendly encounters with our supporters. We learned about the many stories our buyers have with Ikaria and we hope that we can consolidate these contacts for further projects on Ikaria.
In challenging times it is great to work with a group of supporters, who are dedicated to making things happen. In that way, we were able on the one hand to continue our financial support for the local Ikarian Hiking Club „OPSIkarias“ in their efforts to extend the network of hiking trails on Ikaria. On the other hand, we were able to deepen and broaden the community of friends and supporters of our association. And as a nice spin-off this activity was also able to generate some income and marketing for the local producers on Ikaria. This means that a „Christmas Bag from Ikaria“ offers so much more than just a Merry Christmas time.