By Tan Weizhen

FOR years, Ms Emily Teng saw family and friends head overseas for trips with empty space in their bags. Many were travelling to developing countries, such as Thailand and the Philippines, where children are in desperate need of clothes and other amenities.

So, the 21-year-old Ms Teng came up with a novel idea. She could get shirts, textbooks and toys to the underprivileged children by having these travellers stow the gear in their luggage.

'(People) are heading overseas anyway, with space in their luggage...so why not make full use of it?' the college student stated.

Last year, the brainwave led to the creation of Blessings in a Bag.

Ms Teng now has arrangements with orphanages in the Philippines and Thailand where Singaporean travellers can drop off the donated items.

When there are no travellers, Ms Teng ships the gear to the orphanages. But shipping costs are steep, and so far she has spent about $5,000 of her own money on freight and other logistics.

Still, she feels compelled to help the kids.

'Many of the children are orphaned, abused, sold for money, or abandoned as their parents head for divorce. That's why I wish to clothe them, or give them toys and books so they can have as normal a childhood as possible.'

The clothes have gone to more than 100 children in two orphanages, as well as those in poor communities.

To save money, Ms Teng does most of the work herself and uses social networks - Facebook and MySpace - to publicise her cause.

Word of her work spread quickly, and people donate up to 100kg worth of goodies each week. She even has the clothes laundered before sending them abroad.

'Many of the orphanages have no clean water to wash with, so I make sure the clothes arrive already clean.'

She spends at least two days a week sorting and packing donations, sometimes with help from her family.

'It's tedious and lengthy work which I spend almost 24 hours obsessing about. But I have committed myself. It's not something I can just give up halfway.'

Blessings in a Bag depends on donations. People can drop off old clothes, books and games at Comics Mart at Serene Centre, Farrer Road.

Travellers can pick up the gear there or contact Ms Teng directly.

When they arrive at their overseas destinations, they can drop off the bags at designated spots.

The Comics Mart owners have agreed to let Ms Teng use their premises not only as a drop-off point, but also for sorting and packing the donations.

But Ms Teng does not just organise from afar. She is also travelling to the Philippines with friends to build homes for needy children.

tanwz@sph.com.sg

This article was first published in The Straits Times on Nov 1, 2008.

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