Charity bazaars support those in need in the spirit of Christmas
One way of sharing the festive feeling with people in need is by supporting bazaars that donate their proceeds to charity. For the third consecutive year, M Art Manolioudakis is holding a bazaar, from which some of the takings will go to the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA Hellas). This year’s theme is the circus, and well-known actors played the part of sales assistants at the opening yesterday on the corner of Alopekis and Loukianou streets in Kolonaki. It continues today, tomorrow and for three days from Friday, December 16, with a wide range of seasonal jewelry, clothing and Christmas decorations. Vana Lavida is the president of MDA Hellas and Elizabeth Bailey Burns, the wife of former US ambassador to Athens Nicholas Burns, is honorary president. Art of all kinds is on sale at a market that is being held today, tomorrow and next weekend from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the cultural center of Diavasi, an open program run by the Addiction Therapy Center for Addicts. Proceeds from the sale of handmade pottery, paintings and photographs presented by contemporary artists will go toward the upkeep of the center at 29 Stavropoulou Street in Amerikis Square (tel 210.864.0943). Also on sale are sweets and Christmas gifts made by members of the open program. Artistic creations for Christmas trees is the theme of an exhibition being held by Epistrofi at the cultural center of the Foundation of the Hellenic World at 254 Pireos Street (buildings 5 and 13) until December 30. Epistrofi runs a hostel in Kallithea for young people who have beaten their physical addiction to drugs or alcohol and are preparing to return to society, work and family. The hostel, in operation since 2004, offers free board and full support from trained staff. The works on display were offered by 55 painters and sculptors and will be auctioned on December 14 with an official dinner in support of Epistrofi attended by Health and Social Solidarity Minister Nikitas Kaklamanis. Geli Angelopoulou is the founder and president of Epistrofi, which also receives moral and material support from her husband Constantinos Angelopoulos.
