Do you have designs on being both fashionable and charitable?
Contact Madam Fion Phua.
The 42-year-old wants to "exchange" about 50 of her designer items, worth tens of thousands of dollars.
But she won't accept cash. Only bags of rice, thank you, because she wants to feed needy families. The idea struck her last Sunday while she was clearing out her storeroom.
Said the club membership broker: "I suddenly realised I've accumulated so much junk over the years. I hardly use these bags. They're taking up space. So it's time to get rid of them."
In her stash are about 50 sling bags, clutches, wallets, coin and key pouches.
They are from high-fashion labels like Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Prada, Gucci, Fendi and Alfred Dunhill.
She has spent at least $70,000 on these items.
She started accumulating them from the age of 16. She paid for most of the items herself.
"Every birthday, anniversary and Christmas, I would buy something to pamper myself."
She would spend between a few hundred dollars and $10,000 each time. She said she doesn't buy herself expensive gifts any more.
"Some were also presents from my husband, relatives and friends," said Madam Phua.
She will keep a few for sentimental reasons. But she wants to "exchange" most of them.
Worried about damage or loss
"With these branded goods, I was always worried they would get lost or damaged," she said. "In the end, I spent a lot of energy fussing over them. They didn't bring me much happiness."
Why doesn't she sell?
"I'm not the type to hanker after money that's already spent."
Give them away?
"No, these goods are still expensive, and I'm not sure the receiving party will treasure them. "I will xin tia (heartache in Hokkien) if I just give them away."
So she has decided to exchange them for 5kg bags of rice.
Said Madam Phua: "I will give the rice to needy families I meet. It's a good cause, so I don't mind forgoing the bags for it."
She joked: "I'm exchanging bags for rice bags."
At FairPrice supermarkets, a 5kg bag of rice costs between $6.20 and $14.20, depending on the brand. One of Madam Phua's second-hand bags, which she values at $500, can be exchanged for 35 to 80 such bags of rice.
She has not put a price tag on the bags. She will accept the highest bids.
Madam Phua is no stranger to needy families, having been actively involved in charity work for more than 20 years.
She has been knocking on strangers' doors, visiting old age homes and orphanages since she was 19.
During Christmas last year, she went door-to-door to deliver food hampers containing basic necessities such as eggs and cooking oil to 300 needy families with young children.
She said: "Many of these families have difficulty making ends meet. I hope to help them.
"You don't have to be rich to help others. I'm just from a middle-income family."
She is married to a 46-year-old, who used work in an insurance firm.
They have a three-year-old daughter and live with a maid in a five-room flat in Clementi.
On Sunday night, Madam Phua uploaded a photo of her bags on Facebook.
Within three hours, 60 people had responded to her post, either through comments or SMSes.
As of last night, she had already "exchanged" six handbags.
500 rice bags pledged
One of her friends, bank manager Lorraine Teo, 37, sent her a credit note for 500 bags of rice on Tuesday.
In return, Madam Teo asked Madam Phua to "save" her one of the bags.
Madam Teo told The New Paper: "The bag doesn't really matter. I'm doing this because I want to show support for her cause.
"If someone's keen on the 'saved' bag, I'm fine to let go of it too for the cause of charity."
One of the beneficiaries of the bags of rice is Mr Lim Sze Peng, 52.
He suffered a stroke 12 years ago, and has not been able to work since.
He lives with his mother, Madam Ong Chiah, 80, in a one-room rental flat in Marsiling.
He said: "I'm happy Madam Phua wants to help. I'm grateful to her."
As for the benefactor, getting rid of the items has given her a sense of relief.
"After I emptied my storeroom, I felt lighter. It was as if a weight had been lifted."
Update:
According to The New Paper on Wednesday (Aug 15), response to Madam Phua's offer has been overwhelming.
She told TNP that she can get up to 85 Facebook messages and 200 SMSes a day on the matter.
Some even offer to give bags of rice without wanting her designer bags.
Madam Phua has decided to accept bids until the end of the month. She has uploaded pictures of the designer bags on Facebook, and those interested can bid for them by posting comments.
Get The New Paper for more stories.
