Ever wonder what happens to the clothes, sheets and other items that you have given up for donation? If you donate to Retaso mo, Manikako!, the pieces of clothing, fabric or sewing supplies you give will be turned into a doll of hope.

The program is geared towards the projects of ArtHOC or House of Comfort Art Network, a non-profit organization that conducts free doll-making workshops to underprivileged children and empower them through art and self-expression. To fund and gather materials for its workshops, the group, together with young creative Filipinos, founded Manikako.

Scraps of fabrics, old clothes and other donations are hand-sewn into dolls by youth volunteers. These dolls, also called a Manikako, are sold during toy conferences and other events here and abroad. These are blank dolls that you can design, alter or recreate.

ArtHOC also makes use of the donations by creating more dolls for the kids they reach out to in its art classes. The children are paired with volunteers who guide them in creating their personalized Manikako.

The Retaso mo, Manikako! drive will support the launch event sponsored by The Podium and organized by ArtHOC with the Liongoren Gallery called Manikako, Future Ko! A Fund-Raising Doll Fair. It will run from February 16 to 23. Dolls made by 100 artists, including those made by National Artists Napoleon Abueva and Abdulmari Imao, will be put on exhibit and auctioned off. Doll-making workshops and live performances will also be part of the affair.

Donation boxes are located at schools around the metro, UP Diliman, The Podium, and RCBC Plaza in Makati. For more information, visit www.manikako.com.