The Afrobella Giveaway – Cantu and Charity
Tis the season to be giving, so let me get to getting with my latest giveaway! This is not the last Afrobella giveaway of the year, but it’s one of the last before Christmas. And it’s a line that many, many, many of you bellas have expressed love for — Cantu Shea Butter hair products!
Word of mouth led me to discover this affordable, natural-hair friendly product line available at Drugstore.com, and I fell head over heels from first use.
Everything isn’t for everybody, but I’ve gotten overwhelmingly positive reviews about the product line from readers ever since I first reviewed it in 2006. Like I said then, the Grow Strong Strengthening Treatment “makes my hair very curly, very defined, and very boingy.” Soft to the touch, but strong and difficult to break. I slick it on right out of the shower, and it takes just a little air drying to completely absorb (I do frequently leave the house with white beads of fluid on the ends of my coils, but because I live in a sunny climate I roll down my window on the way to work and poof, vamoose).
The Shea Butter Leave In Conditioning Repair Cream really is the business, 53 comments on Drugstore.com rate it at 4 stars out of a total of 5. Not bad, right? You get a deep, thick tub for $4.99, and this is a product that really does stack up against some of the more pricey curly hair brands, in terms of providing moisture to coarse, dry hair. For a product that’s so affordable, and yes – does contain some of those bad-for-you ingredients — I’m kind of astonished at how the combination of soybean oil and shea butter so effortlessly penetrates my hair shaft.
Cantu does occasionally leave buildup if I use it too often without in-between scalp scrubs and cleansing shampooing, so be forewarned. But I know so many of you bellas love the brand, because it’s affordable and effective.
And for those of you who haven’t tried if and are wondering — what can Cantu do for you? You can find out for yourself with the Afrobella Cantu Holiday Hair promotion!
Three winners will win $50 worth of Cantu products, including:
* Leave In Conditioning Repair Cream
* Grow Strong
* Super Shine Hair Silk
* Natural Olive Oil
* Rinse out conditioner
* Moisturizing cream shampoo
* Body lotion
I see you over there, wondering how you could win this awesome package just in time for the holidays. Well, normally I don’t ask much more than a question, or for you to repeat a specific phrase to be considered as an entry for my giveaways. But for this giveaway — considering the time of year and the economic times we’re in — I’d like to ask you bellas to do something a little different, and a lot important.
All over the news, there are stories of poverty and struggle and strife, of jobs being lost and companies being shut down. Some of the stories I find the most heartbreaking, are about the charity organizations that are suffering in the wake of this economic crisis.
When things are hard in your own home, it can be really difficult to think of someone else’s dilemmas. But we’re in a year when more people will need charitable support.
More people are homeless. More kids will go without toys this Christmas. More people will lose their jobs and their dreams for a bright 2009 before 2008 is even over.
Despite the grim times, there are LOTS of ways you can help others without spending a dime, starting right in your own community — by donating a bag of old clothes to Goodwill or the Salvation Army, by visiting old people at a home, by volunteering to be a dog walker at your local animal shelter.
Some people prefer to do random acts of kindness. I once had a friend who spent a Christmas driving around shady parts of Miami, handing out food to the homeless from a big sack of Burger King he’d bought. I have another friend who helps to put on a Christmas party at a local orphanage every year.
There are ways to give to charity while giving to yourself, by buying gifts at Made By Survivors (check out this fly suede doctor’s bag, made by Nepalese sex trafficking survivors!) or UNICEF, or you could shop through IGive.com or We-Care.com.
This year, I’m donating clothes to Goodwill, money to the Humane Society, and buying some new, unwrapped toys to Toys for Tots.
I just saw a report on CNN that revealed because of the economy and this ongoing, senseless war, the Marines haven’t been able to drum up substantial efforts for this very worthwhile charity. So I’m doing my best to bring a smile to a little kid’s face next week, by donating a toy today.
So, bellas — in order to be considered to win this giveaway, I’d like you to tell me — what act of charity have you done, or will you promise to do for this holiday season?
The bellas who provide three of the best answers will walk away with a $50 basket of wonderful Cantu hair products. I will close these comments on Sunday, and announce winners first thing Monday! Good luck!
Category: Hair, Issues, Product Reviews
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In my community, there are many young fathers / single fathers. Since the age of 16 (I’m 20 now), every year I and a couple other people, have access to the local rec center. We cook, donate presents and money, decorate, in order for these kids and their fathers to have a good Christmas. It’s really nice to see that these young men, on their own, are taking care of their children. And to see them and their kids face light up when they see how we set up the rec center, and all the presents and music, really makes me smile.
Hi Afrobella!
Two good friends of mine and I recently raised a little under $1,000 to throw a Holiday Christmas party for the children of a small community known as Coco Solo in Panama. With the money raised, we purchased the children shoes, toys, and holiday treats.
Coco Solo is a former US Naval Air Base where Sen. John McCain was born. Today, some 200 families who were displaced after the 1989 US invasion of Panama live in the very same buildings built by the US Navy last century. They do not have running water, proper sewage, or trash removal.
My friends and I have been traveling to Coco Solo weekly to conduct interviews and photograph residents. I’d like to write an article to bring attention and resources to the impoverished community.
As I know you are a journalist Afrobella, any help or contacts you could provide me with would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you!
Bella, I hope I’m not too late to share my activities of love and kindness. But here goes..
Most recently, a woman approached me at one of my favorite stores. She asked me to tell her where the gift wrap tissue paper was located to put into her gift basket creation. I had just put back on the shelf a pack of white tissue and traded it for the colored tissue paper. I thought maybe I could go back show her, pick up that pack and give it to her. Well, it was gone! So I reached into my cart and gave her the last pack to be found in the store. At first she resisted and did’nt want to take my find, but I insisted. She then said, Thank you so much! How nice of you, may I give you a hug? Merry Chrismas. She added.
I reassured her that it would be fine, I’ll just use shredded colorful paper for my gift creation. I felt overjoyed I could help her in her search. As far as charity I gave food, at the elementary school where I work, the students, teachers and staff collected 1,300 canned goods to donated to the Food Bank and American Legion. Canned goods and non-perishable items were overflowing from boxes throughout our school! The kids were elated that them could make such a difference. We also donated Pennies for Pets towards the local Animal Shelter.Its been a great week.
i dont charity… unless its in direct reciprocation of charity done for me. but… i do rescue loose pennies off the sidewalk and put them into my piggy bank
(:
I have done this in the past and this holiday. I signed up to volunter at the salvation Army. I have cooked meals and served food for the homeless men, women and children.It is a blessing for me because I was once homeless and someone helped me.