Philanthropee Features Living Art in Gulfport

Walk into Philanthropee on Beach Boulevard and you'll notice an eclectic inventory including air plants, recycled jewelry, handmade bath products and many eco-friendly and upcycled decor.

Owner Debi Anders offers gift ideas and one-of-a-kind home decor for every budget. Her air plants, succulents and cacti are hand planted in shells, ceramic shapes, wooden and tin pots and even glass balls. Anders created a "Build Your Own Terrarium" for $20. She hopes the interactive and easy "make your own" option will lure everyone - including those without a "green thumb" - to her new shop.

Anders jokes that the reason she sells easy to care for plants is because she struggles with keeping plants alive herself. 

She hopes to not only help customers fill their homes with living art. Anders plans to donate 10 percent of all proceeds to non-profits in the area.

"People will be able to choose which charity to donate to," she said.

The "Giving Garden" features several glass jars where customers can place seeds in that represent a donation. Current charities include The American Red Cross, ASPCA, Clothes to Kids, RED for AIDS, Wounded Warrior Project, Metropolian Ministries, Tampa Bay Harvest, Habitat for Humanity and the St. Pete Free Clinic.

"Each seed is 50 cents. About once a quarter or every few months I'll add up the seeds and donate to that charity," Anders said.

The charities in her "Giving Garden" are not set in stone. Anders hopes to rotate organizations throughout the year.

While this is Anders "first try" as a small business owner, she has a full time, work-from-home job that inspired her to tap into her artistic talents and help give back. 

Philanthropee is located at 2902 Beach Boulevard St. Summer hours are Tuesday through Saturday 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. with extended hours during Art Walk nights.

Anders is putting out a call for crafters looking to consign. For more information call (727) 417-0974. Be sure to "like" Philanthropee on Facebook too!