The season of giving is just around the corner. Not only do we have to give gifts to a seemingly endless list of loved ones, but we also should take a moment to give back to the less fortunate and to worthy causes. Fortunately, we can accomplish both goals at once by purchasing products from stores that give back to charitable organizations.
Whether you’re passionate about the environment or stopping human trafficking in its tracks, certain stores will donate a portion of its proceeds to a charity or a full product to a child in need with each purchase. If you’re interested in taking advantage of the holiday season by giving gifts that give back to great causes, check out the following websites. After all, there is no better gift than the gift of giving.
Sudara
sudara.org
After visiting the red light district of India and witnessing the human trafficking of young girls firsthand, Shannon Keith started Sudara. Meaning “beautiful” in Sanskrit, Sudara is an online shop of simple, easy-to-sew items to help victims of human trafficking in India find steady income, escape slavery and gain confidence. Currently, Sudara employs hundreds of women, and all of the proceeds go toward either the employment and emotional support of these women or theeducation of younger victims. The online store is known for its Punjammies, comfortable loungewear for men, women and children in a variety of bold patterns, but it also sells robes, T-shirts, shorts, ink tattoos, gift cards and accessories.
TOMS
www.toms.com
TOMS, founded by Blake Mycoskie, started out by giving away one pair of shoes to a child in need with each pair of shoes sold, but the charitable organization has grown exponentially over the last eight years. The store expanded from selling the same pair of canvas shoes in a couple of different colors to selling clothes, bags, accessories, eyewear, coffee and, of course, various types of shoes, but its growth doesn’t end there. TOMS now works with over 100 different organizations to send aid to over 70 countries, funding sight-saving surgery and medical treatment, access to clean drinking water, training and resources for safe births and bullying prevention. So far, TOMS has donated 45 million shoes and helped 325,000 people restore their vision.
Uncommon Goods
uncommongoods.com
Uncommon Goods is an online marketplace that sells handcrafted goods from a variety of local artists from around the country. Due to its variety of creative contributions, Uncommon Goods has an eclectic collection of unique items, from an endless array of personalized kitchenware to quirky toys to funky art prints, and you are almost guaranteed to find the perfect gift for everyone on your list through this site. The best part about Uncommon Goods is not its expansive collection of, as the name implies, “uncommon goods,” nor its financial support for local artists. Rather, what makes Uncommon Goods so great is the fact that a portion of each transaction goes to support one of five charities ― and the customer gets to choose which one receives his or her contribution.
Out of Print
outofprintclothing.com
Out of Print is an organization that promotes world literacy and sells a variety of literature-themed goods to promote its cause, from books to office supplies and home goods to different forms of attire and accessories. Through its partnership with Books for Africa, Out of Print donates a book to a community in need with each purchase. If you have a bibliophile in your life, Out of Print is certainly worth a gander. From “East Egg/West Egg” best friend necklaces to “Edgar Allen Poe-kadot” socks, Out of Print is filled to the brim with clever literary references that are certain to make any bookworm smile. But, more significantly, a child in Africa smiles as well with each transaction when he or she is handed a book for the first time.
Bambeco
bambeco.com
Bambeco is an online store that aims to protect the environment. It specializes in eco-friendly home goods, including kitchenware, tech gear, furniture and more, but its contribution to the environment does not stop there. On top of offering free carbon-free ground shipping, Bambeco plants a tree with every purchase, hoping that one day, with every contribution, “we’ll grow forests.” So if your mom has been begging for a new dinnerware set, if your dad wants a rustic-looking art print for his office, or if you have a friend with a green thumb, Bambeco might be a great place to start.
Amazon Smile
smile.amazon.com
With its discounted prices, free two-day shipping and wide array of products, Amazon is almost everyone’s go-to site for holiday shopping. If you have an Amazon Prime account and log onto your account on smile.amazon.com, you will still have access to the same amount of products available on the main page at the same price, but 0.5% of the proceeds of every Amazon Prime-eligible item sold will be donated to a charity of the customer’s choice. Customers can choose any charity, from UNICEF to the Humane Society of Broward County. The contribution might not seem like much, but considering how much many of us spend on Amazon every year, particularly around the holidays, it’ll certainly add up.
World Wildlife Fund
gifts.worldwildlife.org/gift-center/
Everyone has that one friend who is obsessed with lions, giraffes and elephants. Why not adopt an exotic animal for them from WWF? Adopting an animal from WWF doesn’t literally mean that a huge crate with an endangered animal will show up at his or her door; rather, it’s a symbolic adoption that funds the protection of that species. With each adoption comes a commemorative plush, tote bag, adoption certificate, species card and a photo of the species. It’s the perfect gift for your favorite animal lover.
