Christmas is the season of giving and we all enjoy giving our family and friends the perfect presents. As great as it is to make sure the people on our gift lists get something they want, it’s also important to think about the impact of your purchase. Sometimes we focus too much on everything that is bright and shiny and forget about where our products are coming from and who/what they are impacting. So, add more meaning behind your gifts this year by shopping with purpose! There are tons of companies with amazing products that give back to make a positive difference in the world. From animal adoption to planting trees to supporting human trafficking survivors, I’ve compiled a small list of places to shop from this year. Not only will these gifts add meaning, but they can help encourage those around you to keep supporting these organizations
- Give girls an education by shopping from Bloom and Give
-
Every girl deserves an education. When a girl is given the opportunity for education, she lives a healthier life and makes not only her community stronger, but the world. Bloom & Give works tirelessly to provide girls in rural India access to education while committing to fair trade. They provide programs to re-integrate girls who have been forced out of school because of child marriage and household labour. Beyond that, they provide infrastructure as many schools lack the basic amenities that we take for granted – books, classrooms, bathrooms. Help these girls by shopping from scarves, bags, blankets, and more!
To learn more about them, visit: https://www.bloomandgive.com/pages/how-we-give
To purchase your gift, visit: https://www.bloomandgive.com/pages/holiday-gift-guide
- Help provide solar energy to those in need and shop from the Starling Project
-
Founded by Jessica Sterling, Director on the New York Board for UNICEF, The Starling Project creates candles that give back to support solar energy for those in need. At least 1 billion people live without access to electricity and since 2015, they have given over $200,000 to UNICEF for life-saving solar projects in Rwanda and Chad! Hand poured in Brooklyn, New York, these candles are composed of soy wax, recycled glass, cotton wicks, and ethically sourced essential oils.
To learn more about them, visit: https://starlingproject.org/starling-project-candles-give-back/
To purchase your gift, visit: https://starlingproject.org/shop-starling-project-candles-give-back/
- Shop from Love Your Melon and help children fighting cancer
-
Help improve the lives of children living with cancer by purchasing a gift from Love Your Melon. 50% of net profit from all their sales supports charitable initiatives for children and families battling cancer. To date, they have donated over 6.2 million dollars to fight pediatric cancer. They have a ton of cute beanies, sweaters, and even pillows! You can even send a smile by sending an encouraging note to a child as they experience the difficulties of treatment.
To learn more about them, visit: https://loveyourmelon.com/pages/thestory
To purchase your gift, visit: https://loveyourmelon.com/collections/all
To send a smile, visit: https://loveyourmelon.com/pages/createasmile
- Support animal adoption by shopping from Found My Animal
-
We can’t forget about our animal friends this Christmas! Found My Animal has a variety of pet products and accessories including collars, beds, bowls, and more for pets including dogs, cats, horses, and even goats! They donate part of their proceeds to numerous organizations that support animal welfare and encourage pet adoptions. Purchase a gift that makes your pet look even cuter and gives an animal a home!
To learn more about them, visit: https://www.foundmyanimal.com/mission
To purchase your gift, visit: https://www.foundmyanimal.com/
- Empower survivors of human trafficking and shop from International Sanctuary
-
Millions of people around the world are exploited for profit, the large majority of them being women and girls. International Sanctuary aims to help survivors embrace their true identity and worth. They provide a safe workplace for survivors to gain income, education, healthcare, and a loving community. It is their chance to heal, grow, and thrive. Shop ethically made products like jewelry and candles, handcrafted in India, Uganda, Mexico, and the USA!
To learn more about human trafficking, visit: https://www.internationalsanctuary.com/about
To learn more about them, visit: https://www.internationalsanctuary.com/purpose
To purchase your gift, visit: https://www.purposejewelry.org/
- Shop from The Giving Keys and battle homelessness
-
Each product from this company is engraved with an inspirational word that you are meant to embrace. Once you’ve embraced it, you are encouraged to pay it forward and gift your product to someone who needs the inspirational word in their life. The Giving Keys provide full time jobs and the necessary tools to individuals in Los Angeles transitioning out of homelessness. Shop accessories including necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and more to help support this company!
To learn more about them, visit: https://www.thegivingkeys.com/pages/impact-1
To purchase your gift, visit: https://www.thegivingkeys.com/collections
- Help plant trees by shopping from One Tree Planted
-
Creating a healthier climate is even more important now than ever before. One Tree Planted is dedicated to giving back to the environment, protecting biodiversity, and helping reforestation efforts around the world. In 2018, they planted 1.3 million trees! Help protect habitats, create jobs, and build communities by shopping from their apparel, greeting cards, and “plant a tree” kits!
To learn more, visit: https://onetreeplanted.org/pages/about-us
To purchase your gift, visit: https://onetreeplanted.org/pages/shop
- Fight the hunger crisis and shop from FEED
-
Hunger is a serious crisis facing approximately 795 million people worldwide. FEED offers meaningful ways to make a difference with the sales of their products providing school meals to vulnerable communities around the world. Not only that, but they work with local artisans to provide sustainable livelihoods for their partners. They have a great selection of bags, accessories, and home goods so there’s something for everyone!
To learn more about them, visit: https://feedprojects.com/pages/about
To purchase your gift, visit: https://feedprojects.com/collections/gift-guide
- Protect wildlife and support Wildlife Warriors
-
Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors was created by Steve and Terri Irwin to encourage and teach others to care for our wildlife and their habitats. Become a Wildlife Warrior and give a personalized certificate that helps protect animals. Choose from six incredible virtual gifts including training and equipping rangers to protect rhinos, empowering rural communities to save tigers, and treating and caring for sick and injured koalas!
To learn more about them, visit: https://wildlifewarriors.org.au/about-us/
To purchase your gift, visit: https://wildlifewarriors.org.au/donate/send-a-personalised-certificate
- Make a donation in someone’s name through Canada Helps
-
Something as simple as making a donation on behalf of a friend or family member can be an extremely touching gift. It’s a meaningful gift that’ll make an important difference in the world. You can donate to a charity that supports a cause that is important to them or to yourself! Canada Helps has a whole list of organizations to choose from. Don’t worry, they make it easier by categorizing your options by charity type or donation amount.
Browse their organizations at: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/gift-guide/