What better gift is there than teaching your child the spirit of giving this holiday season! Why not create a family tradition that gives back by supporting one of these amazing organizations with holiday gifts that help people around the world?
A few years ago, I began highlighting different organizations that offer wonderful gifts that also give back to a cause. Given how popular the posts have been, I created a permanent Gifts that Give Back page on my blog and last holiday season that page alone received 10,000 views in the months of November and December! I was thrilled to know that these amazing organizations and causes were getting more customers from my blog. Without further ado, here is my updated 2016 Holiday Guide of Gifts that Give Back. I hope you enjoy and please comment if you know of any I’ve missed and please share with friends. Happy Shopping!
Gifts that help women
Anchal Project
Anchal Project recently launched The Narrative Collection, their latest evolution in textiles goods. By partnering contemporary geometric design with an aggregated stitch pattern, Anchal is revolutionizing traditional kantha quilting techniques. The result is a collection of quilts, pillows, scarves and ponchos handmade from layers of 100% organic cotton. The Narrative Collection is handmade in Ajmer, India by a group of 100 women participating in a holistic artisan program. Using design thinking to create innovative products and sustainable employment, Anchal empowers exploited women worldwide. www.anchalproject.org
Here are some of my favorites for the holidays:
Bloom & Give
Bloom & Give sells beautifully handcrafted scarves and bags made in India using techniques passed on from generation to generation. Each product is designed in the US by one of Bloom & Give’s designers, and made in India with love. Bloom & Give donates 50% of their profits to support girls education programs in India through their partner Educate Girls to improve the lives of girls in Rajasthan.
Bloom & Give just released a new fall line with lots of beautiful products. Here are some of my favorites for the holidays. www.bloomandgive.com
Bird + Stone
A made-in-NYC jewelry start-up that invests in female entrepreneurs in the developing world. Bird + Stone uses jewelry as a funding vehicle for micro-loans and financial training and invests in single mothers in Kenya to start farming businesses, lift their families out of poverty, and follow their dreams. www.birdandstone.com
Five | Six Textiles
Five | Six Textiles is a home decor brand that honors the heritage of traditional woven textiles from Côte d’Ivoire. They produce home goods and bags in collaboration with the artisan collective of Waraniéné. Founded in Brooklyn in 2015, Five | Six Textiles embraces time-honored weaving techniques, blending them with a modern aesthetic, and translating them into products that reflect your well-traveled home. It’s art with a function and all sales goes to support the artisans and their families. www.fiveandsixtextiles.com
Humanity Unified
This December, Humanity Unified – who works with women farmers in Rwanda – is building a Harvest Haven. The Harvest Haven will protect the crops the women have worked so hard to grow over the past several months. The crops are the women’s livelihood, the very source of their income. With the income they will earn from healthy, protected crops, 100 women will be able to give their children a better future. Girls will be able to stay in school and entire families will be lifted from poverty. Donate at Humanity Unified to help build the harvest haven. www.humanityunified.org
Kurandza
Kurandza makes beautiful jewelry, totes, accessories and more. Each purchase helps empower women in rural Mozambique to earn a steady income and provide for themselves and their families! All items are made by hand from capulana, a traditional african fabric. Here are a few favorites for the season. www.kurandza.org
The Red Sari
The Red Sari is a socially responsible fashion design company with a mission to create and sustain jobs for women in Nepal. Their beautiful products are made by artisans and women’s handicraft groups in Nepal, using old pieces of saris and creating lovely masterpieces that give the women financial independence, opportunity and pride.
www. theredsari.com
To the Market
TO THE MARKET | Survivor-made Goods (TTM) combines the powers of commerce and storytelling to empower the world’s most courageous survivor populations, in the belief that resilience is more powerful than suffering. TTM showcases handmade goods made exclusively by proud and passionate artisans who have overcome the perils of abuse, conflict, and disease. By assisting local partners around the world in bringing these goods “to the market,” we take an active role in equipping the survivor’s they employ with economic independence, while raising awareness of the challenges that they face. www.tothemarket.com
Here are some of To The Market’s best bets for the holiday season:
Gifts that help families/children
b.a.r.e soaps
b.a.r.e. soaps is an all natural, socially conscious soap & candle company. b.a.r.e stands for “bringing antiseptic resources to everyone”. Proceeds from the sales are reinvested into social causes such as a soap rebatching initiative in India and a program to help children with essentials in Uganda. www.bare-soaps.com
Gifts that help survivors
AWE: Alive We’re Empowered
AWE: Alive We’re Empowered was founded by Jill Johnson, 3-time cancer survivor, successful entrepreneur and jewelry designer. AWE is working to change the conversation around survivorship with their line of fine jewelry developed to unite, celebrate and empower survivors. 20% of all sales go to their incredible charity partners, selected because they directly impact the lives of survivors – The Trevor Project (at risk LGBTQ youth), RAINN (sexual abuse survivors), CancerCare (cancer survivors), and Fisher House (veterans). www.aweinspired.com
Gifts that Help Children
Ames & Oats
Ames & Oats is gift company whose mission is to celebrate moments, people, and daily life. They carefully source and curate products from artisans who take pride in their work and those who embody our mission. They are also passionate about giving back and donate 10% of each order to Pencils of Promise, a for-purpose organization that focuses on building schools and training teachers to ensure children everywhere have access to quality education. www.amesandoates.com
Ritzique
This holiday, spread more than just joy and inspire the special women in your life with Ritzique portable smartphone chargers. Each of the lightweight, macaron shaped chargers are uniquely designed with empowering messages that provide faith, hope and love to “charge” one’s spirit. Take the charger anywhere you go and feel positive energy all in the palm of your hand! Aiming to spread love and positivity, Ritzique has joined forces with Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA), donating a portion of their net proceeds to assist families with their children’s transplant expenses. Retailed at an affordable price of $23.99, purchase a Ritzique and uplift everyone to have the giving spirit even when the holidays are over. www.ritzique.com
Gifts that Fight Hunger
Action Against Hunger www.actionagainsthunger.org
Shopping for the person who has everything? Hoping to include a gift that gives back? Look no further than the leading internationa