Double your joy this holiday season by purchasing awesome presents that are also gifts that give back! This post has tons of cute ideas to help!
Real talk today, friends: I am often completely overwhelmed by the amount of need in the world. From right in my backyard to countries on the other side of the earth, there are needs upon needs upon needs. It breaks my heart to see the number of people struggling, whether it's with poverty or sickness or hunger or those caught in terrible slavery.
I often feel so helpless. I'm only one person, and these problems are enormous. I have absolutely no hope of fixing all of them all by myself. Often I find myself feeling so overwhelmed by the enormity of the need that I am paralyzed into inaction. Because I can't fix alllll the things, I do nothing.
So silly. It makes no sense.
So recently my mantra has become, "Just do something." Yes, maybe it is something small, but it is better than doing nothing. One of the little "somethings" that I've done recently was trying to purchase some of my Christmas gifts from places that give back to a charity or cause in some way.
I think that half the battle can sometimes be finding these types of companies or organizations, so I thought I'd include a quick list of some of the ones that I've purchased from in the past in case you're looking for a "little something" to do as well.
I make $0 from any of these links I'm about to share. They are not affiliate links in any way, shape, or form. Just companies that I thought had a cool mission behind them. 🙂
Where to Find Gifts that Give Back
1. World Vision
World Vision holds an extra special place in my heart. They are a a global Christian humanitarian organization that partners with children, families, and their communities to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice.
I had the absolute honor of traveling to Ecuador with World Vision last September to witness their incredible work firsthand. The trip included kicking off their new #chosen child sponsorship initiative that gives children the power to choose their own sponsors.
I've talked to many, many readers who love to give the gift of child sponsorship through World Vision. And World Vision also has a Charity Gift Catalog where you can give everything from medicine to soccer balls to animals to clean water to education and more.
This Giving Tuesday, December 1, any gift given to the World Vision Fund will be matched by a generous donor up to $1 million—meeting the needs of today and beyond by empowering kids and families to create change that lasts.
In addition, items from the Handcrafted Gifts section of World Vision's Gift Catalog count for this match! When donors order these gifts, they receive the item for free along with their donation to the World Vision Fund.
In 2019, 87% of World Vision's total operating expenses were used for programs that benefit children, families, and communities in need. You can learn more about their work here.
2. Cuddle + Kind
I originally found Cuddle + Kind on Instagram and absolutely fell in love with their mission (and their cute hand-knit dolls)!
For every ethically produced, hand-knit doll sold, they provide 10 meals to children in need. They also sell cute prints. Each print provides 5 meals to children in need.
Read more about Cuddle + Kind's mission here.
3. Love Your Melon
A friend of mine told me about Love Your Melon a few years ago, and I couldn't order a cute knit hat fast enough! (I now own 2 beanies and a headband!)
Love Your Melon is an apparel brand dedicated to giving a hat to every child battling cancer in America. They also support nonprofit organizations who lead the fight against pediatric cancer.
50% of profit from the sale of all Love Your Melon products is given to their nonprofit partners. You can learn more about LYM's mission here.
4. Sudara
Sudara's cozy pants, shorts, and robes are made by women in India who have escaped a life of sex trafficking and exploitation.
They are giving renewed hope and a pathway to freedom for these women by providing safe, steady, and living-wage employment, helping hundreds of women in the 10 years since their company began.
You can read more of their story here.
5. Preemptive Love Coalition
Preemptive Love Coalition works to bring relief to war-torn families and create jobs so that refugees can rebuild their lives. They are hard at work in Syria and Iraq and also have aided in disaster relief in the US.
They sell handmade soaps and candles and also allow purchasers to give gifts of food, shelter, and other necessities to refugees in need.
You can read more about their work here.
6. Mitscoots Outfitters
Mitscoots is an Austin, Texas based company that, for every item purchased, gives an item of equal quality to a person in need. They employ the transitioning homeless so that they can gain confidence and skills and build their network.
They make cozy blankets as well as quality apparel like socks, hats, gloves, and scarves.
You can read more of their story here.
7. Sunshine Nut Co.
Don Larson left his job as a high level executive with Hershey to move to Mozambique and start Sunshine Nut Co., where they employ primarily adult orphans and support orphanages and community programs throughout Mozambique with 90% of their profits.
Their delicious cashews would make a perfect stocking stuffer or add-on to any gift. Read their story here.
8. Headbands of Hope
For every cute headband sold at Headbands of Hope, they give a headband to a child with cancer. (You can see some of their adorable recipients in their giving gallery.) They also donate a percentage of their profits to cancer charities.
You can read more about HoH here.
9. Thistle Farms
Thistle Farms, headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, helps women who are recovering and healing from trafficking, prostitution, and addiction. They provide them with a safe place to live, a meaningful job, and continue to help support them even after the women have "graduated" from their program.
Thistle Farms offers beautiful candles, bath and body products, apparel, jewelry, and more. You can read about their mission here.
10. The Arise Box
The Arise Box is a quarterly subscription box that fights human trafficking. They use 10% of the profits to build care packages for human trafficking survivors in the USA, AND all of the items in their boxes make a positive impact on the world in some way. From sustainable and fair trade items to other products that help fight trafficking themselves, each box is full of amazing goodies that also have amazing impact.
You can check out the latest season's box and learn more about The Arise Box's mission here.
11. Fire Department Coffee
Donnie is a HUGE coffee drinker, so I am always looking for coffee-related gifts for him! Fire Department Coffee is run by active and retired firefighters. Ten percent of FDC's net proceeds are donated to help provide essential resources and assistance to first responders who have been injured on the job, mentally or physically, or who are facing other serious health challenges.
I realized just how important this need was when a friend lost her firefighter husband recently, so I truly appreciate FDC's mission and purpose. You can learn more about them here.
Just like I feel inadequate when it comes to meeting all of the needs that exist in the world, I know this post only scratches the surface when it comes to listing all of the amazing organizations out there that give back when you purchase gifts from them.
I would love for you to leave your favorite organizations in the comments so we can make this list even larger and provide even more resources for people who are looking to do "a little something."
Because all those "little somethings"? They add up. I may feel like I am just a little drop in the bucket by myself, but together, we really can make an impact. <3
Have a wonderful holiday season, my friends!
Just beautiful, Abby! I love this concept and just shared it on Facebook. I'm in total agreeance that one person can make a difference. You have a very special heart. <3
You are too sweet, Tiffany! Thank you! Have a blessed holiday season! <3
~Abby =)
I love this, Abby! Kiva is a great organization, too! This is a description of the organization taken directly from their website: "By lending as little as $25 on Kiva, anyone can help a borrower start or grow a business, go to school, access clean energy or realize their potential. For some, it’s a matter of survival, for others it’s the fuel for a life-long ambition. 100% of every dollar you lend on Kiva goes to funding loans. Kiva covers costs primarily through optional donations, as well as through support from grants and sponsors." I have pooled together with several gals from bible studies in the past and after the loans are repaid, we simply loan to another individual. It's fantastic!
Love it! Thanks so much for sharing with me, April! Hope you're having the best week! <3
~Abby =)
This is such a beautiful post! I agree with Tiffany, one person can make a difference! You are so inspiring, Abby!
You are too sweet! Thank you, Nat! Hope you're having an awesome week! <3
~Abby =)
Darn Good Yarn is great company for knitters and crocheters. Their products are made by women in developing countries, giving them a way to support their families with fair wages.
That's so awesome! Love it! Thanks so much for the info, Nicole! <3
~Abby =)
One of my favorites is Eden Reforistation Projects (edenprojects.org). One year we planted trees on behalf of everyone on our gift list. As $10 planted 100 trees in Africa at that time and provided labor for a worker that meant for $100 we could have 1000 trees planted. That Plus giving a wage to someone goes a long way toward making the world a better place!
Oh, wow! That is AMAZING, Jolene! Love love love that idea! Thanks so much for sharing! <3
~Abby =)
I love this list, thanks Abby! I will plan to share it this week.
I also love Sea Goat Soul on Etsy, which has empowering clothes for girls and babies. A portion of seagoatsoul's proceeds to non-profits that empower women and girls and promote humanitarian and educational efforts around the world. In December, their sales benefit Tostan, Inc., an African charity.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/SeaGoatSoul?ref=l2-shopheader-name#about
I love that! Thank you so much for sharing, Catherine! Have a wonderful week! <3
~Abby =)
UncommonGoods also gives a $1 donation to a charity (you get to pick out of a group of 4-6) for every order all year long. And then once or twice a year they double the donation.
That's so awesome! Thanks for sharing, Lissa! <3
~Abby =)
I have several items from a place here in the Nashville, TN area called Thistle Farms. Thistle Farms' mission is to HEAL, EMPOWER, AND EMPLOY women survivors of trafficking, prostitution, and addiction. Products can be purchased at http://www.thistlefarms.org
That's amazing. Thank you so much for sharing with me, Karen! <3
~Abby =)
What a beautiful collection of gifts! Thank you so much for including us, Abby! Merry Christmas!
Thanks for all you do! Have a wonderful Christmas! <3
~Abby =)
This is a great list of places to shop at. I haven't head of any of them so I am definitely going to check them out. I like learning about new places to shop since I'm a shopaholic. I love shopping at stores that give back. I wish more shops would consider giving back in some sort of way. It only takes a little to change the world.
You are so right! Glad it was helpful for you, Brandi! Have a great week!
~Abby =)
I love this! It's so easy to buy and consume at this time of year, so I love the idea of giving that's more mindful 🙂
Thanks, Ashley! Hope you have an awesome weekend! <3
~Abby =)
Thanks for sharing these! I wanted to share another good site...I always check out Servv International for beautiful Fair Trade gifts.
Thanks so much for sharing, Jean! I will check it out! <3
~Abby =)
Thanks for gathering these for us, Abby! I completely agree with the do-what-you-can approach!
If it's okay with you, I'll share your post (via link) on my post on gifting this week.
Thanks so much for sharing, Karen! Have an awesome week! <3
~Abby =)
I'm making much more of an effort this year to buy sustainable Christmas gifts, it's so important! Your ideas are wonderful, thank-you for the tips!
Yay! So glad it was helpful for you, Emily! Have an awesome week! <3
~Abby =)
My favorite shop is leemariegiving.com! They are a small Jewelry company based in Quincy, IL and they donate 100% of their profits to a new selected charity each quarter. Their jewelry is so affordable too. It feels so great to buy gifts knowing your money is also going to a good cause!
Love it! Thanks so much for sharing, Emily! Have a great week! <3
~Abby =)
Thank you so much for this list and for doing the research for us! It's so easy to get caught up in making a "perfect" Christmas for our families and forget about the people with real needs. My family has lots of life changes going on this year and I've been focused on hurrying and getting my shopping over with. Thanks again for the ideas and the reminder.
So glad it was helpful for you, Michele! Have a wonderful holiday season! <3
~Abby =)
Thank you for sharing these resources! Especially those on Amazon since I tend to do a lot of shopping there anyway. I’m always glad to find more resources that give back all because I made a purchase through them, so this list is appreciated. 🙂
I wanted to recommend the Rebbl drink brand that can be found online (rebbl.co) and in grocery stores like Safeway or Whole Foods. These drinks always donate a portion towards fighting human trafficking and I believe are part of a process in empowering vulnerable communities and people, since they were also founded by Not For Sale, an anti-human trafficking group that also works on empowering people too. Check them out when you can and thank you again for this wonderful list of resources!
Love that! Thanks so much for letting me know about Rebbl. I will check it out! Hope you have a great week!
~Abby =)