The Huffington Post Style, November 2015. Before you hit the Black Friday rush, or join thousands of other citizens on a month-long shopping spree, browse through this meaningful holiday gift guide. These products will not only bring happiness to your friends and family, but also impact someone in need. From chocolates, toys, pet supplies, jewelry, apparel, handicrafts, and mattresses, to sporting goods and more, these would fit within every budget, and can be easily purchased online.
The social enterprises listed below give back either a portion of the revenues to a cause, donate an item for an item sold, or directly invest in people by creating meaningful job opportunities. This season, make a pledge to beat the crowds and share the joy of the holiday season by purchasing gifts that also give back.
1. Accessories That Do Good
Accessories by For Goodness Sake show inspiring messages that remind people to give everyday. Enabling people to shop with purpose, this lifestyle brand provides a sustainable funding solution to its philanthropic partners by donating a minimum of 25% of net proceeds of every purchase. Donations made through the platform aid the underserved and support important health, environmental and educational initiatives. $20-1,500 at www.forgoodsake.org
2. Chocolates That Feed The World
Seattle Chocolate Company, offers a full line of premium chocolates that includes truffle bars, truffles, jcoco bars, in handcrafted flavors, like black fig pistachio, edamame sea salt, and agave quinoa sesame. The ingredients are all-natural, sustainably sourced, GMO free, and certified Kosher. For every jcoco chocolate purchase made online or in stores, SCC partners with Food Banks in New York City, Greater Boston Food Bank, SF-Marin Food Bank and Northwest Harvest, to provide food assistance to local communities in need across America. $1.75-78.95 at www.seattlechocolates.com
3. An Outlet by Disabled Artists
Custom order a painting with your favorite pet or person’s profile. Chicago based Project Onward, is a nonprofit studio and gallery for professional artists with mental and developmental disabilities. There are very few opportunities for disabled artists who graduated from the city’s art program, and the organization provides them workspace, materials, professional guidance, exhibition opportunities and access to markets. The 60 resident artists represent 30+ Chicago neighborhoods. $25 – $7,000 at www.projectonward.org
4. Hostess Gifts That Fight AIDS
Support the global fight against AIDS with Alessi (PRODUCT) RED Special Edition Collection, comprised of elegant kitchenware and home goods. Led by chef Mario Batali and supported by more than 50 leading chef Ambassadors worldwide, the campaign rallies the culinary world around the goal of delivering an AIDS Free Generation, with Michelin-starred restaurants, food trucks and everyone in between offering special (RED) menu items during the month. $18-110 at www.alessi.com
5. Sweaters From The Largest Slum in Kenya
Slumlove classic sweaters for men and women are made sustainabily with 100% cotton. All products are made by people living in the largest slum in Kenya, called Kibera. The employees are treated with respect, given fare wages, plus a portion of every purchase is used towards educating the children in Kenya. $95 at www.slumlove.com
6. Books That Teach Animal Welfare
Children’s books Kamie Cat’s Terrible Night and Pablo Puppy’s Search for the Perfect Person illustrate the important healing potential that animals can offer. All proceeds from the books go to support the work of Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), a non-profit charitable organization founded in 1951 and dedicated to reducing animal suffering caused by people. $4 at www.awionline.org
7. Bikes for Empowerment
Stylish and high performance Miir Bicycles come in different designs and sizes for kids, teen and adults. For each bicycle purchased from MiiR, a bike is donated to someone in need, to be used for access to education or employment. To date MiiR has helped to empower over 3,000 people with bicycles. $139-1,395 at www.miir.com
8. Pet Toys That Rescue Homeless Animals
PetSmart’s Luv-A-Pet Collection including Luv-A-Pet Lucky Dog and Chance plush toys, holiday-themed apparel with adorable sayings like Rescue Love Adopt, Best Present Ever, are great to give your furry family member or the animal lover in your life. 10 percent of the purchases of Luv-A-Pet rescue products will be donated to PetSmart Charities to help save homeless pets this holiday season. $3.99-$23.99 at www.petsmart.com
9. Wallets That Empower Women
The Eyerusalem Passport leather wallet by FASHIONABLE is hand crafted in Ethiopia by women who have overcome challenges ranging from prostitution to addiction to a lack of opportunity. FASHIONABLE invests in women and helps them find purpose in the work they do. The online store also sells jewelry, scarves, leather bags and home goods. $35 at www.livefashionable.com
10. Glasses That Give The Gift of Vision
Reduce digital eye strain while using computers and smartphones with these adjustable Interface glasses. With the turn of a dial, users can adjust the focus themselves from -6 to +3 diopters. In fact, Interface glasses can be adjusted to improve vision for 90% of eyeglass and contact lens wearers who do not have astigmatism. Through the Buy One Give One program, administered by Vision for a Nation(r), a pair of focus eyeglasses is donated to people in Rwanda. $49.99 at www.adlens.com
Backpacks by Sydney Paige. For every Sydney Paige backpack sold, another one is filled with school supplies and donated to low income children in need. You can show your kids how to enrich lives with education and break the poverty cycle. $40-80 at www.sydneypaigeinc.com
13. Fashion That Empowers Afghan Refugees
Raven + Lily’s Pakistan collection features hand embroidered eco-friendly dresses and tops, and empowers Afghan refugees living in the Pakistan region to help improve their livelihood. Raven + Lily currently helps employ over 1,500 marginalized women at fair trade wages to give them access to a safe job, sustainable income, health care, education, and a real chance to to break the cycle of poverty for themselves and their families. $99-232 at www.ravenandlily.com
14. Ethical and Wildlife Friendly Chocolates
15. Mattresses That Care For The Earth
16. Inspiring Jewelry to End Homelessness