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As you shop this holiday season, how would you like to:

• Help people see clearly.
• Improve the quality of life for over 20,000 people in Rwanda.
• Feed the hungry in America.
• Support peace efforts in the Congo.
• Provide sustainable employment for women in Africa.
• Restore the lives of human trafficking survivors.
• Help fund medical treatment for sick children in America.
• Provide clean drinking water to people in Guatemala.
• Help vulnerable women overcome poverty.
• Support Special Olympics.
• Put a pair of shoes on a shoeless human being.
• Provide a trade for women who have survived sex trafficking.
• Help a girl in Uganda attend university.
• Help the homeless turn their lives around.
• Support farmers around the world.
• Feed an orphan.

If you’d like to give a gift that helps others, check out my list of 20 unique gifts that give back in 2014. They’re all available online. I do not have an affiliate relationship with any of these companies, and do not receive any compensation from the sale of these items.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each item improves the quality of life for human beings around the world.

Avoid the crowds. Shop online. Help others.

  

1. Warby Parker Sunglasses – Women’s

 

2. Warby Parker Sunglasses – Men’s

Buy a pair of these sunglasses and improve sight for people around the world.

Warby tallies up the number of glasses sold and makes a monthly donation to their nonprofit partners to cover the cost of sourcing that number of glasses.

 

3. Kate Spade Bracelet

Shop on purpose.  This gorgeous bracelet is handcrafted by artisans of Massaro in the country of Rwanda. Over 150 people in this Rwandan community operate a small business as a supplier for Kate Spade. The sustainable income is reshaping the quality of life for over 20,000 people in their community.

 

 

4. Jack Spade Pocket Square

This handsome men’s pocket square was created by the same group of artisans of Massaro benefiting the same community. 

  

5. FEED + West Elm Cutting Board

Love this cutting board – and its purpose! FEED has partnered with West Elm to create a line of kitchen goods that help feed families in America. Give one to a friend or family member and help provide 23 meals for hungry American families.  

 

 

6. Falling Whistles Whistle Necklace

Falling Whistles is a campaign working for peace in the Congo – a place where there has been so much unrest and violence for years. This necklace symbolizes being a whistle blower for peace. Fifty percent of the proceeds help the cause in the Congo.

 

 

7. fashionABLE Wallet

Giving this wallet helps break the cycle of poverty and helps keep women safe from the deception of traffickers. FashionABLE is a company working to bring a sustainable business model to Africa. The company hires vulnerable women moving them away from dependency on charity to dignity and self-sufficiency with a sustainable job. 

 

8. Sevenly Alarm Clock and IPod Dock

Sevenly supports several charities. Seven dollars from the sale of this alarm clock helps restore the lives of human trafficking survivors.

 

 

9. Williams-Sonoma Chocolate Peppermint Cookie Mix

Buy this cookie mix and help a sick child who needs treatment at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. With your purchase, Williams-Sonoma will donate 20% of the proceeds to St. Jude.

 

 

10. IX Sandals

IX is a company striving to bring clean drinking water to the people of Guatemala. They also stimulate the economy by providing production jobs to craft the shoes. When you purchase a pair of these shoes, you help provide jobs as well as the financial support needed to provide clean drinking water. When the children of Guatemala no longer have to fetch clean water, they can attend school. In the long run, education for the community helps break the cycle of poverty.

 

 

11. Little Market Stuffed Animal

The Little Market works to build sustainable relationships with women who are working in marketplaces around the world. By giving these women a place to sell their goods they are helping them overcome poverty and support their families. Buy this adorable bear and help impoverished women in Peru.

 

 

12. The Little Market Alpaca Mittens

 The Little Market works to build sustainable relationships with women who are working in marketplaces around the world. By giving these women a place to sell their goods they are helping them overcome poverty and support their families. Buy these cozy mittens and help impoverished women in Peru.

 

 

13. Avery Christmas CD

Buy a Christmas CD and help fund Special Olympics. 

For the last 26 years, your favorite recording artists have generously shared their talents for the creation of holiday albums benefiting Special Olympics. Approximately $116 million in royalties and investment proceeds has been generated by the sale of the AVSC albums to support Special Olympics’ athletes with intellectual disabilities. 

 

 

14. TOMS Women’s Slippers

TOMS was founded on the business model one for one. With every pair of shoes sold, the company donates a pair of shoes to a person in need. The company has now expanded to many different products. With each purchase, a human in need is helped. You might also want to check out their “marketplace” which provides a platform for other like-minded companies to sell their products and succeed. These slippers are on my Christmas wish list.

 

 

15. TOMS Men’s Searcher Boots

TOMS was founded on the business model one for one. With every pair of shoes sold the company donates a pair of shoes to a person in need. The company has now expanded to many different products and with each purchase, a human in need is helped. You might also want to check out their “marketplace” which provides a platform for other like-minded companies to sell their products and succeed.

 

 

16. Punjammies

Pick up these fun punjammies and provide work for women who have escaped the sex trade. Employment helps them escape the brothels and removes their vulnerability to re-entering the sex trade.

 *Part of the International Princess Project.

 

 

17. Sseko Designs

Buy these shoes and help a young woman attend college. Sseko Designs is based in Uganda, Africa. Sseko hires female high school graduates who need to earn money for university. By giving them a way to pay for university, they are given an opportunity for a higher education and a skill set that helps break the cycle of poverty in Uganda.

 

  

18. The Giving Keys Classic Pendant Necklace

The Giving Keys hires people who are experiencing homelessness and helps provide a means for them to change their lives. Each giving key represents a unique individual who has a unique message living at the core of their heart. The key is meant to be given away to inspire someone who needs to hear that message more than the individual initially wearing it. 

 

 

19. Askinosie Chocolate

Chocolate and peanut butter are the perfect match. Purchasing this gift supports farmers around the world. Askinosie has forged Direct Trade relationships with each farmer of origin. This differs from the Fair Trade marketplace. Whereas the fair trade industry pays a price for the goods on the front end, Askinosie’s SITO and Direct Trade approach pays above Fair Trade market price on the front end AND returns to the farmers a share of the profits after chocolate from their beans is sold. We love this business model!

 

 

20. Bridgewater Candles

Bridgewater candles are made in America supporting jobs for Americans; however, their profits bless children around the world. Each natural, soy-blend candle represents the life of an orphaned child. Clean burning. Lead-free wick.

Buy a candle. Feed a parentless child.

As you give meaningful gifts this year, remember the most meaningful gift ever given was the gift God gave mankind . . . Jesus Christ. Just keeping it real.

 

Lisa~

 

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