A gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of the great. Proverbs 18:16
It’s my favorite time of the year! Christmastime is truly the most wonderful. Gathering of families, great food and drink, and celebrating the birth of Jesus. What I especially love about this time is the general goodwill and giving spirit that fills each one of us. I put together a list every year in December of my favorite gifts that give back to various charities. Each list is new and has unique gifts that will be loved by the receiver as well as give back to charitable causes and those in need.
I always have such a great time putting together these lists and I hope you love reading about these fabulous companies. Here are some of my favorites this year, click the title of each below to view details about the gift.
Citizens of Humanity: Stay Safe Long Sleeve Unisex T-Shirt
Citizens of Humanity has partnered with Zibby Owens, an author and award-winning podcast host, to bring awareness to the Susan Felice Owens Program for COVID-19 Vaccine Research at Mount Sinai Health System. The program honors Zibby’s mother-in-law, Susan Felice Owens, who lost her life to COVID-19 in late summer 2020. In the effort to support their continued research, they have created a limited-edition UNISEX t-shirt where 100% of the retail selling price of every t-shirt sold will be donated to the program.
You can learn more about Mount Sinai’s COVID-19 Vaccine Research Program the story of Susan Felice Owens here.
This product also gives back in an additional way. If you round up to the nearest dollar of the purchase price, they will give that additional amount to support Girls, Inc. of Greater Los Angeles. Girls Inc. of Greater Los Angeles provides hundreds of girls with life-changing support and real solutions to the unique issues they face. You can learn more about Girls Inc. LA here.
Parachute: Percale Venice Set
If you have someone on your list that needs to update their bedding, this set is made of 100% long-staple Egyptian cotton. There are multiple colors to choose from, and it is designed without a top sheet. It’s comparable to the perfect white button-down shirt: crisp, clean, and classic. What is even better is that this set will continue to soften with use!
Every purchase gives a life-saving bed net to Nothing But Nets. Nothing But Nets is a global campaign that raises malaria awareness and funds to help prevent the disease. Since Parachute has partnered with this organization, they’ve donated over 50,000 bed nets! You can learn more about their partnership and both organizations here.
Bombas: Women’s Festive Merino Wool Calf Sock 4-Pack Gift Box
Socks are a staple for Christmas…doesn’t everyone love getting new socks for Christmas? This holiday gift set not only comes in a ready-to-gift box, but it is made with incredibly soft Merino Wool, has fun and festive patterns, and every purchase donates socks to someone in needTriple check. Since this 4-pair gift box means 4 pairs are donated!
Bombas was founded on the philosophy of donating to those in need but has evolved to go deeper into the community. The more clothing items they sell, the more they donate. One Purchased = One Donated. I love this giving model!
Ground & Hounds Coffee Company: Rescue Roast
Cold weather calls for warm drinks. This Rescue Roast from Grounds & Hounds is 100% certified organic, 100% Arabica coffee that is a full bodied, smooth medium roast. It is available in whole bean and ground varieties.
The best part about this coffee? 100% of the profits from this blend are donated to a new rescue organization every month. During the month of November, Grounds & Hounds donated to Marley’s Mutts, specifically to help fund their emotions support dog program with Hounds & Heroes. This program helps assign support dogs to Veterans in need at absolutely no cost to them. Check out their website here to see what additional rescue programs they help support and the impact they make through their mission.
Adventurist Backpack Co.: Adventurist Classic Backpack
I travel a lot and love to have variety of bags to choose from. This backpack is made with ultra-durable, water-resistant polyester and synthetic leather straps. They are designed with dual front and back padding, so your belongings are protected. And did I mention the colors? The colors you can purchase this backpack in are beautiful!
For every backpack purchased, 25 meals are provided to families in need across the United States through Feeding America, a charity I absolutely love. Through Feeding America, all purchases from Adventurist Backpack Co. buys excess food in bulk from farmers across the U.S. and then distributes it to food banks in each state, helping to reduce the food waste in our country, support local farmers, and provide nutrition for families in need. Through this program, Adventurist Backpack purchases have provided over 171,275 meals. Learn more about their impact here.
Uncommon Goods: Rainbow Market Tote
Everyone should be using re-usable grocery bags. If you aren’t, it’s not too late to start using them in efforts to reduce our plastic consumption. Uncommon Goods has a lot of interesting and unique finds. Meant to symbolize hope and solidarity during challenging pandemic times, these small reminders of our togetherness can have a big impact. Uncommon Goods asked kids from the community to share their works of rainbow art. They compiled them into this take-everywhere tote—ready for farmers market hauls or beach day escapes!
To keep this energy of hope, they also donate 100% of the profits from the tote’s sales to Americares’ Covid-19 response efforts in the United States. Americares is the largest provider of medical aid to the U.S. health care safety net. They help clinics increase service capacity, provide comprehensive care, improve health outcomes and reduce costs for patients. You can read more about their impact here.
Uncommon Goods: Tubman Stamp Kit
Speaking of unique gifts, this Stamp Kit from Uncommon Goods is definitely a gift for someone who already has everything they need. Did you know that Harriet Tubman, who escaped slavery to live a life of multi-faceted heroism, was chosen by thousands of Americans in 2016 as the first woman to appear on the $20 bill? Unfortunately, the US treasury department abruptly walked back this decision three years later. The maker of this stamp, Dano Wall, began mass-producing rubber stamps that super impose the icon’s face on top of Andrew Jackson’s. What a cool gift! And yes, it is completely legal to spread the currency of change through this stamp everywhere you go.
100% of the profits from the Tubman Stamp Kit will go to the Thurgood Marshall College Fund: an American non-profit organization that supports and represents nearly 300,000 students attending its 47 member-schools that include public historically black colleges and universities, medical schools, and law schools.
Thrive Causemetics: Holiday Gift Set
There are so many great things about Thrive Causemetics. The company is cruelty-free and vegan, all their products are formulated without synthetic fragrances and phthalates, and products are all paraben and sulfate free. Not only that, but with every purchase made, they donate to help a woman in need. They help women seeking a path out of homelessness, help survivors of domestic abuse, support and empower women fighting cancer, and support women veterans during and after military service. You can read more about how they donate to support women here.
Whether it be a gift to be unwrapped or a stocking stuffer, every woman loves getting makeup for Christmas. I love Thrive Causemetics’ bundle of Mascara, eyeliner, and eye brightener. It is all their best sellers in one bundle, and you can customize your bundle with the colors of your choice!
Joa Bath and Body: Body Gift Set
Joa is the Korean word for “good” and this company is all about good, clean beauty products. They source their ingredients locally and from around the world, creating each one in small batches paying close attention to details. They don’t use parabens, sodium lauryl sulphate, petrolatums, formaldehyde, or triclosan in their products. Learn more about their company here.
Their Body Gift Set contains two of their bath soaps and a jar of body soufflé. Their bath soaps are Made with rich oils to produce a thick moisturizing lather, and their body soufflé is rich mango butter and shea butter combined with skin-nourishing oils and whipped together to make a light cream. You can choose the fragrance of your gift set and they have amazing scents like cranberry, lavender/vanilla, sandalwood/amber, and violet.
Starfish Project: The Lenore Gift Set
The earrings, bracelets and necklaces from Starfish Project do a whole lot more than just look pretty – they also help save lives. Starfish works with exploited women and girls experience freedom, establish independence, and develop careers. They provide shelter, health care, counseling and more, in addition to employment to these women. You can read more about their story here.
The Lenore Gift Set includes the Lenore Cross Bar Necklace – it’s adjustable, reversible, and made for everyday wear. It also comes with marbled mother-of-pearl and 14K gold plated fun geometric Lenore Earrings! Every gift set arrives ready to gift, wrapped in a gift bag, and individually packaged in gorgeous gold & white gift boxes. Inside each box, your recipient will find a Story of Hope of a life changed by your purchase.
If you are looking to support an organization and simply give during the holiday season to a worthy cause, here is a short list of organizations that I support and partner with through The Jonathon D. Fischer Foundation (JDFF). Click on the name of the charity to learn more about the organization and to give directly:
The John Maxwell Leadership Foundation
The Dream Center LA
The David Foster Foundation
Lions Foundation of Canada
Thorn
Planet Hope (learn more about their organization and click their name to give directly) Planet Hope provides over 10,000 gifts to homeless, abused, and ill children living in the hospital this holiday season. If you would like to buy a gift, click here to view their gift list.
Casa Hogar Cabo – You can donate through their website using Friends of Casa Hogar, Monarca Canada Foundation or International Community Foundation (ICF) to receive a tax-deductible receipt.
Casa Hogar Cabo also has two campaigns you can donate to:
“Our Caregivers are our Heros”
“Elevate Lives of Vulnerable Children in Mexico”
“I love the Christmas-tide, and yet,
I notice this, each year I live;
I always like the gifts I get,
But how I love the gifts I give!”– Carolyn Wells
Have a wonderfully blessed Christmas season!
Christine