Gift Guide: 7 Holiday Shops That Give To Charity At The Same Time

Posted in: Innovation, Lifestyle

Half of the fun of the holidays is sharing exciting, thoughtful gifts with the people who mean the most to you.

It’s a holiday tradition and, of course, an exciting way to show how much you care. But it’s also important to remember how thankful we should be that we get to share the holiday season with our loved ones or that we have the ability to share our love through gifts. Not everyone is afforded those simple luxuries.

Luckily, there is a way to get all of your holiday shopping done AND give back to those less fortunate at the same time this holiday season. There are many amazing stores and organizations throughout the country (and world) that will use your purchases to make a difference in another's life. To help you get started checking gifts off your shopping list, here are a few of our favorite holiday ideas that also give back to charity.

MERIT

Clothing and Accessories by Merit

Did you know that every 26 seconds a child in America drops out of high school? Because of this, Merit (a local Michigan company) has made youth education their mission. Each Merit purchase helps shape the fate of students in need and helps send them to college. To date, they have raised over $15,600 in college tuition money through just 2,194 products sold. This has resulted in over 24,400 minutes of class provided to someone who would have otherwise not had a chance to attend college. If you’re looking for an awesome place for unique hoodies, sweaters, clothing, accessories and more, check out this awesome Ann Arbor company and help educate youth at the same time.

BODY SHOP

Bath and Body Items by The Body Shop

Everyone likes to look (and smell) good, and The Body Shop is one of the best one-stop-shops to get delicious smelling bath and body treats for all of the beauty lovers on your list. Not only does this globally conscious company believe in products that are anti-animal tested, pro-fair trade and vegan, but they also have a do-good ethos that has inspired their holiday gifts that help give back.

A portion of sales from select merchandise will benefit the communities where their products are manufactured, such as Honduras, India and Nepal. These sales will go towards building modern school spaces so children have easier access to education. Purchases also help children who have been affected by war receive education through their partnership with the global charity War Child.

TOMS

Shoes, Eyewear and Coffee by TOMS

TOMS has long been known for their amazing One for One deal when it comes to shoes. (For every pair of shoes purchased, a pair is donated to children in need.) However, many people don’t know that their one for one movement has also expanded to sunglasses, eyeglasses and even coffee! For each of these items purchased through the TOMS website, a gift of shoes, a gift of eyesight, or a gift of water (for coffee purchases) will be donated to help someone in need! So don’t feel ashamed of your caffeine habits - stock up!

KROCHET KIDS

Apparel and Accessories by Krochet Kids International

Rather than simply donating to those less fortunate, Krochet Kids International is a great organization that also helps to educate and empower those in need. They do this by hiring women in Northern Uganda or Peru to craft and crochet the products they sell on their website in an effort to help take their families out of poverty. In fact, every product on their website is hand signed by the person who made it and each purchase directly funds continuous mentorship and efforts to empower these women through sustainable products that support them.

UNITED BY BLUE

Outdoor Goods by United By Blue

Hello Innovation is based in Detroit, so we are all about keeping our local waterways clean. It just wouldn’t be the same summer in Michigan with heavy pollution flowing through the Great Lakes. This is why we love the idea behind United By Blue. For every single product that this outdoor goods and apparel company sells, United By Blue will remove one pound of trash from worldwide oceans and waterways through company organized and hosted cleanups. So far, they have hosted 116 cleanups and removed over 200,000 pounds of trash from rivers, streams, creeks and beaches across 21 US states — and they’re just getting started. They also make totally awesome outdoor gear for the camper in your life.

OUT OF PRINT

Gifts for Book Lovers by Out Of Print

We all have a book nerd in our life... That person you know who would much rather have their nose in a good book then head out to party. (As someone who fits this description perfectly, I’m here to tell you, don’t take it personally.) Out Of Print is a great online shop that not only spreads the joy of reading through their awesome tees and accessories, but they also help to spread reading and literacy to parts of the world that don’t have access to books at all. For every product purchased on Out Of Print, one book is donated to a community in need through their partner, Books For Africa. (Mom and Dad, if you’re reading this, I’ll take one of everything — and so will a future book nerd in need. Please and thank you.)

BOGO BOWL

Delicious Eats for Pets by BOGO Bowl

Any pet owner out there will know that there is nothing your pet loves more than the sound of dinner being poured into their bowl. Unfortunately, not every pet out there gets to hear this sound each day, or even each week. There are millions of homeless pets in the world who have yet to find a loving family to give them the delicious meal that they crave. Luckily, BOGO Bowl has recognized the fact that pet shelters and rescues are in desperate need of food for homeless pets, and they are working to make a difference. For every bag of pet food you buy on BOGO Bowl’s website, a bag of premium pet food is donated to a shelter or rescue. It’s the perfect gift of giving for all the pet lovers in the world.

What are some of your favorite holiday charities to support during the holiday season? Let us know in the comments! Also stay tuned for another blog later this month that talks about what Hello Innovation is doing to support local families this holiday.

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