It’s the most wonderful time of the year! The season for overindulging and spending way too much time and money on gifts that we don’t really need. Don’t get me wrong, I do love a great, thoughtful gift. I also enjoy filling up my cart at Target or Amazon as much as the next person. But there’s something that tugs at my heart every Christmas season…finding ways to give back to those in need.
The perfect compromise is to find ethically sourced companies who give back to the community; companies whose missions are to empower the hopeless and poor and make a difference in the world. I feel better buying gifts for people who have all that they need when I know that I’m also impacting the life of someone who needs it. Today, I am sharing my 4 favorite brands that give back.
*This post doesn’t contain a single affiliate link. These are just brands that I truly support and believe in and want to share with my readers!
Purpose Jewelry
I first discovered Purpose Jewelry because my husband and I were donating money to International Sanctuary. International Sanctuary is an incredible nonprofit that rescues women from sex trafficking. Once women are rescued from human trafficking, they are invited to join the team and are trained in the art of jewelry making. This gives them a way to generate income, and most importantly, feel proud about creating a new life for themselves.
The jewelry is absolutely stunning. It is so delicate and pretty. Purpose Jewelry has been my go-to for gifting for a few years! It is such a classic style that I don’t worry about it not suiting someone’s taste. I really think everyone could find something they like. My favorite is the infinity necklace in gold, but I have several other items on my wish list! The purchase of this jewelry is truly changing the world by freeing women from slavery.
If jewelry isn’t your thing, but you still want to get involved, you can visit this page to volunteer.
TL; DR
- Timeless, stylish, beautiful and simple designs
- High-quality, handmade pieces
- Beautifully packaged with the name of the jewelry maker
- Jewelry is handcrafted and packaged by survivors of human sex trafficking
I reached out to Purpose Jewelry and asked for a coupon code for my readers! They generously agreed, and from now until 12/20, Purpose Jewelry is offering a 15% discount to Rogers Party of 5 Readers. Simply enter the code ROGERS at checkout.
This Bar Saves Lives
For each bar that is purchased, food is made and distributed to areas in need all over the world. Instead of buying the snack bars you normally buy, why not try This Bar Saves Lives and help feed children as you feed yourself! You can check out their mission statement here. They come in delicious flavors such as Madagascar Vanilla Honey & Almond, and Dark Chocolate Cherry & Sea Salt.
Someone gifted these to my husband last year. It was the perfect gift for him, as he’s hard to shop for and doesn’t really like too many material things. He’s also gluten-free and has some other allergies, and these didn’t upset his stomach at all! They are available many places including Target, Thrive Market, and on their website. They also have a kid bar (called This Kid Saves Lives… how cute!!) that is free of nuts, so perfect for school snacks. I ordered a few boxes as stocking stuffers this year.
TL; DR:
- Food is provided to hungry children all over the world
- Gluten-free, Non-GMO
- Vegan (other than a tiny bit of honey, so depends on how vegan you are)
- KIDS bars are nut free (regular bars are not)
- Made from real food and free from preservatives, artificial coloring, and other bad stuff
Cuddle + Kind
Cuddle + Kind has gained a lot of attention in the two short years it’s been around, and for good reason. Their stunning, heirloom-quality dolls are hand knit, ethically made, and full of personality. With the purchase of each doll, 10 meals are donated to hungry children throughout the world. Their mission is to donate over 1 million meals a year. You can watch their video here and I’m sure you’ll be just as blown away as I am by the beautiful dolls and the heart behind the company.
Since the dolls are handmade, certain styles are frequently out of stock. They try to keep them restocked weekly, but if you see a doll you like, it is best to snatch it up while you can! I ordered my girls Charlotte the dog for Christmas and I can’t wait to see their little faces when they open them. They have so many options, it was hard to decide which ones to choose! You can also purchase prints that go along with each doll to hang in your child’s room or playroom.
TL; DR
- Purchase of 1 doll= 10 meals to impoverished children around the world
- Dolls are beautifully hand knit, ethically made, and amazing quality
- Super stylish and full of unique personality
- Safe and non-toxic
Love Your Melon
Love Your Melon was created by two friends who had a goal to put a hat on every child battling cancer in the US (you can request a hat for a child battling cancer on their website). They have so far given 120,000 hats to cancer patients and 3.8 MILLION dollars to aid in pediatric cancer research. You can watch a video on their mission here and I bet you will cry.
Great care is taken to ensure that each hat is soft enough for a child battling cancer. They have other products as well, but the company is mainly known for their super soft beanies. I’ve wanted to try these hats for a while, and I just put in an order for all 5 of the Rogers family for this Christmas! They have kids sizes (the kids cuffed beanie is best for babies/toddlers and the kids regular beanie is best for ages 3 and up) and a one size fits all for adults. You’ll be sure to see us on Instagram sporting our matching beanies… I’m sure I will be the only one smiling and looking at the camera, but that’s life with kids, right?
TL; DR
- Hats are provided to pediatric cancer patients
- 50% of proceeds are donated towards fighting pediatric cancer
- Super soft, stylish beanies
- Sizes available in kids through adults
I know there are many, many other companies that are doing good things and giving back, but these are ones I have personally had interaction with. If none of these brands strike your fancy, I encourage you to find something that does. A quick google search will provide you with many options for charitable gifts. If you have any other great brands that give back, please let me know! I’d love to add more to my list.