If you're like me, you look forward to holidays and celebrations not because you get to receive gifts, but because you are given the chance to give them. You love thinking up ways to make the people you care about smile and finding gifts that are meaningful and personal. Then again, maybe you're not like me. Maybe you see Christmas as the most stressful time of the year and birthdays leave you scrambling down the aisles of Target and Walgreens in search of a last-minute present. Whichever way you view giving gifts, I think we can all agree that two gifts are better than one. The following is a list of items that not only make great presents for your loved ones, but also do some good for others. Several companies and organizations have made gift giving even more fun and rewarding (for me) and, for the rest of you, have hopefully made your decision a little easier:
1. Mizu
These stainless steel, vacuum insulated water bottles come in a wide variety of colors and styles. As Mizu provides you with a stylish way to consume your water, they are also working to provide drinking water to the rest of the world. A portion of the money from every Mizu purchase goes towards about 10 different companies that work to conserve and provide water to those who need it most.
2. Lush
Handmade, minimally packaged, and free of animal testing. Lush has everything from avocado bath bombs to evergreen shower jellies to coffee face masks. Lush also created a product called the Charity Pot that donates 100 percent of its proceeds to organizations that help protect people, animals, and the environment.
3. Hand in Hand
Sticking with the soapy theme, Hand in Hand is another great company that can leave you and your conscience clean. With fragrances like white tea and orange blossom, for every bar of soap purchased the company donates one bar of soap as well as a month of clean water to children in need.
4. Sevenly
Of all of the companies on this list, Sevenly is probably the one that donates across to the widest variety of charities and organizations. During any specific month, week, or even day, Sevenly sells apparel and products to donate to seven different causes. Displayed above is a shirt that can be purchased to help donate money to Sevenly's environmental non-profit partners. Apparel can also be purchased to help one of their other six current campaigns: Autism, Cancer, Education, International, Military, and Social Justice.
5. Givida Activewear
Givida knows that everyone appreciates looking good while working up a sweat. They have chosen to partner up with Action Against Hunger, an organization that is the leader in fighting malnutrition in children around the world. 10 percent of any product purchased goes towards this organization. Depending on the price, one piece of apparel can provide between six and 16 life-saving meals to a child in need.
6. Toms
OK, so I'm sure most of us have heard of this company. Toms donates one pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair of shoes purchased. What you might not have known is that Toms also sells sunglasses, tote bags, t-shirts, sweatshirts, and coffee!
7. Raven and Lily
Raven and Lily sell every type of clothing, jewelry, and home decor imaginable. All of their products are handmade under fair trade standards. The company also employs 1,500 women fighting poverty and gives them fair trade wages to help them afford housing, an education, and healthcare. You can feel great about purchasing their beautiful, unique products!
8. Bombas
Similar to Toms, Bombas is a Buy One, Give One program! Buy one pair of their brightly colored socks, and one pair gets donated to a homeless shelter, which are apparently the most requested items in homeless shelters.
9. Fetch Eyewear
For all of us doggy lovers out there with bad vision (don't worry, that's me too)! Next time you're in the market for new frames, consider Fetch Eyewear. They donate all of their profits to the Pixie Project, an organization that aims to care for and provide discount services to rescue pups until they can be placed in home. This company and the work they do is so fetch (I had to, I'm so sorry).
10. Love Your Melon
A company I think we have all heard of. Love Your Melon's goal is to give a hat to every child battling cancer in the United States. Any proceeds from hats, apparel, or accessories purchased goes towards one of their many supporting non-profit organizations.
11. TenTree
If you're shopping for a more environmentally conscious friend, TenTree is the way to go. For every item purchased, the company plants 10 trees somewhere in the world. Once you receive your item in the mail, you can go online and type in your code and see where the trees from your purchase were planted!
12. Benefit Wines
Just when you thought you couldn't feel better about sipping on that chardonnay! Benefit Wines website allows you to shop by organization or even by cause while purchasing your bottle of wine. The company has donated almost two million dollars to their various charities.
13. Out of Print
A gift for the bookworms. You can now wear, drink coffee out of, and carry your books in your favorite books! Out of Print sells a huge collection of apparel and home goods that sport words and covers of hundreds of books. Purchasing from them means donating a book to a community in need as well as supporting the authors and illustrators of these books we love so much.
14. FIGS
If you work in a health related field, most likely you spend 75 percent of your life in scrubs. They can be uncomfortable, rip easily, and just unflattering. FIGS is trying to change that. These antimicrobial, soft, lightweight and stylish scrubs do more than just make you look good. For every pair of scrubs purchased, a set is provided to other healthcare providers around the world!
15. Ivory Ella
If you see people sporting these elephant tees, know that they're doing more than just looking cute. Another good gift for your animal loving friends, Ivory Ella donates 10 percent from each purchase to Save the Elephants, an organization based in Kenya that has made a remarkable difference in elephants lives. T-shirts, accessories, and water bottles can all be purchased to help this awesome cause.
So this year, instead of heading straight for your university's bookstore or your local Target, try one of these companies and feel better about the gifts you give.
