With the holiday season upon us, it is important to think about socially conscious ways to purchase and wrap your holiday gifts. There are several gifts you can give that can also help a worthy cause. Think about how the gift is made, what is made with, and who is making it. This can help you make more conscious and sustainable decisions. Here are a few ideas.
Love Your Melon Hat
Half the proceeds of products purchased from Love Your Melon are donated to charities around the world that fight pediatric cancer. The company, started in a college entrepreneurship class, is also dedicated to giving a hat to every child battling cancer through Beanie Giving Events at hospitals. To date, Love Your Melon has given 206,186 beanies and has donated over seven million dollars. Through their giving programs, you can also request a hat for a child undergoing treatment, send a smile by writing words of encouragement on a Superhero Card, and request a hospital box. The Smiles Inside Boxes get superhero costumes, beanies, and toys to young children in the hospital during the pandemic.
The Giving Keys
This jewelry company employs people who are transitioning out of homelessness to make the pieces. They are made from repurposed old and new keys and engraved with inspirational messages like “faith,” and “breathe.” According to the website, the keys are a reminder that “we are all unique, flawed, scarred, and sometimes discarded by others.” The Giving Keys partners with Chrysalis, PATH, and United Way to help support homeless populations in Los Angeles County. By purchasing a piece of jewelry, you can give a beautiful gift and support those who are moving out of homelessness and into the workforce.
Gifts That Support Cultural Institutions
Several cultural institutions need financial support and what better way to help than to give a gift from their gift shop. Is there an animal lover on your list? The New England Aquarium has several holiday gift options including gift cards, virtual animal encounters, the gift of membership, making a donation on behalf of someone, or The North Atlantic Right Whale: Disappearing Giants book written by researchers from the Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life at the Aquarium.
Is there an art lover you are shopping for? The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum gift shop has a range of museum made items, books, accessories, puzzles & games, and much more. The Gardner also has gifts for those who particularly enjoy the Courtyard and the beautiful flowers and greenery. You could gift a Nasturtium seed packet or a Nasturtium shopper tote to those who adore the bright orange cascading flowers, or a puzzle with an image of the Courtyard.
Paper Source Holiday Cedar Branches Stone Wrapping Paper
Consider the environmental impact of the materials in which you are wrapping your gifts. This beautiful paper from Paper Source is actually made out of stone, not trees. How cool is that? This stone paper is eco-friendly, water resistant, recyclable, and reusable. Your presents will be wrapped beautifully, and you will be doing your part to save the trees.
In addition to the above ideas, check out the UNICEF Market where you can shop for hand-crafted artisanal gifts that raise money and send lifesaving supplies to children. Also be sure to look at these lists of socially conscious gifts from POPSUGAR, Oprah Magazine, Good Housekeeping and Real Simple. There are so many possibilities and so many worthy companies and organizations in need of support. Do your research and consider giving gifts that give back this holiday season.
