Find More Kindness This Holiday With Gifts That Give Back

By Leigh-Ann Jackson

This year, shopping, traveling, and gathering with loved ones have all become more difficult, if not altogether impossible. Add a flurry of pandemic restrictions to the impact of a global recession and you get a holiday season like none other. If such a bleak forecast leaves you singing the “Bah Humbug” blues, just know that there’s still plenty of holiday spirit to go around. According to a recent survey, 79% of Americans still plan to purchase gifts for the holidays this year and three out of 10 shoppers say they plan to spend on charitable donations. 

For your gift giving, consider these goodwill goodies that deliver a double-dose of cheer and delight to everyone on your list. When you give someone you love one of these gifts, you will also be making a financial or in-kind donation to a nonprofit organization that’s dedicated to making the world a better place. Plus, they are all available online, so you can check off your holiday shopping list from the safety of your own home. 

The planet and environment

For those who are passionate about protecting our air, waterways, and forests, these gifts support eco-minded organizations striving to safeguard Mother Nature.

Herringbone Recycled Wool Blanket, $80, United by Blue

Your favorite couch potato can while away the winter days snuggled under this recycled wool throw from Tartan Blanket Co. For every product purchased, United by Blue removes one pound of trash from oceans and waterways.

Night Sky 330-Pc. Puzzle, $90, Uncommon Goods

Puzzle pros who are up for a challenge are sure to get a mental workout with this handmade wooden puzzle depicting the majestic Milky Way. With every purchase, Uncommon Goods will donate $1 to a charity like American Forests, which is one of their four featured nonprofit partners.

Parks Project Gift Box, $60, Parks Project

Outdoors-y types will love this set, which includes a travel journal, a pair of trail-ready crew socks, a deck of park-themed playing cards, a keychain, and a “National Parks of the U.S.A.” checklist. For each set sold, Parks Project will help fund a project in a US national park, from restoring trails to sponsoring youth outdoor education.

This has been a watershed year for individuals coming together to demand a more fair and just society. Keep the wave of compassion and unity rolling with gifts that help to uplift those in need.

Women’s Snowflake Sock Gift Box, $65, Bombas

For every pair of their cozy cotton socks purchased, Bombas donates a pair of socks to someone affected by homelessness. That means that with this festive seasonal set, the level of giving is quadrupled. 

Silver Cuff Bracelet, $50, Melissa Joy Manning

For every purchase of this simple yet striking recycled silver cuff, socially responsible fine jewelry brand Melissa Joy Manning will donate $25 to RAICES, a Texas-based organization that offers legal and social services to immigrants and refugees.

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