Gifts With Purpose

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Stop Us Before We Hurt Ourselves! 

The onslaught of ads, catalogues, cold calls, emails and seemingly endless attempts to get us to BUY MORE STUFF has officially begun. Hunting season is ON.

I realized that in a culture where our dictionary includes 'regifting' (the activity of giving something as a gift that you yourself originally received as a gift), it's officially time to STOP SHOPPING and really give.

gifts that change lives (in a good way) 

surprise & inspire without all the packaging!

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Big Gifts, HUGE Contributions Where They're Needed 

These are organizations who cleverly created catalogues which deliver essential gifts to local communities in need. Beautiful cards are sent to gift recipients.
'The Most Important Catalogue'
Heifer International's catalog offers water buffalo, goats, llamas, pigs and chicks all delivered to children and families in need around the world. Cards sent to recipients.
Good Gifts Catalogue
This is a catalogue of gifts that make a real difference. Prices vary. Thank you card sent.
Yes, Think Outside The Box!
A Change the World, Change the Present. A well curated collection of organizations who bring safe water, health care, education, conservation & hope to so many places. Make everyone on both sides of this transaction feel great!
Harsh Year. Big Gifts.
Mercy Corps provides much needed relief to communities touched deeply by tragedy. This was another harsh year in that way. Gift cards sent.
Network For Good
Find a charity to support that fits for you or your recipient.
Donate A Phone
Collective Good offers a number of programs that can immediately benefit from used mobile phones, including The Red Cross, Center For Domestic Violence and CARE.

Charitable Offerings 

Bamboo and Lacquer Red Bowl

Bamboo and Lacquer Red Bowl "Bamboolicious" -Fair Trade Gifts

Amazon Price: (as of 12/25/2009) Buy Now

More On Fair Trade And Socially Responsible Purchases 

Music of the Andes - A Benefity Album Supporting Fair Trade (Katari/Bwiya-Toli)

Music of the Andes - A Benefity Album Supporting Fair Trade (Katari/Bwiya-Toli)

Amazon Price: (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

Wake Up and Smell the Planet: The Non-Pompous, Non-Preachy Grist Guide to Greening Your Day

Wake Up and Smell the Planet: The Non-Pompous, Non-Preachy Grist Guide to Greening Your Day

by: Grist Magazine

Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

Hope's Edge: The Next Diet for a Small Planet

Hope's Edge: The Next Diet for a Small Planet

by: Frances Moore Lappe, Anna Lappé

Amazon Price: $10.85 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

Crafts: World Cooperatives 

artisan wins. you win.

Australian Aboriginal Collective
100% owned by the aboriginal artists themselves. this catalogue is rich with hand crafted gifts and engaging story telling about the artists.
Sâkêwêwak Artists' Collective
Sakewewak means, "they are coming into view" or "they are coming out of hiding" and was chosen to reflect our community's vision for an organization that would facilitate the emergence of new artistic practices.
Native Hawaiian Art
The Hale Ku Ai Cooperative features work from the native people of all of the Hawaiian islands.Gifts here include musical instruments, food, clothing and jewelry.
Direct From The Amazon
Kallari is a Equadorian cooperative of artists; they also support fair trade organic chocolate beans making their way at least to Quito in a coffee shop they also run.

Adopt An Endangered Animal, Plant A Tree 

Caribbean Sea Turtles
The Caribbean Conservation organization tracks the turtles, protects their habitat and performs extensive research. You can name, adopt and get updates on the turtles and recipients receive a 'certificate of adoption'.
Adopt A Dolphin or Whale
The Pacific Whale Foundation based in Hawaii they run regular whale and dolphin watching trips, engage in research and education and have a wonderful 'adoption' program.
Save A Chimp, Support Jane
The Jane Goodall Institute offers programs that directly support Chimpanzees or Roots and Shoots, a global environmental youth education program. Join JGI and get regular updates from Jane on all the programs.
Plant A Tree
American Forests is working to restore forests and green space through the U.S. They have launched a Katrina Re-Leaf program as well. Trees filter water, balance out many of the negative effects of pollution and restore our eco-system.
Save Tropical Forests
Sustainable harvest works internationally with small scale farmers living in important tropical eco-systems. Working with these farmers to replant forests has a big impact on these key areas and climate change overall.
Adopt A Chocolate Tree!
Yes, it's true and time to go straight to the source -- or one of them. Make a donation and 'adopt' a chocolate tree and help save Equador's Northern Amazon forest. They are working with Yachana Gourmet to sell fair trade chocolate.

Gifts That Give A Big Social Message! (All Fair Trade Groups) 

A few of my favorite places to shop for holiday gifts that GIVE BACK. Clothing, crafts, musical instruments and other stuff that folks will cherish. All worth a deeper look.
World of Good
Beautiful products from developing countries, crafted by local people.
Uncommon Goods
Many reclaimed, recycled and other unusual and thoughtful gifts.
Shop UNICEF Gifts and Cards
A catalog that most of us are probably familiar with. These cards share a hopeful message for the world and bring much needed funds to many.
Gifts From WaterAid
Cards and gifts that benefit WaterAid bringing fresh, clean water to people in Africa and Asia.
Support Local Artisans
A Greater Gift sells products from developing countries that meet fair trade practices. Products are sourced from local artisans and farmers.
Fair Trade From Lucuma
A Peruvian collection of local Andean crafts and textiles.
Crafts From Southern India
BALADARSHAN FAIR TRADE & EXPORTS is a fair trade company created to sell handicrafts made by disadvantaged youngsters and women, trained in South India.
Textiles From Global Indigenous Communities
Circle of the Sun works with communities around the world bringing natural textile materials following fair trade practices which benefit the craftspeople.
Global Mamas!
When you buy from Global Mamas, you are promoting sustainable livelihoods to women and their families living in poverty. This organization supports small women managed businesses in Africa.

Fair Trade Food Gifts: Chocolate, Coffee and More 

Dagoba Organic Chocolates
Organic and fair traded chocolates rich in anitoxidants, social justice and fab taste!
Pioneer In Fair Trade Coffee and Tea
Thanksgiving coffee is one of the first who supported organic, fair trade and Coffee Kids -- looking for ways to deliver high quality products that support the local communities as well.
Fair Trade Coffee, Chocolate & Tea
These chocolates and coffees arrive through fair trade practices and some organic products available.
Pura Vida Teas and Coffee
These folks gives back by helping at risk children in countries that grow coffee. Their selection is quite broad as well.
New Harvest Supports Coffee Kids
These folks specialize in fair trade and organic coffees and teas.
A Directory Of Fair Trade Goods
From Transfair the Global Fair Trade organization with their comprehensive directory of goods.
WorldCentric Honey
From a cooperative in Chiapas Mexico, raw, unfiltered and great tasting honey produced from small scale bee keepers.
Body Butter
African Wild Honey, Shea Butter products and Soaps all supporting the local communities.
Garuda International
Offering up free trade and eco-friendly health and beauty products and foods.

Worldchanging 

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by LisaGansky

Lisa has instigated several business and environmental ventures into existence. Other passions include: playing with her dogs and friends, yoga, cycli... (more)

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