2017 Holiday Gift Guide – Gifts that Give Back

Well, here we are friends. I have had so much fun pulling together these guides and hope they've helped ease the stress of shopping this year and that you felt proud supporting small businesses. Intentional buying is something I so believe in and try to practice it far beyond the holiday season. Thank you for your excitement and support about this series! We're ending on a "feel good" note today...

Next up: Gifts that Give Back

Because the best gifts are those that keep giving. 

2017 Holiday Gift Guide - Gifts that Give Back - Green Tie Studio

ONE • Krochet Kids Sunrise Wall Hanging

On a mission to create jobs and break the cycle of poverty, each product is signed by the woman who made it. You can visit her online profile to read her story and send her a note of encouragement.

TWO • Project Apoyo Annual Education Sponsorship

For about $1 per day, you can provide a child in Guatemala with a year's worth of education, school clothes and shoes, supplies, meals, essential paperwork, and exposure to the Gospel.

THREE • Cuddle and Kind Hand-Knit Doll

With a focus on the importance of nutrition in children's lives, Cuddle and Kind gives 10 meals to a child in need for every doll sold. They've given almost 3 million meals!

FOUR • Ames and Oates Host Bar Key

A curated gifting company that donates 10% of all sales to Pencils of Promise to help build schools and provide quality education for children in need.

FIVE • The Brave Collection Sunset Necklace

Handmade by Cambodian artisans (who are either underprivileged or suffer from disabilities) who work in a free, fair and dignified environment, are paid above average wages and receive health and education benefits.

SIX • KeepCup Reusable Drink Cup

Committed to the "demise of the disposable," KeepCup makes sustainable reusable cups with the beverage in mind.

SEVEN • Faircloth Supply Jumpsuit

Every product sold is matched with a uniform for a school girl in Nepal. Faircloth also helps provide equal access to education for females to combat sex trafficking, child marriages and children's rights violations.

EIGHT • Eco Bags Reusable Net Bag

Committed to reaching zero waste, Eco Bags makes reusable market bags that are intentionally and ethically made. Driven by "Leave No Trace, Do No Harm," they believe we should make our best effort to live lightly on the earth.

NINE • 31 Bits Plant-Dyed Napkin Set

With a strong commitment to dignified job opportunities - with paying fair and sustainable wages to artisans being just the beginning - 31 Bits believes in providing safe and joyful working conditions, a family-like atmosphere, and an environment where every artisan feels known.

TEN • Pela iPhone Case

Eco-friendly phone cases designed to reduce the amount of plastic waste created by consumer products, alleviate dependancy on non-renewable fossil fuels/oil-based plastics, educate people about functional and beautiful sustainable alternatives, and build the kind of company customers would be proud to rally behind.

ELEVEN • Found my Animal Rope Leash

With a passion for animal welfare, Found My Animal encourages rescue over purchase with beautiful and functional pet accessories. Each leash tag is individually numbered and stamped to serve as a reminder of the uniqueness of each animal and to keep track of the number of animals helped so far.

TWELVE • Bombas Socks

Socks are the #1 most requested item at homeless shelters. As a one-for-one company with over 5 million pairs donated, Bombas gives a pair of socks to a person in need for each pair purchased.

THIRTEEN • Soma Water Filter Pitcher

Committed to social impact and sustainability, Soma creates water accessories that promote reuse and less waste. They are also a charity: water partner, with contributions going directly to sustainable, community-owned water projects in developing countries to help end the global water crisis.

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There you have it! I'd love to know any of your favorite gifts that give back I may have missed. What types of guides would you like to see next holiday season? Never too early to plan ahead, I guess...