A blend of consumerism and charity often takes over the spirit of America during the Christmas holiday season, and for conscientious consumers there are a number of opportunities to find great gifts and at the same time provide help for someone in need.
A number of different companies, for example, make a charitable donation with each purchase of their products. TOMS Shoes has started the One for One movement, in which they donate a pair of shoes to a child in need for every shoe purchased from their company. The company also sells eyewear, and helps those with vision issues by providing prescription glasses, eye surgery or other medical treatment for each pair of glasses it sells.Krochet Kids International, a nonprofit Christian organization founded by three high school friends in 2008, sells products crocheted by people in impoverished communities in Uganda and Peru, allowing them to make a fair wage. The organization seeks to not only provide much-needed economic opportunities to people in developing nations, but also provides them with education, mentoring and encouragement.
"We believe actions rooted in love bring lasting and powerful change," the Krochet Kids website states. "Our model for love is that of the ultimate servant: Jesus."
Save1.com, a coupon website, says 17,000 children die every day on average from the effects of malnutrition, which is why the company is working to feed hungry children around the world. Each time an online coupon is used through the site, Save1 uses a portion of the commission they receive to provide a meal. As of Friday afternoon, the organization has provided over 90,700 meals to those in need.
And One Hope Coffee, a self-described "social impact coffee" company, sells coffee beans to help wake people up in the morning while, at the same time, making a positive impact on important social issues. Each month the organization chooses a cause to support, then donates half of its profits from each bag of coffee beans sold to that cause. In the month of November, for example, the company donated half of its profits to creating more awareness about men's health issues, and its website specifically mentions the issue of prostate cancer and the importance of getting screened. One Hope also sells wine, and uses half of its profits to fund a number of other causes, including ending childhood hunger, fighting breast cancer, providing support for veterans and more. One Hope has, to date, raised over $1 million for charity.
No comments:
Post a Comment