• Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

Kalyn Brooke

Simple Solutions to Manage Everyday Life

  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Resources
  • Shop
  • Contact

Shop with Purpose: 15 Small Gifts that Make a Big Impact

November 13 // 5 Comments // 5 Minute Read

Jump To Recipe · Print Recipe
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
These fair trade organizations offer the unique ability to gift and give at the same time, allowing you to participate in sustainable, purposeful shopping. You’ll be amazed what you can score for under $25!

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure policy here.

Gifts that give back. These fair trade organizations offer the unique ability to gift and give at the same time, allowing you to participate in sustainable, purposeful shopping. You'll be amazed at what you can score for under $25! #shopwithpurpose #giveback #shopsmall

As the Holiday season approaches, I’m going to take a wild guess and say you’ve already been inundated with charity and donation requests. And that’s not a bad thing. There are a lot of great organizations that need help more than ever this time of year!

But you can’t do it all. No matter how badly a charity needs assistance, or how much you’re willing to sacrifice—you still have to decide where your money is best spent. 

That’s exactly why I LOVE gifts that give back.

You have the opportunity to purchase a purpose-filled gift that creates fair-wage jobs all over the world, and in return, you receive a hand-crafted, well-made item that’s appropriately priced. Honestly, I’m amazed at what you can get for less than $25!

This list includes my favorite picks so you can make double the impact, with only half the effort. Are you ready to make a difference? Let’s do this.

 

1. Patterned Leather Journal

Ten Thousand Villages is a fair trade organization that provides a sustainable job economy for local artisans. Not only does this help communities fight poverty, TTV also focuses on using sustainable materials! This patterned journal’s attention to detail will inspire you to fill up every page.

2. Bombas Socks

Socks are the number one most requested clothing item in homeless shelters, and this surprising statistic was the cornerstone of Bombas’ business model. For every one pair of socks bought, Bombas will donate a pair to those in need, and with so many styles and sizes to choose from, your friends and family will actually want these socks for Christmas!

ankle-socks

3. Earrings from an artisan

Support an artisan by wearing these beautiful earrings! Comfortable and durable, made of a light matte upcycled bull horn, these earrings are classically gorgeous.

4. Burlap Sling Bag

This market bag from Ten Thousand Villages is made by local artisans and is completely handcrafted. Isn’t it beautiful?

5. Fruit Herbal Tea Blend

Trying to buy for that non-coffee drinker in the family? Unique and fragrant teas are always a good choice. Frontier Co-op is an organization that believes in quality-grown organic products. With every cup of this tea you are being good to yourself and the earth. Plus, Frontier Co-op gives 4% of their annual net income to a number of charities.

frontier-co-op-bulk-forever-fruit-1337_4

6. Liquid Hand Soap

Many illnesses around the world can be prevented with a simple solution that many of us take for granted every day—hand soap. Every time you buy a Soapbox item like this delightful hand soap, a bar of soap is donated to areas around the world that lack essential hygiene products. So, not only are you helping others avoid preventable illness, you are also getting a household basic in deliciously smelling scents.

7. Hand-Dyed Scarf

Another beautiful example of Indian artistry from Ten Thousand Villages are these handmade scarves. These unique clothing accents are not only beautiful, but they also help artisans fight poverty.

8. Fair Trade Coffee

Fair trade coffee is one of the easiest and most convenient ways to implement conscious spending because almost every household is buying it anyway! Equal Exchange has a particularly high standard resulting in delicious and ethically grown coffee beans that give every morning a great start. This particular bag sends $2 from every sale to the Panzi Hospital, which helps thousands of sexual violence survivors get the medical treatment they need.

congo-coffee

9. Handcrafted Necklace

Ten Thousand Villages is probably the most well-established fair trade organization there is, and one of the many benefits about buying from them is their far-reaching impact on communities all over the world. Handmade in India, this Open Mind Necklace features a cream enamel triangle on a gold-colored brass chain.

10. Peanut Butter

Good Spread Peanut Butter

It might seem a little silly to give such a mundane gift like peanut butter, but this is one gift that almost everybody can use. Plus, who doesn’t love peanut butter? I, for one, am a total addict! 🙂 For every jar of Good Spread peanut butter you buy, a malnourished child will get the treatment and the nutrition they so desperately need.

11. Gourmet Dessert Gum

If you buy a pack of gourmet gum from Project 7, you’ll have more than enough stocking stuffers to go around. While enjoying these deliciously unique flavors, you can envision all the good your chewing is doing. Project 7 gives back to 7 main areas of need, including education, clean water, feeding the hungry, and much more.

project7-dessert-pack_large

12. Bamboo Coasters

These elegant coasters have slices of bamboo branches intricately inlaid in a natural resin and are handmade in Bali. And teal is all the rage right now! 

13. Handmade Headband

Krochet Kids works with highly vulnerable women around the world in poverty-stricken regions. They empower them with jobs, education, and mentorships because they believe that empowered women are the cornerstone to positive change within communities. Each crocheted fashion piece like this headband is handmade and personally signed by the woman who made it, giving your purchase a personal touch.

14. Dog Rattle

Fair Trade Winds is a family owned company that believes no one should be exploited for the things we buy. One thing I love about Fair Trade Winds is that they believe fair trade should also be practical, and their products reflect a wide array of items from kitchen supplies to birthday cards. This adorable dog is handcrafted by women in Bangladesh and would make a great stocking stuffer.

15. All Natural Dog Treats

dog-treats

Don’t forget the furry member of your family when you’re shopping for presents. These all-natural dog treats are healthy for your dog AND healthy for the world through Whimzee’s socially responsible production process. Healthy, happy doggies guaranteed!

All these fair trade organizations offer the unique ability to gift and give at the same time, which is one of the things I absolutely love about sustainable, purposeful, shopping. As you look over your gift list this year, I encourage you to not just *think* about shopping fair trade this Holiday season, but to actually do it.

These lovely gifts will give you a great head start!

What fair trade organizations do you love to support?

Disclosure: Some of the links in the post above are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. Read my full disclosure policy here.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
« Previous PostThe Best Budget-Friendly Alternatives to Pricey Planners
Next Post »Gift Card Hacking: The Legal Way to Score Severely Discounted Gift Cards


Comments

  1. Lindsey Mozgai says

    November 30 at 12:27 pm

    These are some really great organizations! I’ve never heard of any of them. The only one I knew of was Toms. Other than that not so much. This year we are donating blankets and food to the animal shelter and adopting a child to buy gifts for this Christmas.

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      December 5 at 11:46 am

      That’s awesome, Lindsey!

      Reply
  2. rachel thompson says

    December 1 at 12:42 am

    Thanks for this great post! I look forward to checking out these organizations that are breaking the mold. I recently discovered Oliberte. They make high quality boots, shoes, sneakers, and bags from genuine leather in Ethiopia. Their shoes have an imprinted map of Ethiopia on the soles, and a map inside as well. They are very special, and their products are super stylish.
    Thanks again for taking the time to compile this list. I especially love Jesus’ Exonomy’s model of creating jobs and churches.

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      December 5 at 11:42 am

      You’re welcome, Rachel! It’s so awesome to see the organizations that are working hard to make a huge difference in the lives of others.

      Reply
  3. Jenni Langley says

    December 7 at 11:25 am

    Thanks for this article! There are also other colors if the coasters you mentioned, plus less expensive options. I’ll look into the other companies as well!

    My friend is an ambassador for Noonday Collection. They employ women (and some men) around the world to make jewelry. It’s all handmade. The employees are paid for the items they make, the items are brought to the US to sell via catalogs and in-home parties, and the ambassadors get paid as well. These artisan jobs have saved women from brothels and trafficking. It’s a pleasure to wear the jewelry and tell their stories.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Hi, I’m Kalyn—a recovering perfectionist who nerds out about organizing systems, personal productivity, and helping you prioritize what matters over the pressure to do it all. I have a feeling we’re about to become the best of friends! Learn more >>

New? Start Here!

  • Take a Tour
  • Become a BFF
  • Favorite Recipes
  • The Printable Library
  • Just for Bloggers
  • Visit the Shop

kalynbrookeco

👩‍💻 | I help value-driven women lead manageable + meaningful lives.
💬 | INFJ / Enneagram 1
🚙 | RV Life @openroading
👇 | Resources + Links

Kalyn Brooke | Virtual BFF


I wrote this in my journal the other day: 📓⁣

I wrote this in my journal the other day: 📓⁣ ⁣ “I’ve been thinking about what tech boundaries I want to instill, including boundaries related to work and productivity. I’ve become less careful about my media consumption, and it’s having a negative affect on my mental health.” 💞⁣ ⁣ Have you ever felt a similar tug? ⁣ ⁣ I can’t begin to tell you how many times I pick up my phone because I’m bored or lonely or jealous or unhappy. It almost always makes me feel worse. And yet...I struggle to stop. 😝⁣ ⁣ Here are the ideas I’ve been trying this month and I’m already seeing a positive effect:⁣ ⁣ ➕ No logging into social media after 8pm. I need to wind down for the night, not get lost in my phone! 📲⁣ ➕ Open Instagram with a purpose—either to post or to interact. Stop endlessly scrolling.⁣ ➕ My only screen time before 9am should be for Bible Study apps or News. 🗞⁣ ➕ Turn my phone on Do Not Disturb during Tiger Time (when I need the most focus for work) 💪⁣ ➕ Work no more than 4 hours on my business per day. If a task isn’t complete, push it to the next day. This time frame has really helped me prioritize! 💻⁣ ➕ Watch one show per day (or two if they are short!) and leave movies for the weekend. 📺⁣ ⁣ What tech boundaries have you set up? Are any new as of this year? I’d love to hear your ideas! 😃

What’s one thing you budget for that other peopl
What’s one thing you budget for that other people might not? I always find those interesting. 😃⁣ ⁣ You might have a mortgage. I budget for campgrounds. You might want a separate clothing budget, while I’m fine combining it under “Beauty and Style.” Recently, we also added a new line item for our motorcycle—something I NEVER thought would appear in our budget. ⁣ ⁣ See, we’re all different! ⁣ ⁣ Recently, I rearranged my budget categories and created this “cheat sheet.” Sometimes I forget where things go, like picking up new wall art for the living room. Does this item belong in the categories of Household Items or Home Maintenance? 🤔⁣ ⁣ Now I know! And I save time processing receipts each Friday. 🧾⁣ ⁣ What budgeting categories do you use? Share one of your random budget line items with me in the comments below! 😃

I call 2020 the Year of Abandoned Books. ⁣
⁣
I

I call 2020 the Year of Abandoned Books. ⁣ ⁣ I’m never afraid to stop reading a book if it doesn’t live up to the hype. Why invest more time in a book I’m not all that excited about when I could be exploring new authors and storylines where I can’t wait to turn the page? 🤷⁣ ⁣ But in 2020, I let more books go than I normally do. I suppose my patience dwindled when I thought the world was ending. Not that I thought the world was actually ending…but you know what I mean. 😉⁣ ⁣ As an Enneagram 1, I hate giving up on a book. I’m prone to the all-or-nothing mentality, even in my reading habits. My eyes could glaze over boring prose and I’d still repeat to myself: “You MUST finish this book!” 😫⁣ ⁣ Why? ⁣ ⁣ No one is adding a plastic star to your Book-It pin, (Remember those?) This isn’t assigned reading from your high school English class. This is YOUR reading life. ⁣ ⁣ And YOU should choose what books deserve your attention. 📚⁣ ⁣ There are too many good ones out there anyway. Like one of my favorite reads from 2020. 😍⁣ ⁣ This week’s newest blog post rounds up everything I read last year (43 books total!) including 5-star psychological thrillers, a delightful royal series, a couple self-help books, and of course, historical fiction.⁣ ⁣ Click the link in my bio to read it! ☝⁣ ⁣ What were your favorite books in 2020? Our literary styles might be a match made in heaven! ✨

My planner/journal lineup for 2021. 👆 ⁣
⁣
T

My planner/journal lineup for 2021. 👆 ⁣ ⁣ These small but mighty sidekicks will be my saving grace this year. 📚⁣ ⁣ 1️⃣ Bullet Journal (Blue) - for everyday planning and goal setting⁣ 2️⃣ Regular Journal (Yellow) - to track gratitude (5 things a day!) and to process ALL the feelings⁣ 3️⃣ Growth Journal (Sand) - a space for me to brain dump everything I learn from books, podcasts, sermons, etc ⁣ ⁣ That last one is new to me as of this year and I can't wait to flip back through all my notes come December! 📆⁣ ⁣ What planners/journals are you using for 2021?

Self-care is just as important as making your famo
Self-care is just as important as making your famous sugar cookies this holiday season. 🍪⁣ ⁣ Because let’s be real. ⁣ ⁣ That Hallmark-esque Christmas magic disappears the moment disagreeable family members annoy you. Or when you feel irritable over too many late nights and little-to-no sleep. Or when expectations over meals and traditions and social activities fall short and leave you feeling disappointed. 😬⁣ ⁣ But instead of dwelling on these stressful moments and using them as an excuse to completely disconnect from reality (as I’m often tempted to do!), view them as an opportunity for you to respond with poise. 💞⁣ ⁣ ➕ Journal your feelings. ⁣ ➕ Go for a walk. ⁣ ➕ Prioritize what’s essential. ⁣ ➕ Remember to breathe.⁣ ➕ And try not to eat your feelings…okay?⁣ ⁣ Here’s your permission slip if you need one: You don’t need to do or participate in everything! Take a time out when you need it. 🙌⁣ ⁣ That’s the best way you can protect your emotional well-being over the next few days.⁣ ⁣ Merry Christmas, friends! 🎄


I know you’re ready for this year to be over. 🙋‍♀️ The last twelve months brought so many hard things into our lives—relationships were lost, our country became more broken and divided than ever, and oh yeah, we walked through a pandemic too. 🦠 🤯 No biggie, right? Ha! 😅 And while it’s easy to look back and wish we could skip 2020 altogether (or at least insist on a do-over), I don’t want this year to be the one where the hard overcame the good. 💕 Just as hard days don’t mean ruined days, hard years don’t mean ruined years. 2020 can still be good. 💪 For me, I want to remember the fun and exciting things we did. The adventures we had. The new shows we watched, and the books we read. The new life hacks and things I discovered that made my life easier or just brought me joy. 💞 You’ll find it all in my latest blog post (link in profile). If you still need to buy a gift for a loved one (or for yourself!), you’ll find plenty of fun and affordable ideas to fill up the rest of your gifting list. 📦 Otherwise, enjoy a stroll down the good side of 2020’s memory lane and leave your favorite things in the comments so I can try them. 👋


Load More…


Follow on Instagram


ARE YOU EXHAUSTED TRYING TO DO IT ALL?

Privacy Policy
You’ll love the freedom found inside my Saturday morning newsletter
Copyright © 2021 · Privacy Policy
ALMOST THERE!
Complete this form and click the button below to gain instant access.
Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy
ARE YOU EXHAUSTED TRYING TO DO IT ALL?
Privacy Policy
You'll love the freedom found inside my Saturday morning newsletter
Privacy Policy
ALMOST THERE!
Complete this form and click the button below to gain instant access.
Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy
ALMOST THERE!
Complete this form and click the button below to gain instant access.
Privacy Policy
ALMOST THERE!
Complete this form and click the button below to gain instant access.
Privacy Policy