(no subject)

[violachic]

Okay, folks. It is time for what is becoming my annual Alternative Gift Giving post! In fact, I think it is a little late, so I apologize. Hopefully the following links can help some of you find meaningful gifts for the people who are left on your gift-giving lists.

Looking for something more fulfilling for your holiday gift-giving? Want to make a difference for someone else? Looking for that year-end tax deduction (although I personally hope that you don't donate to charity simply for the deduction)? Fed up with Christmas commercialization and need an alternative? You're in luck- I've compiled a short list of places you can look for either cash donation, services, or alternative purchasing.


Alternative gift buying:
By using these unique gift companies, you can find exotic, unusual gift ideas, as well as aid the families who craft these products especially for the gift catalogues. All companies are fair-trade organizations, and guarantee that profits go directly to the creators of such fine gifts.

-SERRV International
-10,000 Villages
-Equal Exchange:Fair Trade Online (really, really yummy chocolate!!!)
-Marketplace India
-MayaWorks
-Metropolis Coffee (based here in Chicago- we use it, and it is fantastic coffee! Don't forget to read about their philosophy.)


Chicago-Based Charities:
The links I have are Chicago-based, but I'm sure if you google your local city and its major newspapers, you'll be able to find a great deal of organizations near you.

-Chicago Sun-Times Season of Sharing
-Greater Chicago Food Depository
-Santa For the Very Poor


Organizations that work across the country, and internationally:
Fed up with buying gifts that you're not sure people want, that just take up space in landfills? Consider making a donation to an organization in their name. Here are a few of my favorites.

-Toys for Tots
-Heifer International (one of my favorite organizations ever!)
-Habitat for Humanity
-Feed the Children
-Health For Humanity


Adopt-a-Soldier:
Whether you agree with the military action in the Middle East or not, we all should remember the troops who are stationed overseas away from their families during the holidays. Here are several places that can help you with sending care packages and gifts around the world to military personnell.

-Hickory Farms FPO/APO Gifts
-Treats for Troops
-USO Care Packages



Happy Gift Buying!

Comments

[rhobike.livejournal.com]

In my family we just tell each other exactly what item we want for Chanukah--usually the title of a book or CD, or maybe the catalog number of a garment from Land's End. Our eyes bug out when we see the kind of stuff Christians buy this time of year.

[violachic.livejournal.com]

Yeah, its really crazy. That sounds like a sane way to do gift-giving.

[ironheadjane.livejournal.com]

After reading about the cholera epidemic in Zimbabwe, all I keep thinking about is the importance of clean water. The thing that drives me nuts is the fact that there's very little, if anything, I can do to help the people of Zimbabwe in a tangible way. The NY Times had a story about a family that was dead in just days due to cholera. It broke my heart, and stayed with me.

It's amazing the difference clean water makes. Know of any good clean-water charities?

[violachic.livejournal.com]

There's got to be something. I'll do some research.

[violachic.livejournal.com]

I found

this (http://www.africanwellfund.org/)

and

this (http://thewaterproject.org/)

but I can't vouch for either organization.

[bammba-m.livejournal.com]

is it really good chocolate? because i find that fair trade chocolate doesn't seem to ever taste as good as non-fair-trade chocolate. Which i attributed to the sweet, sweet tears of the slave children who pick the cocoa. Or perhaps their nimble little fingers finding only the BEST cocoa.