Shopping with meaning

The holiday season is just around the corner. Halloweenie is next month closely followed by Thanksgiving and then Hannukah and Christmas. This year I have decided that all the gifts that I buy will be gifts that give back in some way shape or form.

It seems to me that if you don't go nuts and buy a kazillion dollars worth of gifts then the holidays are a bust and you have failed miserably. I don't buy into that consumerism, never have, never will, however I do like to buy gifts for family and friends but more and more I want my gifts to have meaning. It's pretty easy to find places where you can buy gifts where the profits all go back to help others.

One of my favourites is The Starfish Project. 

The Starfish Project was established in 2006 to empower exploited women in Asia. The Project developed a socially responsible jewelry business in order to provide women with alternative employment and a range of holistic care opportunities. In 2011, the project has grown to support approximately 35 women in 2 different cities, primarily through the jewelry company where women have taken on new levels of responsibility and leadership, and are able to provide for their families through meaningful employment. The Starfish Project also provides opportunities for women to heal and grow through counseling, vocational training, language acquisition, family education benefits and health care access, as well as providing housing in our women's shelter. The Starfish Project is committed to restoring hope for each woman that enters its doors.

Another favourite of mine is the Show Hope Organisation. Steven Curtis and Mary Beth Chapman. 'Nuff Said. They don't have a huge assortment of merchandise but they have a few things that can make great gifts including my favourite T-shirt. I have added the Show Hope Button to my sidebar, just click it and you can be magically transferred to their website.

Another way to make spending your money count is by shopping through the website Ordinary Hero. My friend Nancy is still fundraisng for her little man Jon Jon. At the moment she is hoping to win a grant, yes you read that correctly, win a grant through Ordinary Hero. Just click the link to see how you can help buy doing a little shopping. Really shopping!

Gwen Oatsvall is a wonderfull, wonderful woman, friend and frankly quite a hero. She has founded with a group of ladies, 147 Million Orphans and all the proceeds from the sales of their merchandise goes to help orphans.

I think that gives you a good starting place and if you have some favourites PUHLEASE leave them in the comments. As you can see I am partial to sites that help orphaned children and China so leave those links first.