After talking this dilemma through with Janeena, we've decided this year to challenge ourselves to try something new. What if every gift we give to a person on our lists actually helps someone in desperate need of love, help, aid? Wouldn't that truly be the perfect gift? I can't help but wonder if after the Christmas season has come and gone if I will look back and think about how much I enjoyed celebrating Jesus' birth with my family and friends instead of stressing over gifts. That sounds so much better to me than standing in a line to return gifts I didn't need or want in the first place.
If this is hitting home with you, too, check out this video about how you can take back Christmas and help change the world. We're also working on a list of websites that offer ways to give "gifts" to those on your list while helping someone in need at the same time. We hope you'll use the list and let's see what a difference we can make in the lives of others this year!
For more information about Advent Conspiracy, check out their website - http://www.adventconspiracy.org/.
- World Vision - Fund much needed items for children in need around the world.
- Funky Fish Designs - Really, really cute jewelry that helps fund a Ugandan adoption.
- Wild Olive Tees - 10% of the sales by Wild Olive Tees goes to support 60 Feet and An Orphan's Wish. Lots of cute tees!
- Given - Clothing line inspired by World Vision whose proceeds go to benefit the work World Vision is doing.
- MFG (Made for Good) - This is a website listing brands who are aligned with a non-profit partner and use their proceeds to help the global community.
- Bow in the Clouds - This website sells items to benefit Dube Bute, a village in Africa the Alexander family is raising money for through the Soli Deo Gloria blog. They have committed to building up this village with schools, wells, doctors, etc., and are raising money for it. Lots to see!
- Amazima Store - This website is a result of the labors of Katie Davis in Uganda. It features beautiful, hand made paper bead jewelry.
- 147 Million Orphans - This website has so many great tees and other products to raise awareness. I like the magazine bead necklaces the best!
- World Crafts - Hosted by the WMU, this is a catalog full of gifts made by artisans around the world who depend on their craft for survival.
- Good News Goods - Buy fair trade products!
- Samaritan's Purse - Interactive online catalog. Funding of some projects also includes a gift made by artisans in impoverished areas.
- Simply Love - Tees help adopting parents fund their adoption process.
- Ordinary Hero - This website has great tees. Their sales go to support adoptive families and mission trips.
- Rafiki Foundation - Shop the Rafiki Exchange and find handcrafts from East and West Africa. The Exchange is in place to assist widows and impoverished women with a source of income. Lots of beautiful things!
- Living Water - Great website with lots of info on the water crisis facing many around the world. Donate!
- World Relief - This website gives the opportunity to give many gifts to show you stand with the most vulnerable. Good ideas to check out with kids. (For example, volleyballs to be sent to children in rural areas of Indonesia.)
- Gobena Coffee - Gourmet, fair trade, organic coffee! 100% of profits are reinvested into the lives of orphans in charitable programs.
- Compassion - Donate to enrich the lives of those in need.
- Open Doors USA - Help support the persecuted church around the world
- Show Hope - Steven Curtis Chapman and his family started Show Hope. They have several ways to donate by sponsoring a child, a surgery, or donating to where aid is needed. Their online store has some really cute tees.
- Danita's Children - This website features a group working in Haiti to rescue and care for children orphaned and in need of care. Lots of ways to help out this group!
- Project Hopeful - Buy tees to support and raise awareness for families adopting children with HIV/AIDS in Africa.
- Neverthirst - Wonderful local group who is working to bring clean, safe water and the Gospel to those who need it most.
- Charity: Water - Very cool tees and water bottles to help raise money for sustainable clean water solutions in developing countries.
- One - Help this group fight extreme poverty and preventable disease, primarily in Africa, through raising awareness. Tees, phone covers, bags!
- One Verse - End Bible poverty by translating verses for an untranslated people group. Sponsor a verse in someone's name who is on your list! They also have tees to promote One Verse available.
- The Hunger Site - Help fight famine in the Horn of Africa and hunger in the US by purchasing fair trade items.
- International Justice Mission - Help give aid to the victims of human trafficking around the world.
- 58: Store - Resources for living out Isaiah 58.
- Hello Somebody - Purchase products to help feed and educate children to break the cycle of hunger and poverty.
- Noonday Collection - Fashion + Orphan Care
- Exodus Cry - A Prayer Movement to End Slavery
- NightLight - Shop jewelry and accessories to support this international organization committed to addressing the issues surrounding human trafficking and prostitution.