The year 2020 proved that in order to strengthen our community, we need to support each other and our surroundings. These companies and nonprofits keep that mentality in focus, and their products make for great gifts.
Holiday Gift Guide: Gifts that give back
Pride Socks from Bombas
$12.00
I have seen sock company Bombas advertise all over my social media. I scrolled right past them until someone pointed out their give back program. The company has donated more than 40 million products to 3,500 partners across all 50 states. That includes more than 20 nonprofits within 50 miles of Minneapolis, including Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, Roosevelt High School, and The Link.
Bombas does have a holiday line of products for men, women and kids, but their team tells me they do have a limited edition Pride line of socks available. You can showcase love for the LGBTQ community in ankle and calf sizes.
Pride T-Shirt from Open Arms of Minnesota
$25.00
I work for Open Arms of Minnesota, a nonprofit that makes and delivers medically tailored meals to people living with cancer, HIV/AIDS, MS, ALS, and other life-threatening illnesses. This year, they’re expecting to serve more than 600,000 meals, all free of charge.
The organization started in 1986 in response to the AIDS pandemic, and is well connected within the LGBTQ community.
This year, Open Arms is celebrating its beginnings with a rainbow t-shirt with their name underneath. Living with “open arms” is a motto we can all live by.
In addition to the t-shirts, Open Arms is selling “cookie dough to go” this holiday season, along with chocolate dipped macaroons, cookie decorating kits and recipe calendars featuring top-tier Twin Cities chefs. Those items will be available in a drive-thru format on select dates in December. Learn more here.
If you’d rather give back with your time, Open Arms is always looking for volunteers to help prepare meals out of its kitchen in South Minneapolis. They are also selling pints of cookie dough, Macaroons and more out of their bakery. Learn more on their website.
Essential Oils from Savhera
$14.00 – 16.00
Texas-based Savhera provides work to survivors of sex trafficking, along with sex workers. Those rescued from sexual exploitation often have difficulty finding work because of criminal records.
Currently, Savhera employs seven survivors in India and two in the United States. They help Savhera with production and fulfillment of their essential oil products, which are USDA organic. The Cedarwood and Peppermint scents are perfect to get you, and your house, in the holiday spirit.
Spiral Journal by Woodchuck USA
$30.99
Someday, we will safely be able to travel again without fear of contracting COVID-19. You can gift hope of travel yet to come with this adventure journal made by Saint Paul based Woodchuck USA.
In addition to journals made of wood, Woodchuck USA makes flasks, phone cases, tie bars, cuff links, wine boxes, plant boxes and much more.
As part of their Buy One, Plant One program, Woodchuck plants a tree for every product sold. They have planted millions of trees on 6 continents, with the impact felt all around the world.
