More Ideas for Shopping with a Purpose

This post is FULL of ideas for gift-giving with a purpose....and when I say full, I mean full people!...and great ideas, too, I might add.  Here ya go!

1. Amazima....This ministry was started in 2008 by then 19-year-old Katie Davis from Brentwood, Tennessee.  Read all about this amazing work here on their website, and then read about Katie's day-to-day life with her 13 daughters and the people of Uganda here on her blog.  Amazima sells paper-bead necklaces that are handcrafted by women in Uganda.  Not only is each necklace beautiful, but the money you spend employs a Ugandan woman and helps feed a hungry child.  Check them out here.  Also, Katie Davis has written an awesome book Kisses From Katie.  This would be a great gift for the reader on your list.  Proceeds from the book go straight back into Amazima.  You can purchase the book off Amazon.

2. TOMS shoes....One for One...."With every pair of shoes you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need. One for One."You can read more about the One for One movement here and purchase shoes all day long, here.  I'm thinking these are pretty cute!

  

3. Speaking of shoes...Meet Samantha. A 12-year-old girl, from St. Louis Missouri, who makes bottlecap necklaces to raise money to purchase shoes for needy children.  Right now children at Children's Hopechest carepoints in Ethiopia are receiving new shoes thanks to Samantha.  Her cute necklaces are $6 (that includes shipping) and there are several styles to choose from.  Love, love, love these necklaces!

4.  Meet the Hurley family...David, Erin, and their two girls are in the process of adopting a child from Ethiopia.  Right now, they are waiting on their referral and continuing to raise funds.  You can read their adoption story here.  The Hurley's are selling adoption related jewelry, adoption apparel, and Africa merchandise.  Most of all, please remember to pray for them as they continue this journey.

5.  Meet the Narunsky family....Roy and Jill, and their 3 biological children are also in the process of adopting a 10-year-old boy from Ethiopia.  They hope to have him home by the end of the year.  To help raise much needed funds, they are selling t-shirts, Just Love Coffee and 5th Avenue jewelry. Now that the Ethiopian courts have reopened, the Narunsky's are super eager to bring their son home. Please pray for them and their hearts.

6.  Check out these cute bracelets, handmade and each bead stitched in.  This family is selling these as a fundraiser to bring their little girl home from China, and are trying to reach their goal of selling 3,000 bracelets.  Adult braceltets sell for $12 and children's bracelets are $10.  There are so many patterns to choose from!

7. O.k. and this one is near and dear to my heart.... (Starbucks) RED....Want to give Starbucks giftcards this holiday season? Consider giving the (Starbucks) RED cards.

"Every time you pay with your (STARBUCKS)^RED Card*, we make a contribution to the Global Fund to help people living with HIV/AIDS in Africa. With your help, we’ve already generated contributions equaling more than 18 million daily doses of medicine."

8. My sweet friend Libby Edwardson is making these precious African dolls to fund their adoption of two children from Uganda.  You can read more about their story here.  She will soon have dolls for older children available.  Each doll is $20.  You can choose from boy, girl, or unisex and whether or not you want the doll's eyes to be open or shut.  These are the cutest things!

Buy for Change....Week 1 Continued

So....I have had so much interest that another post this week is in order.  Check out these ideas for gift-giving with a purpose this holiday season....

1. Reaser family adoption....Meet Dennis and Katie Reaser and their four children.

They are in the process of adopting a toddler girl from Ethiopia.  They have gotten their court date for November 30th and are praying that they have their princess home by Christmas.  You can read all about their story here. To raise funds for their adoption, they are selling these awesome washer necklaces, reusable grocery bags, and Just Love Coffee.  Visit their blog to order these products. RIGT NOW until October 23rd, you can order Pampered Chef products with a percentage of the sales going toward their adoption...and because it's an October show, you will get 20% of select stoneware pieces.  Just make sure you put "Katie" as the hostess.  Click here for the Pampered Chef site.  Thanks for helping bring "baby M" home!

$10 for one washer, $15 for two washers

reusable grocery bags....$5         

2.  Because Every Mother Matters...This is wonderful organization started raising funds in 2008 to send  birthing kits to women in Africa.  Since then, they have started a birthing kit program and a mother sponsorship program.  They also support maternal health centers, child development centers, and provide educational training.  Talk about getting to the heart of the matter....helping mommas so that they don't have to give up their babies.  You can read all about BEMM here. BEMM relies on donations to fund their efforts.  They also have several products for sale....

     

               Note cards... $10                                           Tacky 4 Africa headbands... $10 each 

3. Happy Shirts....Eric and Laura Anderson started this non-profit with one thing in mind....get a shirt, give a shirt.  For every shirt/onesie that is purchased, they give one away to orphans and refugees all over the world.  Pick from hundreds of "happies" for that special person in your life....from hobbies, to animals, to sports, professions....pretty much anything you can think of is already on a My Happy 

t-shirt.  Each shirt is $20 and is made from soft ring-spun cotton. Such a cute gift and for a great cause!

4. Crockett family adoption...Meet the Crockett family...Adam, Lindsay, Makayla and Addison.

The Crocketts have been on the adoption journey since February and just this month have sent off their dossier! You can read their story here on their blog. They are also selling Just Love Coffee, and t-shirts that are $18.  Also, if you buy any products from Hannah James (a jewelry and accessory online boutique), from now until December, the Crocketts will get 45% of the profits. Just make sure to put "Crockett" in the notes.

t-shirts... $18

Thanks for helping change lives!

Buy for Change....Week 1 Continued

So....I have had so much interest that another post this week is in order.  Check out these ideas for gift-giving with a purpose this holiday season....

1. Reaser family adoption....Meet Dennis and Katie Reaser and their four children.

They are in the process of adopting a toddler girl from Ethiopia.  They have gotten their court date for November 30th and are praying that they have their princess home by Christmas.  You can read all about their story here. To raise funds for their adoption, they are selling these awesome washer necklaces, reusable grocery bags, and Just Love Coffee.  Visit their blog to order these products. RIGT NOW until October 23rd, you can order Pampered Chef products with a percentage of the sales going toward their adoption...and because it's an October show, you will get 20% of select stoneware pieces.  Just make sure you put "Katie" as the hostess.  Click here for the Pampered Chef site.  Thanks for helping bring "baby M" home!

$10 for one washer, $15 for two washers

reusable grocery bags....$5         

2.  Because Every Mother Matters...This is wonderful organization started raising funds in 2008 to send  birthing kits to women in Africa.  Since then, they have started a birthing kit program and a mother sponsorship program.  They also support maternal health centers, child development centers, and provide educational training.  Talk about getting to the heart of the matter....helping mommas so that they don't have to give up their babies.  You can read all about BEMM here. BEMM relies on donations to fund their efforts.  They also have several products for sale....

     

               Note cards... $10                                           Tacky 4 Africa headbands... $10 each 

3. Happy Shirts....Eric and Laura Anderson started this non-profit with one thing in mind....get a shirt, give a shirt.  For every shirt/onesie that is purchased, they give one away to orphans and refugees all over the world.  Pick from hundreds of "happies" for that special person in your life....from hobbies, to animals, to sports, professions....pretty much anything you can think of is already on a My Happy t-shirt.

Each shirt is $20 and is made from soft ring-spun cotton. Such a cute gift and for a great cause!

4. Crockett family adoption...Meet the Crockett family...Adam, Lindsay, Makayla and Addison.

The Crocketts have been on the adoption journey since February and just this month have sent off their dossier! You can read their story here on their blog. They are also selling Just Love Coffee, and t-shirts that are $18.  Also, if you buy any products from Hannah James (a jewelry and accessory online boutique), from now until December, the Crocketts will get 45% of the profits. Just make sure to put "Crockett" in the notes.

t-shirts... $18

Thanks for helping change lives!

Buy for Change....Week 1

Christmas is right around the corner.  Can you believe it?  Some of us are already thinking about buying presents for all the special people in our lives.  Here's a challenge....Try buying gifts that really make a difference.  There are many adoptive families selling products (that are mighty cute, I might add) with proceeds going toward their international adoptions.  There are also many organizations that are selling products with proceeds going toward helping widows and orphans in developing countries.  AND there are large corporations that are selling products with percentages going toward eliminating social injustice.  Starting this week, I will be highlighting a few of these opportunities.   It's a win-win for everyone....the family or organization gets financial support, while you get the chance to give a gift that will change lives. Help change the life of an orphan. Help change the life of a widow. Help change the life of a family.  Ready, set, go buy for change!

Meet the Thew family.  Mary and Nathan, and their biological children, are in the process of adopting a baby from Uganda...you can read their story here.  To support their adoption they are involved in several different fundraisers, with full or part of the proceeds going towards their adoption.  You can purchase one of a kind postcards, Uganda decals, Ugandan paper beaded necklaces, Ugandan paintings here and here, 147 million orphan products, items from One Mango Tree, Earth Monkey Gear (eco-friendly baby items), Simply Love children's tees, Simply Love hats, Man Up tees, Scentsy products, Just Love Coffee, and Barefoot Books all from their main fundraising blog.  It looks like they have something for everyone on your list. Please help support the Thew family and their baby starfish!

Meet the Blankenship family....Ethan, Kara, and their children, Korinna, Josiah, Elaina, and Leila.  The Blankenships are in the process of adopting a baby from China.  You can read their story here. I have gotten to know Kara in the last few months and I am loving this precious family.  They are also selling 147 million orphans gear, and for all of you local Tuscaloosans, they are having a boston butt sale (I know...this isn't exactly a gift you would give someone at Christmas, but I had to include it!)....RIGHT NOW as we speak.  If you are interested in buying a butt, you can contact Kara at karablankenship@hotmail.com.  They are $30. The deadline is October 21 and they will be available for pick-up on October 29 from 9am-12pm at Alberta Baptist.  Help bring Baby Blankenship home!

Meet the Wages family.  I have been friends with Tracy for a while now. In fact, we were DTE about the same time  (that's adoption language for Dossier to Ethiopia...dossier=the motherload of paperwork that is sent to the country). This date is a big deal and one that you sometimes share with others and therefore creates a bond between you.  Anyway.....she is a dear friend and working hard to raise money for their adoption of a baby girl from Ethiopia.  She and her husband, Tony, have three biological children and they are waiting on their referral.  You can read their story here.  Tracy and her family are selling African themed necklaces, white ivory bracelets, brown ivory bracelets, carved ivory necklaces, bangle sets, an assortment of paper bead necklaces, paper bead bracelets, and beauty products made of natural products (mango butter, coconut oil, shea/mango butter, shea/aloe butter, shea butter, and aloe butter).  You can find all these products here at very affordable prices.  Please help bring baby Olivia home.

Hello Somebody is an organization that "...exists to feed and educate children, byproviding an avenue of knowledge, in order to break the cycle of poverty and hunger within their generation."  You can read their story here. Hello Somebody has many products from t-shirts to jewelry, all helping to aid in hunger in many countries.  My favorite, though is the watch.  How cute is this?  The watches are $25 and proceeds go to feeding and educating children in Rwanda.

Stay tuned for more ideas next week!