As someone who worked in retail stores for seven years, I’ve seen the ugly side of the holidays, and it can be summed up in two words: Black Friday.  It seems almost unbelievable that people have literally been trampled in a throng of shoppers desperate for a cheap TV.  So this year, instead of fighting off that tryptophan coma in order to stand in a freezing cold line at 3 am, why not give a unique, socially conscious gift?  We’ve put together some great options that will make your holiday season a whole lot merrier.

Three Avocados Coffee
Don’t worry, it’s not avocado flavored coffee.  Three Avocados is a non-profit organization that donates 100% of its net proceeds to providing clean water in Uganda.  You can give a $1, $5, or $10 donation through their website, or buy any style of their 100% Arabica bean coffee.  They even sell coffee packages already gift-wrapped!  Better yet - for a limited time, all of their orders ship for only $2.95.

TOMS Shoes
You might see them everywhere, but TOMS shoes are far from out of style.  For every pair of shoes you buy either online or at one of their retailers (including Billabong, Urban Outfitters, and even Whole Foods), they donate a pair to a child in need.  As of September 2010 - and keep in mind that was over a year ago - they had donated over one million pairs of shoes to children around the world.  TOMS has recently branched out into eyewear, committing to helping advance research to help the blind and visually impaired. 

M.A.C. Viva Glam Cosmetics
I’m of the thought that a lipstick is a lipstick, but for those fashionistas out there who gravitate towards elaborate cosmetics, higher-end retailer M.A.C. recently launched the M.A.C. AIDS Fund to coincide with their heavily celebrity-endorsed Viva Glam line.  The purchase of one lipstick or “lipglass”, as they call it, can help those affected by the disease in several ways.  One purchase = eight home-cooked meals, one month of public transport to doctors appointments, or even a birthday party for a child affected by AIDS. 

Macy’s Heart of Haiti Gifts
It’s hard to believe it’s almost been two years since Haiti’s devastating earthquake, but even harder to believe that the country is still rebuilding.  Macy’s has teamed with wonderful Haitian artists to sell handcrafted housewares and jewelry both online and in-store.  Gifts range from this amazingly intricate metal picture frame to these colorful serving plates made out of - believe it or not - recycled paper.  Any one of these pieces are sure to be a conversation starter at your holiday party - and make sure to work into the conversation the fact that half of your wholesale price went directly to the Haitian artists to help them rebuild!

MatterL3C’s BirdProject Soap
Made out of all-natural ingredients (no animal products here!), these black bird-shaped soaps eventually become an even better surprise - a handmade white ceramic bird, symbolic of the ongoing effort to clean up the Gulf Coast.  When you reveal the clean, smooth keepsake, it will forever be a reminder that 50% of your purchase went to restoring the Gulf and helping the animals affected by the spill.

——-

And don’t forget that if you, like us, are prone to giving movies as gifts, you can always check out the Arts Engine Store, where we’re now selling our Media That Matters 11 DVD collection!  By purchasing any one of our Media That Matters collections or Big Mouth Films DVDs, you’re helping us produce, promote, and distribute many more socially-conscious films and festivals.

Happy holidays!