For the past few years we have given Heifer International gifts to our youngest niece and nephew. These kids are surrounded by family and receive piles of gifts. I buy a Christmas ornament of the animal we purchase in their name so they have a box to open, and it provides a little reminder when they look at the tree that they have helped families not as fortunate as themselves.
This year I have discovered another organization offering meaningful gifts, World Vision. World Vision has been in the news quite a lot lately because they are always involved in providing relief after a disaster, and the world has seen a lot of disasters lately.
World Vision has animals that can be purchased in the same manner as Heifer International, but they also have opportunities to purchase clothing for children, provide basic necessities for families in the US, and a program that helps sexually exploited girls. In addition they sell fair trade goods the have been handcrafted from many different parts of the globe.
Beautiful jewelry,
clothing,
and household items. These olivewood salad spoons are made to benefit the orphans of the Kamba tribe in Kenya and include a storage bag of African fabric that has been handsewn by local women.
It is easy to buy a gift at Target that was made in China, but why not do some good work with your shopping. It is just as easy to order a gift online from a company whose sole purpose is helping others. World Vision provides assistance to people in almost 100 counties around the world by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice, and are one of the first responders after a disaster. Your gift could be one that keeps on giving long after the Christmas tree has been taken down.
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