If you’re anything like us over here at The Citizen, you’re still shopping for Christmas, and two things have happened:
1. You’re out of ideas.
2. You know your money could be put to better use than almost all of the things you’ve put in your cart on Amazon.
Well, you’re in luck. Philadelphia has no shortage of ways to gift your loved ones while also doing good—something the world could use more of these days. Here are our suggestions:
For your girlfriend
Give the gift of safety. ROAR for Good’s Yasmine Mustafa has a simple mission: Protecting women from assaults through wearable technology that emits a loud alarm and alerts friends to a user’s location if she is in danger. The company also plans to donate a portion of its proceeds to programs that teach young people about respect and healthy relationships. ROAR’s first line of pendants, Athena, will be available in the spring, but you can pre-order one now.
For your mom
Photo: Philabundance
Feed the needy in her name. Every dollar contributed to Philabundance, the region’s largest hunger relief organization that feeds 90,000 people a week, provides for two meals to the needy. Make a donation in honor of your mother—and let her feed someone else for a change.
For your boyfriend
Photo: United by Blue
The Philly Pride gift pack from United By Blue includes an up with Philly sustainably-produced t-shirt, fleece and banner perfect for the one you love—and comes with the United By Blue promise to clean up one pound of trash from America’s waterways for every item sold. Philly proud, indeed.
For your wife
Photo: Bario Neal
At Bario Neal, the handcrafted jewelry is made with reclaimed precious metals, fairmined gold and ethically-sourced stones, using eco-conscious methods. Between now and December 23, the shop will take 10 to 25 percent off if you make an in-store donation of an art supply to Congreso de Latinos Unidos’ after school program. And they will donate that same percentage to the Malawai Dzone development project, for education programs in the communities near where Bario Neal sources many of its sapphires.
For your neighbors
Sign them up for a free street tree through the city’s TreePhilly. It will help clean the air, prettify the neighborhood and up the property value of their house. They’ll (maybe?) thank you for it later. (Note: TreePhilly will send them a confirmation letter before installation, so they have time to refuse.)
For your sister
Tampons as a gift, you say? Well, these are not just your everyday Tampax. At Cora, you can sign your sister up for a customizable package of safe, organic sanitary products. And for each customized package bought here, the equivalent number of sanitary napkins is sent to girls in India. (You can pre-order Cora’s new line here.)
For your kids
Give in—just a little—to your daughter’s wish for a furry critter by fostering a stray cat or dog during winter break through the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society or the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
For your boss
Give flowers. Well, first give beer from Yards, our local beer maker with a social and eco-conscience, which collects and reuses 2 million gallons of water a year, powers its Columbus Boulevard brewery with wind energy, and uses sustainable materials in its boxes. It also donates almost $100,000 a year to local charities, including Ronald McDonald House and the Food Trust. While you’re at it, pick up a free Yards seed packet for your boss to help revive our dwindling bee population, part of the brewery’s efforts to plant 20,000 flower gardens in the area this year.