places to buy orange
christmas gifts...
christmas gifts...
fair trade friends
so, this is a bit of a plug. midtown friends, the local church that started "orange christmas" three years ago is actually running out of operating funds. but, a friend of ours is the co-founder of fair trade friends. so...you can give coffee (or simply buy it to drink yourself) this christmas and help us out all at once. when you buy your coffee, just indicate that you want a portion of the proceeds to go to midtown friends community! :)
this organization is based on relationship. the grower is friends with the roaster is friends with the distributer. and all are christians who believe Jesus wants us to seek the physical freedom of those in need and in slavery! so you can support this organization with a happy heart!
made by survivors
buy t-shirts, bags, jewelry, ties, toys, paper, art, even gift certificates!
hooligans kids' clothing
great, creative fair trade and eco friendly clothes for kids!
freedom store
some items here are made by slavery survivors and others benefit efforts to end slavery. you can buy books, art, earrings, journals, coasters, music, jewlery, videos, t-shirts, and even soccer balls.
ten thousand villages
by enabling vulnerable people to engage in micro-business, Ten Thousand Villages helps to keep these vulnerable people out of slavery.
you can buy all sorts of art/house wares here, toys, candles, jewlery, hot sauces, coffee etc. You can also register gifts that you would like and make an onlin Christmas list through their online "registry." then you can send to friends and family, making it easier for them to shop for your “orange christmas.”
world vision gift catalogue
go beyond fighting slavery and fight the poverty that makes slavery possible! ask for or give a goat for a poor child in africa or books for kids in schools in east asia...there are many amazing possibilities in world vision's catalogue. including some that come with little gifts you can physically give someone on Christmas so they can open something at the same time as help people around the world!
hope for sexually exploited girls: one of the worst aspects of modern global slavery is sex tourism. so many girls around the globe, at ages as young as 5 or 7 have been forced into sex-slavery. through world vision, you can help them to find freedom and turn their lives around!
give a loved on the gift of changing a young exploited girl's life this Christmas!
freeset
help women in danger of sexual exploitation by buying bags and t-shirts through freeset, an organization that employs vulnerable women in kolkata, india.
theo chocolate
we all know that one of the best things about christmas is the food. especially. the. chocolate. right? but the devastating thing about most chocolate is that it is harvested by slaves...by people who are treated the same as slaves in the pre-civil war US. it is one of the worst forms of slavery in the world.
but take heart, there are several "fair tade" or "fairly-traded" chocolate makers. you can google it. or, you can buy chocolate through midtown friends' favorite: theo chocolate. check them out! i promise you won't be disappointed!
equal exchange
equal exchange has lots of great fair trade stuff. they are especially good for fair trade baking! bulk chocolate, sugar etc. baking gifts is a great way to step outside of consumerism this christmas - but it does not automatically mean your gifts are slave-free...so shop at equal exchange for your ingredients!
and the list goes on...
- there are a ton! more places you can buy fair trade or fairly-traded gifts or fight slavery through consumerism.
- visit local craft fairs/farmers markets/boutiques.
- buy used things.
- give time instead of gifts. ...time spent with the person. ...time volunteered locally to help those in need in their name. time spent researching and raising awareness on how we can fight slavery.
- take people out for a meal at a local restaurant you know has ethical employment practices.
- give a gift certificate to a local fairly-traded coffee or tea shop (hint: if you're in sacramento, temple and naked are both local and fairly-traded)
or shop at any of the websites listed below:
- shop the cause
- threads of hope
- trade as one
- be the change elements
- no sweat
- indigenous designs
- serrv
- fair trade marketplace
- global girlfriend
- gifts with humanity
- wholesale fair trade gifts
if you know of other places to buy good slave-free gifts, send an email to [email protected] and we'll add your suggestions to the list.