3 Ways to Give back this Holiday Season & Better the World

During the holidays, the greatest feeling we get (other than being stuffed with goodies and cider) is that warm and fuzzy feeling that comes from knowing that something you have done has made someone’s life a little bit better. Whether it’s giving the perfect gift, donating canned food, helping out a local non-profit, there are many ways to give back.

Here are some gifts, perfect for friends and family, on the cutting edge of cool, that also give back in some way. Check it out!

1. Supporting Non-Profits through Products

If your loved one is a fan of independent clothing, of donating to non-profits, or passionate about a certain cause, you’re sure to find a product on Sevenly’s website that matches! Each week, Sevenly donates $7 per product purchases to a cause of the week, helping to spread awareness but also supporting the sustainability of certain ventures. This holiday season, they’re bringing back people’s favorite designs and causes of the past year!

2. Supporting Innovation & Health

One of the coolest ways to give back is by supporting crowdfunding projects. Crowdfunding is when people ask the public for money in return for small rewards to help them achieve a goal. One of our favorites this year is the ERI project on Indiegogo that’s building the thinnest activity monitor (in neon colors)! The monitor will be waterproof and able to collect information on everything from sleep patterns to swimstrokes. Not only is this gift awesome, but it helps inspire people to stay in shape and think about their health in a conscious manner! Perfect to pair with any of these fitnes/ calorie counter apps!

3. Spreading Awareness through Art

Another great way to “give back” in a non-traditional way is to contribute to advocacy campaigns or to educate the people around us and to inspire them to care about pertinent issues. One project on Kickstarter, War is Only Half the Story, is a photographic narrative that explores the aftermath of war and the effect on civilians in an artistic way. It is being run by the Aftermath Project, a non-profit committed to telling the stories of what it takes for individuals to learn to live again, to restore civil societies, to address the lingering wounds of war while struggling to create new avenues for peace. Give back to the world by alerting people to the consequences of political action and strengthening the dialogue of peace.

This holiday season, as you explore gifts for your loved ones, remember those around the world that don’t have the same opportunities or knowledge that some of us do. Buy gifts that inspire and make an impact, instead of something that may lie at the bottom of someone’s closest. Knowledge and innovation are gifts that are endless; it’s impossible to track how many people they affect and how, but be sure that even with words, the message spreads and slowly cultivates a better world.