Holiday Gift Guide: Donations to Charity as Gifts

In the U.S. and many other parts of the world, the December holiday season has become synonymous with the three S's: shopping, spending, and stuff. We spend millions of dollars on sweaters and iPods and toys made in overseas factories by exploited workers, children, and slaves. But this holiday season, you have an opportunity to do something revolutionary: shop for freedom. You can take a stand against human trafficking and exploitation by spending your money on gifts and products which help trafficking victims. This three-part holiday shopping guide (see Part 2 here) is intended to empower you as a consumer to choose to buy products that support the freedom of workers this holiday season. The resources here are by no means exhaustive, and I encourage you to educate yourself on all companies you choose to buy from. Happy and free shopping!

Part 3: Donations to Charity as Gifts

If you have someone in your life who seems to have everything they want and need, why not save yourself the headache of searching for that one item they don't already own and instead donate money to a charity in their name? A number of charitable organizations will issue a card or some other note indicating that you gave a donation in someone's honor. For those that don't, consider making up your own certificate or finding a token gift to represent the donation. For example, my mom and her fellow teachers recently honored a colleague's retirement with the gift of a goat from the Heifer International gift catalog for a family in a developing country. They presented the honoree with a tiny stuffed goat and the certificate. She said the goat was a gift she'll never forget. Here are some resources for making charitable gifts this holiday season:

Anti-Trafficking Organizations:

A great gift idea is a donation to an anti-trafficking organization in someone's name. I've featured several anti-trafficking organizations in my Freedom for the Weekend feature throughout the year. You can also view a list of anti-trafficking organizations which are Change.org members here. Different anti-trafficking organizations have different needs, so always contact an organization if you want to donate something other than money. However, some organizations may accept:

• In-kind donations of new or used clothing
• Non-perishable food donations
• Stock donations
• Specialty items, like language resources, baby products, or technology

To make a small amount of money go further, consider hosting a holiday fundraiser, like a human trafficking movie night, and donating the proceeds to a local anti-trafficking organization.

Gift Catalogs:

A number of nonprofit organizations have developed online gift catalogs where you can purchase specific items as donations, such as school uniforms for a child in need or some chickens for a family. Here are a few examples:

Heifer International: Specializes in gifting farm animals as part of international development programs.

Oxfam Unwrapped: A gift catalog of charitable donations that go towards a variety of development activities around the world.

World Vision: A gift catalog of charitable donations that support international programs for women and children, including trafficking victims and people at-risk for trafficking.

Donate Time with Friends and Family:

If you're short on cash this holiday season, consider donating time instead of money to support your local anti-trafficking organization. Some organizations may have holiday projects or fundraisers they need volunteers for. If there isn't an anti-trafficking organization in your area, think about volunteering at an organization that serves individuals at-risk for human trafficking, like low-income families and children, immigrants, and women.

Photo credit: San Jose Library