15 Places to Shop AND Support Good Causes
#1 – Ten Thousand Villages | Raleigh, NC
Located in Raleigh’s Cameron Village, Ten Thousand Villages is a nonprofit, fair trade retailer, offering handicrafts by artisans in more than 30 countries. Products include everything from home and garden decor to jewelry, musical instruments, food and more.
Product sales help pay for food, education, healthcare and housing for artisans who would otherwise be unemployed or underemployed. As one of the world’s largest and oldest fair trade organizations, Ten Thousand Villages has spent more than 60 years cultivating trading relationships so that artisans may receive a fair price for their work while offering consumers access to distinctive handcrafted items. Visit their website here.
#2 – ReTails Thrift Shop | Raleigh, NC
ReTails Thrift Shop is owned and operated by AnimalKind, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. When you shop, 100% of the net profits from ReTails Thrift Shop go towards supporting AnimalKind’s pet spay/neuter programs, THE $20 FIX, and the SpayNC Helpline.
THE $20 FIX enables low-income pet owners to spay or neuter their pets for $20 or less. The SpayNC Helpline (1.888.NC.FIX.EM) helps residents throughout North Carolina find spay/neuter resources in their area. Visit the ReTails Thrift Shop website here.
#3 – Beleza | Raleigh, NC
Beleza is a fair trade boutique that features unique and extraordinary textiles, hats, jewelry and art from countries around the world. All of the items in the store are fair trade, and proceeds go back towards supporting the various artists in their craft. Visit the website here.
#4 – HANDmeUPs Thrift Shop | Raleigh, NC
Located in Raleigh, NC, HANDmeUPs is part of the Power of the Dream Inc., a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organization, dedicated to improving the quality of life for older teens and adults with autism or other intellectual/development disabilities. Each time you shop at HANDmeUPs, your money supports the housing, education, and the creation of jobs for persons with autism and other developmental disabilities. Visit the HANDmeUPs website here.
#5 – Citizen Yogurt | Raleigh, NC
As the name would imply, Citizen Yogurt specializes in more than just yogurt products. This 100% locally owned and operated Raleigh business also supports environmental responsibility, with the belief that, “…small efforts add up.” To that end, Citizen Yogurt is a proud partner of CarbonFund.org, an organization that promotes the awareness and reduction of carbon emissions through reforestation, energy efficiency and renewable energy.
Citizen Yogurt also sponsors local swim teams, sports clubs and organizations. It features charitable donation nights, where at least 10% of their revenue goes towards community organizations. Visit their website here.
#6 – Habitat for Humanity ReStore | Raleigh & Cary, NC
The Habitat for Humanity ReStore sells new and used building materials and furniture to the public at deeply discounted prices. Currently, there are two flagship locations in the Triangle area: the Raleigh location (50,000 sq. ft.), and the Cary location (8,500 sq. ft.). Find items ranging from light fixtures to flooring to windows, doors, tile, blinds, shutters, appliances and more.
All ReStore proceeds go directly towards supporting Habitat for Humanity’s mission. Visit their website here.
#7 – The Produce Box | Raleigh Area
The Produce Box delivers to multiple cities and locations throughout North Carolina. The organization is built on bringing fresh food directly from the farm to the table. Founded in 2008, The Produce Box now supports more than 40 local farmers throughout the state of North Carolina. Buyers get to pick each week from more than 85 produce varieties and box sizes to be delivered directly to their doorsteps
The Produce Box also supports local heroes, regularly giving back to schools, churches and community groups (InterFaith Food Shuttle, Veggie Van, food pantries, and more). Visit their website here.
#8 – The Green Chair Project | Raleigh, NC
Founded in 2010, The Green Chair Project is a nonprofit organization co-founded by Jackie Craig and Beth Smoot, both trained as real estate agents, and both having observed that many people had too much “stuff” in their homes that could be used by “someone”. The Green Chair Project serves as a receptacle for these useful items that people don’t necessarily want to throw away but can no longer use. The Green Chair makes these furnishings available at a low cost to individuals and families, allowing them to furnish their homes with dignity. Visit their website here.
#9 – Gifts with a Heart | Cary, NC
Founded in 2009, Gifts with a Heart carries hand-made items made both locally and around the world. All global, hand-made items are part of the fair trade mission; and items range from coffee to jewelry, scarves and home accessories. Visit their website here.
#10 – Headbands of Hope | Raleigh, NC
Launched in 2012, Headbands of Hope was started after local founder, Jessica Ekstrom, did an internship at the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Central and Western North Carolina. During her internship, she saw that girls loved to wear headbands after losing their hair to chemotherapy. Ekstrom recognized the struggles that so many young girls face with self-esteem as well as the resulting trauma of losing hair as well as a part of their feminine identity due to a life-threatening illness. Thus, Headbands of Hope was born.
For every headband purchased, one headband is given to a girl with cancer, and $1 is donated to St. Baldrick’s Foundation to fund life-saving childhood cancer research. Visit their website here.
#11 – AniMall | Cary, NC
AniMall Pet Adoption & Outreach Center is a locally-run, independent 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. AniMall offers rescues and shelters a visible place to showcase their adoptable animals in an effort to increase their chances for adoption.
AniMall relies primarily on sales in the store to fund their day-to-day operations. Every purchase you make supports homeless pets! Visit their website here.
#12 – MamAfrica Designs | Carrboro, NC
MamAfrica’s mission is to change the lives of the women and children in the Democratic Republic of Congo by providing education, healing arts programs and economic opportunity. 100% of the proceeds go back into the program. Visit their website here.
#13 – Passage Home | Raleigh, NC
Since 1991, nonprofit Passage Home has helped more than 1,000 families achieve self sufficiency. This organization takes an integrated, comprehensive approach towards job creation, on-the-job training, building affordable housing, and assisting families and neighborhoods in becoming economically stable and viable – all with the goal of breaking the cycle of poverty.
The Passage Home Resale & Thrift Shop is an outreach to the local community, providing gently used goods at reasonable prices. Proceeds from sales go towards providing job training, employment as well as raising funds for other programs. Visit their website here.
#14 – InterAct of Wake County – Pass It On | Fuquay-Varina & Raleigh, NC
Pass It On is an upscale thrift store that sells new and used women’s and children’s clothing and accessories. The main store location can be found in the heart of downtown Fuquay-Varina. The newest store, Pass It On, Too, sells new and used women’s clothing and is located near the Cameron Village shops in Raleigh.
The stores are operated by InterAct of Wake County, and proceeds from the stores go towards covering the cost of counseling services for families impacted by domestic violence and rape/sexual assault. Visit them on the web here.
#15 – Cary Creative Center | Cary, NC
Cary Creative Center is a nonprofit that provides a unique place to creatively discard reusable items in a way that respects the environment and enhances the arts in the local community. This is a great place to pick up a gift for your artsy and craftsy friends!
Store sales go towards providing jobs, as well as providing artistic materials and educational programs to promote reuse of discarded materials. Visit their website here.
Blog written by- http://activategood.org/blog/gift-giving-guide-15-places-to-shop/
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