Valentine’s Day Gifts That Give Back

6
Feb

Valentine's Day giftsThis Friday is the day that celebrates love around the world, better known as Saint Valentine’s Day! Traditionally Valentine’s Day is a day when we express our love for those we cherish by offering gifts such as sending flowers, confectionery treats arranged in boxes shaped in the form of a heart or sending heartfelt greeting cards expressing soulful words of love and devotion.

I love the thought of taking this day as an opportunity to share love and joy with your adopted child as well. Valentine’s Day is a great opportunity to share with your child what it means to love and be loved. Whether you are thinking of expressing your feelings of love to your children, your husband, boyfriend or girlfriend, it is always another opportunity to purchase a gift that gives back. Below are some suggestions for gift giving this Valentine’s Day to send gifts with a meaning. Gifts that express your love but also have a worthy cause from jewelry to shoes to handbags to chocolates, make Valentine’s Day important to everyone you love!

  • Brilliant Earth: Jewelry made with ethical and transparent practices in the diamond industry. Additionally, five percent of profits help communities who have suffered from unethical practices in the jewelry & diamond industry.
  • Jewelry for a Cause:  Assists various charities and schools and offers a variety of jewelry choices and styles.
  • Jewelry for Charity: Sevenly donates a portion of every purchase to charity. Charities vary from week to week.
  • Skechers Bobs: For each pair of shoes purchased, a pair of shoes is donated to a child in need  in the U.S. or worldwide.
  • Toms: when a pair of shoes is purchased – a pair of shoes is donated to an impoverished child. Toms also sells eyewear and a portion of the profits is donated to restore eyesight to those in need in developing countries.
  • Handbags Carlos by Carlos Santana: Available at major department stores-  a portion of the proceeds goes to the Milagro Foundation which assists children in the areas of health, education and the arts.
  • Laga Handbags: Started after the Tsunami in Indonesia to provide, “a place of peace, refuge and love for victims of disaster who are rebuilding their lives, one handbag at a time”. This organization was also featured by Oprah. Handbags, wallets etc are manufactured in Indonesia which provides employment to those affected by the tsunami in 2004.
  • Kiehl’s  Midnight Recovery Complex Alicia Keys Limited Edition: Gives back 100% of the proceeds to the Keep A Child Alive Foundation.
  • Thistle Farms: All natural lotions & body products manufactured by women who have survived prostitution, trafficking or addiction.
  • Endangered Species Chocolates: Donates 10% of net profits to organizations that support species, habitat and humanity. Chocolate bars, gift sets and chocolate covered fruits and nuts available.
  • Chocolates for Darfur: African Chocolate Collection by Compartes – Purchase chocolates  and proceeds go to assist malnourished children and women in Darfur.
  • Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory & Godiva Chocolates – Purchase through www.giftback.com and 10% of your purchase goes to the non-profit of your choice.
Happy Valentine’s Day to Everyone!
For more information about MLJ Adoptions’ international adoption programs, please click here.

Sonja Brown works as the International Program Director for MLJ Adoptions’ programs in Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti and Samoa. Sonja is also proud to work directly with our Individualized Country Program families who are adopting from countries where no adoption service providers currently operate.

Sonja Brown works as the International Program Director for MLJ Adoptions’ programs in Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti and Samoa. Sonja is also proud to work directly with our Individualized Country Program families who are adopting from countries where no adoption service providers currently operate.