Carole Nelson BrownMost of us like to think that their shopping dollars can often help their community, right? The holidays are the perfect time to seek out companies that give back. Choosing one or two items that fall into this category can go a long way to make you feel good about your gift choices and, as always, I like to keep it proudly Canadian. Make sure to check back from time to time in case I find new things but, for now, here are some of my favourites for this holiday season:
Toques From The Heart
What’s more Canadian than a toque? Maybe a beaver wearing a toque while eating poutine after a pond hockey game. Still, you can never have too many cute hats and, for every toque sold, Toques From The Heart donates another to a Canadian experiencing homelessness this winter. They come in lots of colours and three different styles so there is something for everyone on your list.
Comes in Merino, Classic or get super Canadian with a classic hockey toque, eh
Dear Santa Chocolate Bar
A tasty stocking stuffer that gives back to the community is perfect. Throw a Dear Santa Bar in everyone’s stocking and be the most popular person in the room.
Purdy’s will donate $2 from every Dear Santa Chocolate Bar sold to your local children’s hospital. Even more reason to enjoy some creamy milk chocolate with salted butter toffee this year!
Landia
This line of jewelry is affordable and super cute, so grab something for someone you love. Landia donates $5 from every piece of Canadian made jewellery sold to a revolving host of charities. Currently, they’re supporting Dog Tails Rescue and Sanctuary, a dog and horse sanctuary in King City. Annika Boron started the business to help women feel empowered and you know how I love a Canadian woman rocking it out in the business world.
Fancy Face Lipstick – Give Love
Everybody needs that perfect red lipstick. You know the one. The one that is the perfect shade of blue/red that makes your teeth look white and has the perfect creamy matte finish. Fancy Face Cosmetics will donate one HopeTote full of everyday essentials for a Canadian woman-in-need for every “Give Love” lipstick sold.
True and You So Clean Kit
This environmentally friendly alternative to disposable makeup wipes and pads is almost too good to be true but they really work. Made with organic cotton and velvet fibre, these reusable pads remove makeup and dirt with just water and each pad is good for up to 150 uses. Yup, just wet these washable pads with cool or warm water and marvel as they take it all off – dirt, makeup, the whole shebang
The company will donate %1 from all sales to Plastic Oceans Canada and The Ocean Cleanup, so, good for the environment in more than one way.
Eco friendly, this gift pack includes two pads, a head band and bag for $35 – replaces 300 make up remover wipes or cotton pads + product
10 year old Audrey from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan submitted her soft toy drawing to IKEA’s Sagoskatt global drawing competition for kids. Over 66,000 entries were submitted. Her entry was one of five winners chosen to be created into a toy. “Sandwich Friends” soft toy line designed by children for children is now available at IKEA. All proceeds from sales will be donated to local children’s organizations across Canada supporting the right to play.
Back in time for the holidays! San Rafael ‘71 has partnered up with Shy Wolf candles for a limited edition line of candles inspired by the terpene profiles of San Raf’s newest cannabis strains.
Will it be Stonefruit Sunset, Lemon Rocket or Driftwood Diesel? available throughout December at shywolfcandles.com. With every order, San Raf will donate $9.50 from the sale to benefit Cannabis Amnesty, in support of their advocacy work, calling for pardons and record expungement for those charged with cannabis possession offences.
