Charitable Gift Giving

Hand soap is one of those things you use multiple times a day without much thought, but we often settle for goaps that dry out our skin or leave a weird film.

Soapbox’s liquid hand soap (like the Coconut Milk & Sandalwood or Vanilla Bean refills) comes in big 64oz half-gallon bottles or smaller pumps, usually $10–$20 depending on size/scent. It’s gentle, moisturizing with stuff like shea butter or natural oils, vegan, paraben-free, and cruelty-free. People in reviews say it lathers well, smells nice but not too strong (good for kitchen or bathroom without overwhelming food smells), and doesn’t leave hands feeling tight or itchy even after lots of washes. The refill sizes are practical for topping off pumps at home or work—lasts a long time for a family or heavy use. Some note the scents are subtle and clean, and it works as a body wash in a pinch.

The giving part is simple and direct: for every product you buy, Soapbox donates a bar of soap to communities in need—often to homeless shelters, food pantries, or global hygiene programs (they partner with local soapmakers to make and distribute). It’s not vague; they’ve donated over 20 million bars so far, and each product has a Hope Code you can enter on their site to see exactly where that donation went (e.g., a specific project or partner). Check the details here: Soapbox Giving Tour and Hope Code Tracker.

Just everyday soap you reach for anyway, and it quietly gets basics to people who don’t have them.

Socks are just socks until you find ones that don’t slide down, bunch up, or wear out fast. Bombas gets mentioned a lot for being better than average at that.

Their basic ankle or calf styles (like the Solids Ankle Sock 4-Pack for men or women) use a soft cotton blend with honeycomb arch support that gives a bit of lift without feeling tight, seamless toes to avoid rubbing, and some cushioning under the foot. People in reviews say they feel good for all-day wear—standing jobs, walking, or regular days—and hold up well after washing (many pairs last years without holes or fading). They fit a wide range of sizes (women’s 4 to men’s 16 in unisex options), but some folks go up half a size if between, or note they can feel snug at first. Packs are usually $50–$55 for 4 pairs (so $12–$14 each), which is more than basic socks but matches the quality most report.

The giving is simple: for every pair you buy, Bombas donates a pair (designed a bit differently for durability, like antimicrobial bits and sizing that works for more people) to folks experiencing homelessness. They work with over 4,000 nonprofit partners to get them out, and socks are the #1 requested item at shelters. It’s been their thing since the start—over 150 million items donated total (updated stats around 170 million committed as of mid-2025). Details are on their site: Bombas Giving Back and Impact Page.

Plain and simple: comfy socks you can count on daily, and your buy gets a matching pair to someone who needs basics.

These are one of those basic shoes that a lot of people end up relying on for simple, no-fuss days—errands, casual walks, travel, or just getting around without thinking too much about footwear.

They’re the original canvas slip-on style: lightweight, flexible, with a breathable upper and a cushioned insole (they call it CloudBound in newer versions for extra padding). The sole has decent grip for normal surfaces, and they mold to your foot after a short wear-in period—many folks mention it takes an hour or two, or a few short wears, before they feel fully comfortable. Sizing tip from reviews: they often run a bit small or narrow, so going half a size down (especially sockless) or checking for wide options works for most. They’re usually $50–$70, depending on color or material (lots of neutrals like black/navy, plus some patterns or recycled canvas versions).

Real users describe them as great for all-day standing or walking once broken in—baristas, people on their feet a lot, or just daily wear say they’re light and don’t weigh you down. Some note the initial stiffness or occasional rubbing (especially at the heel), but plenty call them a reliable go-to after that adjustment.

On the giving side, TOMS moved away from the old “buy one, donate one” shoe model years ago. Now, a portion of their profits (often described as one-third in reports) goes toward supporting kids’ education, health, and well-being through grants to grassroots partners—like mental health access programs (e.g., via Didi Hirsch) or community efforts with groups such as Save the Children. It’s not tied to a specific donation per pair anymore, but purchases contribute to those broader initiatives. Check their impact page for the latest: TOMS Impact Overview.

Bottom line: if you’re after simple, lightweight slip-ons that are easy to wear daily and help out causes in a straightforward way, these are a solid option many people keep coming back to.

You can find them here: TOMS Classic Alpargata Collection.

One of my favorite things about certain brands is when their everyday operations quietly do good without a lot of fanfare. Brooklinen is a great example—they’ve partnered with Good360 (a nonprofit focused on product philanthropy) since the company started in 2014. Any returned items (after inspection) that can’t be restocked are donated to donation centers nationwide, helping provide essential household goods like bedding and towels to people in need, such as those in homeless shelters or disaster relief situations.

They’ve also teamed up with Animal Haven (a no-kill shelter in the NYC area) to donate sheets specifically for making cozy beds for rescued cats and dogs waiting for their forever homes. It’s a thoughtful way to keep quality items out of landfills and give them a second life where they’re needed most.

A perfect example of this in action is their #1 best-selling Luxe Sateen Core Sheet Set (starting around $159 for a queen, often on sale).

These sheets are made from 100% long-staple cotton with a silky, 480-thread-count sateen weave that feels buttery soft right out of the box and gets even better with every wash. They’re breathable, durable, and ideal for year-round comfort—cool in summer, cozy in winter. The set includes a fitted sheet, flat sheet, and two pillowcases, and comes in a range of neutral colors and some fun limited-edition prints.

It’s the kind of practical upgrade that makes your bed feel like a hotel every night, and knowing your purchase is part of a brand that donates usable returns (including sheets like these) adds that extra layer of satisfaction.

If you’re in the market for high-quality bedding that supports real-world comfort for people and animals, this set is a standout choice. You can buy it directly from the manufacturer by clicking on the link above, or you can also shop on Amazon for this and many other Brooklinen products.

I was happy to have stumbled upon this product: Healthy Earth trash bags.

They come in 13 gallon (kitchen) size and 2.6 gallon (small trash can) size.

The material is surprisingly thick relative to other compostable bags. They also donate 10% to local cleanup programs.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and I’ve got a great company for you to support because of how much it supports others: Bauble Stockings

I’ve often wondered–when you look at pictures of Christmas fireplaces and see gigantic red and white stockings, were those stockings ever used for practical purposes?

Well, the answer is no. The tradition of hanging stockings by a mantel started with stories of the original Saint Nicholas. Legend has it that when he encountered a family that didn’t want to accept his gifts of charity, he would surreptitiously hide gold coins in places the family wouldn’t suspect, like down a fireplace or inside socks that were placed by the fireplace to dry.

It became a tradition in Europe for children to hang their socks by the fireplace to try, but as this tradition became popular, people started creating special stockings for ornamental purposes (as well as for practical purposes–the bigger the stocking, the more it could be stuffed).

Today, most stockings you’ll find are mass produced out of a factory in China, which kind of takes away a lot of what made stockings special.

That’s why I absolutely love the idea of Bauble Stockings. This is a company established out of Atlanta that produces absolutely gorgeous 100% hand-stitched stockings with festive and beautiful designs. Bauble Stockings is a great example of a company that gives, and gives, and gives, and gives.

The first “give” is to artisans in Haiti who hand-stitch every stocking through an organization called Good Threads Needlepoint, an organization that’s responsible and has brought a lot of good to Haiti in building up local communities by giving them meaningful pay for amazingly meaningful work.

The second “give” is to the Atlanta Children’s Shelter, where 5% of the profit of each sale is donated.

The third “give” it to a charity of choice for guest artists who create designs. 10% of profits go to these.

And the fourth “give” is you. You receive a beautiful keepsake that you can hang by your family’s fireplace, or which you can further give to someone else.

These seamless high-waisted leggings were named by Oprah as one of her favorite things last year. They’re machine washable with a waistband that sits high on the waist and provides a seamless fit.

Reviews say that they provide just the right amount of compression (make sure to order one size up if you don’t want too much compression) and that the fabric, made of 52% nylon, 40% polyester, and 8% spandex, is comfortable. They’re great for workouts and are squat-proof, meaning they won’t stretch, break, or roll down no matter how many squats you do.

They’re made by ICONI, a black-owned, woman-owned, veteran-owned business that stands for “I Can Overcome, Nothing’s Impossible”. 10% of their profits are donated to nonprofit organizations that support causes that are important to women such as helping in-crisis and low-income children, supporting social justice, helping victims of domestic violence, and providing food to those in need.

The pandemic has had a big impact on many industries, but perhaps none as much as the restaurant business. It’s not just the restaurant owner that’s impacted when they’re forced to close their doors due to lockdowns. It’s managers, hosts, wait staff, busboys, cooks, back office workers, maintenance staff, and everyone we take for granted that keeps a restaurant going.

Family Meal: Recipes from our Community was conceived as an idea in March 2020 when New York’s restaurants were ordered closed. In an impressive turnaround, it was published as the pandemic was hitting its worst point in May of 2020. Published by Penguin Random House, it collects 50 recipes never published anywhere else from some of the industry’s top chefs, including Ina Garten, Samin Nosrat, Hugh Acheson, Dan Barber, Bobby Flay, Alison Roman, Christina Tosi, Kwame Onwuachi, Ruth Reichl, Claire Saffitz, and Danny Trejo.

Not only are these “secret recipes” from some of the top culinary minds in the world, they’re also easy to make–a criteria that became important during the lockdown. You’ll find basics like stovetop mac and cheese from Deb Perelman (which just uses 7 ingredients–salt, store-bought pasta, butter, flour, milk, black pepper, and cheese)

Based on the Amazon reviews, some recipes are “easier” than others, maybe because some of these celebrity chefs are a little more out of touch than others on how “easy” it is to find certain ingredients. And the audience of the book is decidedly the “New York” audience for obvious reasons–Penguin Random House is based in New York so a lot of their employees probably faced the prospect of having to turn on their stoves and ovens for the first time in their lives.

Because it was produced in the throes of the pandemic the book is available on Kindle only. It costs only $5.99 and 100% of proceeds will help New York’s Restaurant Workers’ Covid-19 Emergency Relief Fund.

One of the long-lasting unintended effects of the pandemic and its lockdowns is a rise in mental illness. For everyone that the lockdown “saved” from contracting the COVID-19 virus, one wonders how many more people paid a price in terms of increases in thoughts of suicide and hopelessness, an increase in drug use, and an overall increase in troubles and despair caused by social isolation.

This Card Deck is not just beautiful to look at, it contains insights for people to get in touch with their feelings and most importantly, understand that what they’re feeling may not be a good reflection of reality. The cards are split into 5 sections, with 10 cards each: Let’s Talk, Mood Boost, Real talk, Get Grounded, and In Community. They help intercept the downward spiral of unhealthy thoughts that can come about in isolation with positive and practical advice or encouragement.

A portion of the proceeds supports a cohort of girls at Prismatic, a movement to inspire hope in the next generation.

It’s available directly from Bando, the manufacturer, or at a retailer like Anthropologie.

These are beautiful heart-shaped jigsaw puzzles that you can customize with any photo, whether it’s a photo of a mother with her baby, a family photo, or even a cherished drawing from your child. All you need to do is provide Minted with a copy of the photo you wish to turn into the puzzle, and they’ll send you the puzzle pieces in a beautiful hinged box in a muslin drawstring pouch.

You can choose the puzzle pieces to come in different sizes depending on who in your family will be doing the puzzle. For toddlers, you can have 12 big pieces. For young children, you can have the puzzle come in 60 pieces. Or for a puzzle the whole family can work on together you can have it come in 252 pieces.

Profits from the sale of this puzzle go to help Every Mother Counts, the charity founded by Christy Turlington in 2010 following the release of her documentary No Woman No Cry, which brought attention to the hundreds and thousands of women around the world who were dying in childbirth because they lacked access to basic maternity care that we take for granted.