| Local Twin Cities
Other Categories: Food & Drink | Household Items | Bath & Beauty | Clothing & Accessories | Gifts & Crafts | Kids | Books | Unique Donation Ideas |
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If I had a dollar for each time I’ve heard, “If all the coffee-drinkers gave up their morning cup and donated the money,” I’d be a millionaire. But I’m not because people love their coffee. CityKid Java lets you keep your coffee while supporting a good cause. 100% of its profits are donated to Urban Ventures Leadership Foundation, a nonprofit community center in Minneapolis that offers children and teens activities ranging from academic tutoring to the chance to record their own music in a recording studio. Available at Kowalski’s, Cub Foods, Cooks of Crocus Hill and online.
visit www.citykidjava.com |
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A St. Paul family imports this coffee grown by their family members in Honduras. You can’t get a much closer connection to coffee farmers than that! It’s roasted in Minnesota. Twin Cities residents can subscribe to receive a monthly delivery of whichever kind and amount of coffee they fancy.
Sold online and available select Twin Cities locations.
visit www.vfamilycoffee.com |
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Not only is Peace Coffee a delicious choice to serve and give during the holidays, but it is also human- and eco-friendly. This Minneapolis company imports its beans from farmer coops and prepares coffee locally. Also committed to environmental responsibility, it delivers orders by bike and bio-diesel vans.
Available online and in grocery stores and cafes throughout the US.
visit www.peacecoffee.com |
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Of the bountiful local beers that Minnesota is blessed with, Finnegans is one to know about. It produces an Irish-style ale and donates 100% of its profits to local programs that work toward a better quality of life for people experiencing poverty and homelessness as well as at-risk youth.
Finnegans is sold in restaurants, liquor stores and bars but they also have merchandise online.
visit www.finnegans.org |
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Looking for a sweet treat? Give the gift of Divine Chocolate. Divine is the only fair trade chocolate company that 45% is owned by the farmers. This socially minded company gives farmers in Ghana a share of Divine’s profits and a stronger voice in the cocoa industry. Available in select stores and online.
visit www.divinechocolateusa.com |
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Bake this chocolate-chip cookie dough and the yummy aroma will draw your family to the kitchen. Proceeds are donated a program where at-risk and homeless children cook meals together and learn about nutrition and other skills. The program is part of Perspectives, a comprehensive human services agency in St. Louis Park. Available at select Twin Cities locations.
visit www.perspectives-family.org/sues_cookies.htm |
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Knowing that what’s good for the Earth is good for people, Twin Cities Green sells products that make a low impact on the environment. The Uptown store prioritizes creative reuse of materials and stocks many locally-made and eco-friendly options. Household items range from compostable dinner ware to chairs made from reclaimed wood.
visit www.twincitiesgreen.com |
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Ten Thousand Villages on St. Paul’s Grand Avenue stocks a colorful array of handmade crafts from Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. By buying fair trade, customers can be sure that the artists who made their products received fair wages and respectful treatment. From olive wood ornaments to precious stone jewelry, each product is distinctive for the artist’s style and their region’s materials.
visit www.tenthousandvillages.com |
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Peapods stocks its Snelling Avenue store with a wonderful selection of toys that encourage imaginative play, and natural baby care products for parents concerned about making healthy and sustainable choices. Many wood and fiber toys are made to last years of use. The knowledgeable staff are ready to inform shoppers about the social and environmental responsibility of the companies that make their products.
visit www.peapods.com |
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Etica’s fair trade goods help communities in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the US become self-sustaining. Its Web site describes the nonprofit or alternative trade organization that create each product. The selections of wool slippers and holiday decorations are particularly great for winter. Etica also sells a line of fair trade wine at restaurants and stores throughout the Twin Cities area and other products are available online.
visit www.eticafairtrade.com |
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Amias Project imports handbags and jewelry designed and created by members of the Barabaig tribe in Tanzania, made from leather and beads, and inspired by traditional fashions. The fair trade company creates an international market for these artists. The Amias Studio is open the first Thursday of every month from 5-9 PM at the Northrup King Building in Northeast Minneapolis and available online anytime.
visit www.amias.org |
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Global Mamas takes a holistic approach to supporting women. After selling fair trade goods from woman-owned businesses in Ghana, it donates all proceeds to nonprofit programs that assist women with business development. It specializes in batik bags, household items, and clothing for children and adults. With each product description you can also find out about the woman who made it. Sold at a variety of stores nationwide including the Midtown Global Market and Linden Hills Natural Home Co-op in Minneapolis.
visit www.globalmamas.org |
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Purchase of the “Minnesota Homegrown Cookbook” supports Renewing the Countryside efforts, an organization working to strengthen rural communities. Inside the book you’ll find an introduction by Garrison Keillor stories about local restaurants and sustainable food producers, and illustrated recipes. The luscious photographs of Minnesota farming landscapes and food are to inspire anyone who receives a copy of the book to fire up the oven. Available at Minnesota bookstores and online at www.voyageurpress.com.
visit www.rtcmarket.org/node/46 |
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Rich, deep colors and striking patterns make Art Andes’ textiles unique. Made in Peru under fair conditions, the rugs are handmade with traditional methods of spinning, dying and weaving. Five percent of profits are donated to Foundation Comunidad, whose current projects focus on improving education for children in Paccha, Peru. Available at the Art Andes studio in Northeast Minneapolis during select times of the week but they will also happily take appointments.
visit www.artandes.com/home.html |
