Supporting Charities By Buying on Etsy

The holidays are slowly creeping up on us.  Most people agree that the scariest thing about Halloween is that once it's over there's less than two months until Christmas. 

Recently, two heartwarming trends have popped up during the gift giving season.  The first is a call for handmade craft gifts, like crochet washcloths, sewn aprons, and homemade preserves.  Etsy is the number one shop for unique hand made crafts online. 

The second trend is even better.  More and more, people are realizing that there isn't anything new they really need.  So they're asking their friends and family to donate to charities in their name, instead. 

This is such an inspiring idea.  Not only are you taking advantage of an easy way to help out a charity, you're guaranteeing that you won't get a gift that was thoughtful, but maybe not for you.  Everyone's got that one loved one who's just a terrible gift giver. 

Now, you can combine these trends

The Etsy community has taken these two back to basics trends, and combined them.  Now, you can find several Etsy shops that are donating some or all of the proceeds for certain products to a worthy charity.  

One such shop is Everything By Carrie.  There you can find absolutely stunning photographs of horses.  The proceeds are going to help abused race horses find safe loving new homes.

Xander is a beautiful Friesian; one of the many horses that play an important part in the healing process

Our shop Handcrafted By Eva Kuno has followed Carrie's example.  At the moment we're selling handmade aprons to support abused animals in Lithuania.  Specifically, we're sending money to a charity called S.O.S Animals.  This charity started back in 2006 and the numbers of saved animals are greatly increasing.  They need all the help they can get to rescue abused and abandoned animals.

Handmade Vintage Style Apron

 Images from SOS Animals shelter:

Wiring in the Shelter

One of the many dogs with a sad story. Her name is Akela

He has a new home

 Three ways to feel good about your purchase

When you buy a product from an Etsy shop supporting a charity, you can feel great about it.  First, you're supporting the charity itself.  But you're also supporting the artist who made the work.  Instead of giving money to a large corporation, you're supporting the site of an individual creator.  Even if they're not getting money from that specific product, internet traffic to their site is always a positive thing.

Remember, supporting an Etsy shop is about so much more than the specific artist.  It's also about supporting new artistic movements.

Of course, you're also giving your loved one a thoughtful, meaningful gift.  And, if you're shopping for little ones, this is a great idea.  You can tell a four year old that the money for their present helped a horse have a better life.  They don't care if they don't have something to open. 

So, as we go into the holiday season, remember that there's an easy way to check some gifts off your list, support the arts, and help out a charity in need in one simple purchase.  Check out the Etsy charitable shops today, and leave yourself plenty of time to enjoy the holidays with your family.

Be kind to one another!

Love,

Renata