Gift-Giving That Makes a Difference, Part 2

My next installment features a company that I found through Passion's One Million Can website, where they are striving to raine one million dollars for various causes around the world.

Sari Bari Project

This project is located in India and seeks to help women out of the sex trade, getting them off the streets, into housing and providing training and a job to help support themselves. This type of cause is SO SO SO important becuase the sex trade industry is ramant, even in the US, much less say in poorer countries. I love their slogan: "A new life in the making". Because not only do these women get a respectable career, they are shared the Gospel, and that is the greatest gift that they could receive. They truely have the chance for New Life!

Here's what their website says about what their company name means: "The name "Sari Bari" comes from two symbols. A sari is the traditional clothing worn by women in India. Saris represent the essence of womanhood. In Bengali, the word bari means "house” or “home." Our hope is for Sari Bari to be a safe home where women who have been exploited in the sex trade can have their dignity restored and experience a new life in the making."

They make blankets in several sizes and handbags from the sari quilts. Here's a few of my favs off their website:

This is a baby blanket size in a simple red and white. I strongly encourage you to visit their website where you can view the individual products and zoom in to see the detail!

All of the bags on their website are this style, crescent shaped with bamboo handles. This is a particularly affordable option! The bags are only $25!

Another example of a twin-size blanket. I love how no two are alike! They do a great job of putting the various patterns and colours together!

**NOTE: They sell-out pretty quickly of their bags and blanets, but check their site regularly for shipment updates!

Gift-Giving That Makes a Difference, Part 1

So I thought I would feature a new weekly or maybe bi-weekly column about some "gift ideas" that are about more than just us...this really stems from what God has been doing in my heart the last few months...maybe I'll share some of that as we go along.

Anyway, nobody likes to shop more than I do...just ask Scott. All joking aside, I have been learning to be a lot more disciplined in money matters and I still have a VERY long way to go!

But, as we approach the Christmas gift-giving season, we (like 99% of you!) have to cut back on what we spend on others this year. So I was trying to get creative with gift ideas and really trying to come up with some thing that will be meaningful for each recipient. Thus this weekly article, starting today!

1 John 3:17-18

"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth."

Compassion International

Compassion is one of the largest and most widely-used child-sponsorship programs around. I know several people who sponsor a child through them. They have a great reach all over the world!

Besides the obvious child-sponsorship gift, I found some unique ideas on the website! Here's a few of my favorites:

Men's or Women's Graphic Tees found at their online store. This one says "Please" in Portuguese. Proceeds from this $22 tee goes to the Global Food Crisis Fund.

This Baby Onesie features the word "Baby" in several different languages. Also in brown and blue for a boy, but I have some little nieces to buy for, so I featured the pink. The proceeds from this $15 onesie go to support the Child Survival Program.

They also have a unique Christmas Gift Program for children in poverty. A donation of at least $18 per child helps to provide Christmas gifts. You can then get creative with what you give to the person you gave in honor of.