This holiday season, consider supporting local non-profits and social enterprises through your gift purchasing and give back to these impactful organizations. By buying local from these organizations, each dollar you spend creates direct impact for the buyer, the seller and the community.
Plus, purchasing from impact organizations can help sustain opportunities for community members who are facing personal and systemic barriers.
In this article, you will find an array of local non-profits within the Scale Collaborative network who have some awesome gift offerings for the holiday season. From supporting Indigenous-made creations, to local beeswax candles and honey, to composting accessories, there is a wide array of unique gift ideas here that can help support local non-profits.
To create even more impact through your purchasing, find more ideas via Buy Social Canada’s #GiftSocial gift guide that includes Certified Social Enterprises who make gifting easy this year!
- Orange Shirt Day – Orange shirts and more in recognition that Every Child Matters.
- Skwachays – Indigenous gift shop, online.
- River Selective Fisheries – Drawing from generations of First Nations experience to sustainably farm wild salmon products. Products available online and at select retail locations.
- Soap for Hope – Soap Rocks in a small box: 3 for $10. Available for purchase at Soap for Hope BC warehouse located at 426B Willian St. Victoria, BC.
- Fernwood NRG – Studio 1313 hair salon gift certificates. Available for purchase at 1313 Gladstone Avenue, Victoria, BC.
- Hive for Humanity – Natural self-care products, and candles. Available for purchase online. Gift cards also available.
- Clements Society – Mindful Mouthful edible treats, Duncan BC. Place an order at (250)746-4135 x 226, or email mindfulmouthful@clementscentre.org. Treat menu here.
- Nanaimo Bakery and Café – Chocolate. Email mishra@nanaimobakery.ca to inquire and order.
- South Island Farmhub – Packaged sweets, honey, jams, and more.
- Susgrainable – Cookie mix and flour made from recycled barley from local breweries. Available for purchase online, made in Vancouver, BC.
- Flavors of Hope – Cuisine entrepreneurship for newcomers to Canada. Consider supporting the inaugural cohort of Dream Cuisines: A Newcomer Women’s Food Business Pilot Program. Visit cohort members websites to learn more about their tasty offerings.
- JusTea – Tea and Accessories – Fair Trade partnership with producers. Available for purchase online and at a variety of retail locations.
- Tayybeh Foods – Syrian cuisine. Spreads and baked goods by female newcomers to Canada. Holiday gift boxes and more available for order online with the option to pickup at 401 Industrial Ave, Vancouver, BC, or local delivery throughout Vancouver, the North Shore and Lower Mainland.
- BC Local Root – Local food and grocery gift boxes Delivery and order information here.
- River Selective Fisheries – Drawing from generations of First Nations experience to sustainably farm wild salmon products. Products available online and at select retail locations.
- Hive for Humanity – Honey. Available for purchase online. Gift cards also available.
- Forest for Dinner – Small batch wild foods. Online shop coming soon.
- Supply Victoria – Supply Parties for $100/h + $5/per person
- Swan Lake – Nature Sanctuary Gift Shop in the Nature House, offers unique handmade treasures. Visit in person at 3873 Swan Lake Road, Victoria, BC.
- Compost Education Centre – Offer workshop gift certificates, Native Plant Knowledge cards, food justice posters, garden seeds, composting accessories & compost bins. Unable to offer online shopping currently, but products available for purchase at the Compost Education Centre.
- Power to Be – Adventure store: t-shirts, mugs, tote bag, hat, journals, socks. Shipping available in Canada.
- Basket Revolution – Canadian artisan gift baskets with a European flair, based out of Metro Vancouver.
- Spread Kindness – Kindness Advent Calendar
- Support Local BC – Marketplace for gift certificates. Show your love for your favourite local businesses by purchasing gift cards for future use.
