Art Conspiracy was fantastic. Congratulations to Sarah Jane and all her co-conspirators. There was a strong CitC presence at the event, which felt good. Thanks for the opportunity to contribute, SJ.
A couple of weeks ago, Courtney shared Advent Conspiracy as an alternative to rampant consumerism. This week, I have a couple of ideas in that vein.
First, Changing the Present is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit website offering gifts that change the world. Browse their causes to find gifts that make a difference, or search for your favorite nonprofit to make a donation. You can share these gifts with your friends and family, or use them for your own nonprofit giving. Their gifts are a great alternative to that bath set or novelty sweater you were planning to wrap up this holiday season — just choose “Create A Card” from the shopping cart to send a personalized greeting card announcing each gift you donate in a friend’s name.
Second, in this world of mass-produced plastic junk, there are still people that make things with their own hands, one piece at a time. There is love in these things. Each piece is unique, sometimes with small flaws that add to the beauty and character. When you give these, the receiver will know that you picked that one thing just for them. Check out Etsy online or Make in Bishop Arts for tons of handmade goodness.