ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ may be in the spirit of giving for the holiday season but for these local shops, the gift of giving is year-round. These 10 gift shops are run by nonprofits that give back to the community.
If you’re looking for thrift shops and other second-hand stores, many of which also give back to our community, check out our .
Whether you’re looking for a birthday present, holiday gift or a little something just because, here’s where you can purchase items that contribute to a good cause. (Listed in alphabetical order.)
Finished Kindness Coins at Ben’s Bells, 40 W. Broadway.
Ben’s Bells
Locals can shop for gifts at Ìý²ú´Ç³Ù³óÌý and in person. They offer items like stickers, ornaments, kindness coins, apparel and more. Every purchase of a handmade item goes toward the organization’s “community art studios and kindness education (program), and furthers our mission of inspiring kindness,†according to their .
Ben’s Bells was founded by Jeannette Maré in 2002 following the death of her son Ben as a way to honor his legacy and promote kindness in the community.
Girl Scouts of Southern ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
While the 's shop carries many Girl Scout necessities like uniforms and program guides, they also carry like earrings, bath bombs, tote bags, science kits and more. Items can be purchased online or in person!
The Girl Scouts of Southern ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ council serves nearly 5,000 Girl Scouts and over 2,000 adult volunteers, according to their .
Sardar Ahmed loads a crate of fruit into the van as members of the Iskashitaa Refugee Network finish up their task during a harvest day trip in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on Jan. 11, 2019.
Iskashitaa Refugee Network
 (pick-up only)
online sells small-batch items like lemon habanero marmalade, prickly pear jam, tomatillo salsa and even hot honey. Items are not available for shipping and can only be picked up from Iskashitaa’s office.
All items are hand-harvested locally and handcrafted by the organization’s refugees and volunteers.
Iskashitaa was founded in 2003 to create “opportunities to integrate United Nations refugees into the Southern ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ community while educating the public, strengthening the local food system, reducing local food waste and increasing food security,†according to their .
Mission Garden
is managed by Friends of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s Birthplace, a nonprofit that aims to “preserve, honor, protect, restore, re-create and promote the cultural heritages and historic landscapes of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s Birthplace at the foot of Sentinel Peak,†according to their .
The inside Mission Garden offers handmade goodies like jams, marmalades and dried herbs. You can also find items like books, art and plushies. Looking for something a little bigger? Trees and other plants are also available for purchase.
Fun fact: “The area surrounding Sentinel Peak is one of the longest-known areas of continuous cultivation in the United States,†according to Mission Garden’s .
Native Seeds/SEARCH
(pick-up only)
has a large online gift shop specializing in Indigenous arts including Diné weavings, Zuni carvings and Tohono O’odham basketry. Of course, you can find a wide variety of seeds, too. All purchases contribute to the organization’s mission.
Since closing their retail shop in 2020, Native Seeds/SEARCH’s is solely online. Customers can opt for local pick-up at their headquarters or choose to get their order shipped for an additional fee.
Native Seeds/SEARCH was founded in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ in 1983 and strives to “conserve and promote the arid-adapted crop diversity of the Southwest in support of sustainable farming and food security,†according to their .
Southern ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Animal Food Bank
Would this really be a #ThisIsÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ list without something to do with our furry friends?
The location in the Monterey Village shopping center houses an where local creatives showcase and sell their artwork. A portion of every purchase from the gallery goes back to the food bank.
The Southern ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Animal Food Bank has helped keep local pets’ bellies full since it was founded in 2015.
The organization’s mission is to “make sure no one ever has to make the choice between feeding themselves or feeding their animals,†according to their . “As a local ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ nonprofit, we collect and distribute free pet food to low-income, unemployed, elderly and otherwise disadvantaged residents of Southern ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥.â€
Customers browse the abundance of handmade goods, gifts, crafts, needlework and toys at The West on Nov. 16.
The West
is a nonprofit retail store run by volunteers. The shop carries home decor, artwork, books, stationery, children’s toys, various needlework supplies and more.
The West distributes grants to other local nonprofits that focus on women, children and disabled adults, according to their . Some of this year’s grant recipients include the Children’s Advocacy Center of Southern ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Emerge Center Against Domestic Abuse, More Than A Bed, Sister José Women’s Center and Youth On Their Own.
The nonprofit has provided over $2.6 million in grants to over 73 organizations in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ since 1981.
The West was initially created to help fund The Brewster Home — a former home for unwed mothers. In 1968, the opened a consignment shop for handmade items. Eventually, the auxiliary joined the Women’s Exchange Society and they changed the name of the shop to the West — an acronym for Women’s Exchange Specialties of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥.
Tohono Chul
has three gift shops on its sprawling 49-acre property. You’ll find items like art from local makers, desert foods, handcrafted Indigenous jewelry and educational gifts for children. A portion of the proceeds goes back to Tohono Chul to help maintain the park.
Tohono Chul also has the option to shop in case you can’t make it in person!
The mission of Tohono Chul is “to enrich people's lives by connecting them with the wonders of nature, art and culture in the Sonoran Desert region and inspiring wise stewardship of the natural world,†according to their .
You can find garden items, clothing, accessories, educational toys, books, body-care products and more at the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Botanical Gardens gift shop, 2150 N. Alvernon Way.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Botanical Gardens
The at the offers a curated collection of items from local artists and businesses. You can find garden items, clothing, accessories, educational toys, books, body-care products and more.
Purchases made through the gift shop help support the overall mission and programs of the gardens.
The ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Botanical Gardens was founded in 1964 and became a nonprofit in 1969. Its mission is to “connect people with plants and nature through art, science, history and culture,†according to their .Ìý
The United Nations Association of Southern ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Center and Gift Store exhibits and sells folk arts and crafts including textiles, ceramics, jewelry and clothing. Its purpose is to raise funds and educate the public about the United Nations mission.
United Nations Association of Southern ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Center
The carries a variety of desert-inspired gifts and international items.Ìý
Purchasing items from the center supports UNICEF and its mission to “advocate for the protection of children's rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential,†according to their . Some items are available to purchase online, too!