Ethical Holiday Shopping Swaps | A Message from Jen Philbin

One way to counter the injustice of empire is by being more intentional about where our money goes this holiday season. As Black Friday approaches, I want to provide some shopping swaps for those looking for more conscious alternatives to big name companies. Changing our spending habits can take a bit more effort, but it’s worth it to know we’re being good stewards of our resources. 

Here are a few sites I recommend: 

Good.Store gives 100% of their proceeds to charity. You heard me! 100%! John and Hank Green started this project as a way to raise funds to build the Maternal Center of Excellence in Sierra Leone (which opens in 2026). Purchases from this site go toward supporting projects like the maternal health center and more that make the world a better place. The quality of their products is exceptional and everything is fair trade. It’s really good stuff. 

For phone and tech needs, you can use BackMarket.com. They are a slow tech company that recycles and fixes up used phones. Any problems that pop up, I send the phone back for free repairs and their customer service is excellent. It may take some adjusting, but half the price of a new phone and not at the cost of the workers who made them is worth it. 

For more options: @cutoffthespigot is an Instagram page with more suggestions for ethical swaps. There are great alternatives for all kinds of categories, from children’s clothes to streaming services. 

Happy shopping!

– Jen Philbin
Director of Children’s, Youth, and Family Ministries