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What if your holiday shopping could create jobs and change lives?
Each item in our Gifts That Give Back series comes from an employment social enterprise. These are mission-driven businesses that help individuals overcoming barriers to employment, like homelessness or incarceration, to re-enter the workforce and build economic power.
When you purchase from these businesses you help fuel an economy that works, for everyone. Thank you for choosing gifts that give back and investing in resilience and possibility this season!
For the host who makes every gathering feel special, choose gifts that do the same.
From snack bowls to aprons, these home and host essentials are handcrafted by people reentering the workforce after overcoming barriers like homelessness or incarceration. Let these items add some extra purpose to every gathering and bring extra warmth this season!
Our Favorite 2025 Gifts for Hosts
Small Cutting Board (UTEC)
$35
These versatile, high-quality cutting boards double as everyday kitchen essentials and elegant serving pieces. Sustainably crafted from New England maple, cherry, and walnut, each board is finished with a hand-rubbed blend of mineral oil and beeswax for lasting protection.
Based in Lowell, Massachusetts, UTEC transforms the power of community into opportunity, providing young people with life-changing employment and education pathways through its social enterprises in mattress recycling, food services, and woodworking.
Red Leather Tray (Vena Vena)
$99
This handcrafted red leather catch-all tray brings both warmth and structure to any space, offering a stylish home for keys, jewelry, or everyday essentials — perfect for surprising the host in your life with something both practical and beautiful!
From its Los Angeles studio, Vena Vena Handcrafted turns locally sourced, sustainable leathers into timeless handmade goods, channeling founder Lavena Lewis’s lived experience into advocacy and opportunity for women experiencing housing instability.
Snack Bowl (Remark Glass)
$22
These hand-blown snack bowls elevate everything from morning yogurt to late-night treats. Crafted from recycled Philadelphia wine bottles, each dishwasher-safe bowl carries unique variations that celebrate its sustainable, small-batch origins.
Based in Philadelphia, Remark Glass blends craftsmanship with sustainability, upcycling local glass waste into thoughtful designs and generating job opportunities through their sister nonprofit, Bottle Underground, to support a more resilient, circular community.
Mosaic Coasters (Piece by Piece)
$72.60
These coasters were hand-designed by mosaic artists in the Los Angeles area. No two coasters are exactly the same, so your gift recipient is guaranteed to get two unique pieces of art for their coffee table.
Based in Los Angeles, California, Piece by Piece equips residents overcoming homelessness and economic insecurity through free mosaic art workshops that build confidence, foster wellness, and create pathways to earned income.
Floor Pouf (Mindful Works)
$105
This handwoven boho-style floor pouf offers both style and function. Tell the host in your life they deserve to put their feet up and relax!
Rooted in Boulder, Colorado, Mindful Works equips individuals in recovery from mental health challenges through hands-on training and employment in the design and sale of hand-crafted wellness and home décor, fostering confidence and reducing stigma.
Reclaimed Wood Slat Trivet (Mountain Mindful)
$25
This slat trivet offers a stylish and sturdy home for your favorite dishes, hot or cold. It's made from locally sourced reclaimed wood and treated with a signature hand-rubbed oil finish.
Based in West Virginia, Coalfield Development is working to rebuild the Appalachian economy through employment social enterprises like Mountain Mindful, providing people facing barriers to work with paid jobs, education, and personal development.
Chef's Apron (Refugee Artisan Initiative)
$25
Whether cooking at home or grilling outdoors, this full-body apron combines protection, comfort, and style. Its adjustable straps and generous coverage keep clothing safe from spills and stains, making it a reliable companion for every kitchen adventure.
Refugee Artisan Initiative, based in Seattle, Washington, weaves community and opportunity together, partnering with refugee and immigrant women to build skills, confidence, and entrepreneurship through artisan sewing and micro business development.
Stoneware Bowl (People's Pottery Project)
$75
Handcrafted with care, these stoneware bowls celebrate individuality in every piece with subtle variations in color and size transforming daily meals into moments of beauty and distinction!
People’s Pottery Project, based in Los Angeles, California, employs and uplifts formerly incarcerated women, trans people, and non-binary individuals through paid ceramics work, technical and business training, and a healing community, creating pathways to economic stability and social transformation.
Explore a full range of social impact products for everyone on your 2025 list on our Social Enterprise Shop Guide.
Check out other 2025 favorites!
