Here are a few of my favorite picks for the summer.
Beach Bag
You'll need a bag to carry your sunscreen, towel, and summer book. This one will provide money to feed fifty school meals to kids in Haiti. You can go to Feed Projects to purchase this bag and many others.
Sun Hat
Along with sunscreen, one of the best ways to protect yourself from the sun is a hat. This one has a big brim and is sold by Ten Thousand Villages. The folks at Ten Thousand Villages ensure that artisans in developing countries are paid a fair wage for their goods and help to keep them employed.
Summer T-Shirt
A new summer T or a beach cover-up (an extra big guy's shirt) is always a must. Out of Print Clothing creates t-shirts featuring iconic or out of print book cover art. For every shirt purchased, they donate a book to needy children through Books For Africa. One of my favorites, that fits with the beachy themes of summer, is this Moby Dick shirt.
Espadrilles
This list wouldn't be complete without shoes. What girl doesn't need a new pair of shoes for summer? I love flip flops for the beach but even at the beach, I like something special for dinner or a night out. For every pair of shoes purchased from TOMS, they donate a pair of shoes to a child in a developing country. Many kids in these countries grow up without shoes. I love these espadrilles but make sure to check out their other summer styles.
Another one of my favorite sites, Uncommon Goods, has a large selection of items made from recycled materials.
With a little hunting, your summer shopping can make you look good and do some good for others at the same time.
