Local Companies That Give Back (aka Guilt-free Shopping)

Feel good about what you buy

Corporate giving is nothing new, but an increasing number of businesses, even small mom-and-pop type shops, are committed to making giving back an integral part of their business. They are donating either a percentage of every purchase or a percentage of profits to local charities.

Not only is this good for business, but charities get a much-needed cash infusion and customers get the added bonus of feeling good about what they buy. Talk about win win!

Here are a few B.C.-based businesses that are making giving back a part of the bottom line…

1. Naturally Urban Pet Food Delivery

Naturally Urban Pet Food DeliveryNaturally Urban Pet Food Delivery is a service that brings cat and dog food, as well as treats and litter, right to your door for no additional delivery charge and no minimum order. Plus, Naturally Urban donates five per cent of proceeds to the local charity and non-profit of your choice. In just three years, the company, headed by Brian Feldbloom, has donated over $10,000 to charities like the BC SPCA, Kids Up Front and the 411 Seniors Centre Society.

2. Gabi & Jules

Gabi & JulesGabi & Jules is a bakery in Port Moody that specializes in delicious pies, including their trademark strawberry, ginger and peach. One dollar from each pie sold goes to the local autism charities Medicare for Autism Now! and Autism Support Network. The bakery is named after the owners’ children and daughter Jules has autism. Parents Lisa and Patrick Beecroft say they want to give back to the organizations that have supported them.

3. Obakki

ObakkiObakki is a Vancouver-based women’s clothing company with designer Treana Peake at the helm. The company’s philanthropic arm, Obakki Foundation sells a line of limited-edition scarves in their Scarves for Water Program. One hundred per cent of the proceeds from the scarves go towards building wells in the South Sudan. It takes 500 scarf sales to drill one well and to date, they’ve built 13 wells, bringing clean water to over 25,000 people.

4. Crystal Hills Organics

Crystal Hills OrganicsCrystal Hills Organics is an Okanagan-based beauty company that sells crystal-infused body products like body creams and oils. Owner Andrea Barone donates eight per cent of profits to three charities, the Canadian Women’s Foundation, The World Wildlife Foundation and Free the Children. She says that while Crystal Hills Organics only sources fair trade and zero conflict crystals, many people don’t realize that children are quite often used in for mining crystals and semiprecious stones. Free the Children supports fair trade and is against child labour.

5. Mealshare

MealshareMealshare is a charitable program that works with restaurants to help fight youth hunger. Mealshare restaurant partners place logos next to a few items on their menu. When a customer orders a Mealshare item, the restaurant provides one meal to a youth in need. Local participating restaurants including Bauhaus, Brix & Mortar and Nook, among many others. The program started in B.C. in 2013 and now has over 91 restaurant partners in BC and 260 across Canada, serving over 1.2 million meals to date.

6. Britco Construction

Britco ConstructionBritco Construction is a modular construction company based in Langley, B.C. They allocate one per cent of profits to community giving, including programs that focus on literacy, education and business development in B.C.’s Indigenous communities. When possible, they also aim to purchase building materials and services from Indigenous-owned companies. In 2016, they donated $40,000 back to communities in which they work.

7. Vancity’s enviro™ Visa

VancityVancity’s enviro™ Visa* supports a variety of environmental causes. Every year, the credit union donates five per cent of the Visa’s profits to various local projects and initiatives. Since its inception in 1990, over $7.9 million has been raised. This year, $25,000 has been earmarked for local projects that support the development of a sustainable food system.