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- Info
Your Share - December 2011
In this issue:
Peace, Joy and Sharing
Happy Holidays from EarthShare
Your contributions provide a lasting legacy of a healthy environment.
- Are you retired? Do you work for a business that doesn't have an employee giving campaign? Would you like to make a year-end gift to benefit a wide range of environmental nonprofit endeavors? Anyone can easily give to EarthShare Oregon and its 73 conservation groups. Just click the Donate Now button to make an online contribution!
- Oregon PERS Recipients. If you are a Oregon PERS recipient, you can NOW protect the environment with a credit card or an ACH (bank) transfer donation. It can be a one-time or recurring gift, and you can split your gift among a wide range of charities. Visit www.ipledgeonline.org/_rpe online, register with the system, then make a gift to EarthShare Oregon. It's easy, secure, and your gift will continue to have an impact!
- The following companies have an active Employee Giving Campaign in the month of December. Thank you Green Mountain Energy, LifeWorks NW, Leupold and Stevens, and Neil Kelly for supporting EarthShare Oregon's 73 conservation groups!
Greener Holiday Shopping Tips
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We do a lot of shopping this time of year. The average American family spends just under $1,000 per year on holiday gifts, and then there's holiday food, parties, and decorations to top it off. After all is said and done, celebrating the season often adds up to a lot of stuff and a pretty big hole in our wallets too. Fortunately, just a few small steps can go a long way in making your holiday season, and every season, a little greener.
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This month we've rounded up our top tips for making your next shopping trip easier on the planet and your budget.
- Shop local. If you're close to a community or urban center, take your bike, walk, or hop on public transportation to check out unique finds from local artists and businesses. Spending your holiday dollars in your district can help fuel your local economy. And don't forget to support your local farmers by stocking up on fresh produce for your holiday feasts at a farmers market in your area.
- Give something meaningful. Sharing a gift of time, a special experience, or simply an extra patient and cheerful attitude can be much more meaningful than the latest electronic gadget or fashion accessory. Give hugs and smiles liberally. Give homemade baked goods. Give coupons for back rubs or picnics. Give a charitable donation to a special charity in honor of your loved ones who probably don’t need or want more stuff anyway.
- Give vintage and eco-chic. Remember to check out your local thrift stores and secondhand shops for great and unusual finds. Bring along your gently used clothing and goods to make a donation too.
- Bring your own bag and green wrap your gifts. With Portland's new plastic bag ban, you're probably already taking advantage of reusable bags and totes at the grocery store, so why not bring your own bags to the mall too? While you're at it, tell your sales clerks to hold off on the excess tissue paper and free boxes. You just don't need it -- here are some alternatives from our reusing giftwrap quiz. Also, remember that in Portland pastic bags are banned.
- Give to the environment while you shop. Our friends at Nonprofit Shopping Mall have made it easy to give to your favorite EarthShare charities while making your regular online purchases, and with no added cost at checkout. Find EarthShare on their charity list to make a percentage of your purchases help protect our natural resources, wildlife, public lands, and more.
- Shop online. Why face the crowds when you can take care of your shopping in your pajamas? Online shopping is generally a little better for the environment than trekking to a mall. Delivery systems are pretty efficient these days and shopping online means you won't be driving. So, less gas to buy and fewer fuel emissions, definitely a win-win.
- Plan your trip. Try to time your shopping trip for days and times that tend to have less traffic congestion on the roads you'll be using. Also, it’s a good idea to make one trip instead of five, so if you have a lot of stops in mind, try to fit them all into one day.
- Be a smart shopper. Not all "green" products live up to their labels. Do your research on products you are considering by visiting the retailer's website, asking questions, and reading customer reviews. Look for Energy Star, Organic, Forest Stewardship Council, and Fair Trade certified items -- these labels are monitored by trusted agencies and non-profits.
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