These Socially Conscious Gifts Help Support Tampa Bay Causes, Artists

TAMPA BAY, FL — If you've been racking your brain trying to figure out a gift to give to the person who doesn't need or want anything, you aren't alone.

According to a survey and analysis by the personal finance website, NerdWallet, nearly 217 million Americans (84 percent) plan to buy gifts for friends and loved ones this holiday season, spending an average of $823 for more than $178 billion in gift spending.

However, the website Finder.com, dedicated to helping people make better decisions about spending, said these well-meaning gift-givers may be wasting both their time and money.

Finder.com's analysis shows that people spend an astounding $8.3 billion a year on unwanted Christmas gifts.

And more than half of Americans receiving gifts — 52 percent — admit to opening up at least one unwanted holiday gift each year. Face it, how many ties does Dad really need?

To avoid those awkward gift-giving moments ("Really, you shouldn't have), the website My Ethical Choice advocates for ethical, socially conscious, eco-friendly and sustainable gift-giving.

Ethical gifts are products made by companies that are doing the morally right thing for society, the planet and its people. These include products that are cruelty-free, meaning they're not tested on animals in labs and wildlife or the natural habitats the wildlife lives in aren't harmed.

One way to determine if the gift is ethical is if the product is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, which ensures that the products come from responsibly managed forests that provide environmental, social and economic benefits. Other certifications to look for are:

• Fairtrade mark
• Organic mark
• Vegan label
• Leaping bunny for cruelty-free
• B-Corp

Those concerned about the environment may want to opt for eco-friendly or zero-waste gifts including plastic-free gifts, gifts made from organic cotton or other sustainable natural fibers and upcycled gifts, or gifts made from everyday items that are typically thrown away but are cleverly turned into something that has a new use.

The third gift-giving category is products that support a cause that's near and dear to the recipient's heart. If the person is a cat lover, give a gift that supports animal rescue or advocacy groups. If the person is an art lover, you might want to give a work of art that not only supports the starving artist but will be treasured by the art lover.

Here's some gifts you might want to consider:

Remembering Winter The Dolphin

Winter, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium's famous dolphin with the prosthetic tail, may be gone but her legacy lives on in the aquarium's mission of rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing marine life.

In her memory, the aquarium is offering a line of "Winter Inspires Forever" gifts with 100 percent of net proceeds going directly to the work of the aquarium's rescue team, including everything from a Winter the dolphin sterling pendant for $99 to a "Winter Inspires Forever" car magnet for $5.99.

For those who have a budding marine biologist or veterinarian in the family, the aquarium also offers a line of plush toys in rescue stretchers and a sea turtle hatchling emerging from its egg.

The aquarium also offers a series of reusable, plastic-free Tervis water tumblers

And, in support of the aquarium's capital campaign to transform Winter's former habitat into a rescue facility for manatees, consider giving Dad a pair of crew socks featuring manatees or a 25-ounce, reusable Tervis "Manatee Devotion" water tumbler.

Click here for more ideas.

A Gift For The Nature Lover

If there's a birdwatcher, angler, kayaker, hiker or simply a nature lover in your life, the Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department said it has the ideal gift.
The Hillsborough County Conservation Parks is offering an annual pass that's good at all 16 Hillsborough County Conservation Parks, including Lettuce Lake, Upper Tampa Bay and Edward Medard. Park.

The annual passes are $50 for an individual pass and $100 for a family pass, which covers the entry fee for up to eight people. Nature lovers can also purchase a boat ramp pass for $100, which allows the user to launch a boat for no charge at all boat ramps operated by Hillsborough County.
The passes can be purchased online or in person at any of the locations listed here.

Adopt A Marine Animal

The nonprofit Florida Aquarium is home to a large variety of animal ambassadors from the smallest reptile to the largest shark.

Animal lovers can help provide care for these animals by providing funds for fruits, vegetables and seafood meals, preventative and diagnostic veterinary care, habitat maintenance and enrichment activities.

By symbolically adopting an animal of their choice, supporters are helping to ensure the welfare of the thousands of animals in aquarium's care and supporting programs that save imperiled and endangered species.

Adoption packages start at $75 and include a plush toy of the adopted animal, a certificate of adoption, an animal fact sheet and an 8-inch by 10-inch photo.

Click here.

Gift givers can also showcase a conservationist's dedication to the natural environment and the future of the Florida Aquarium with a one-of-a-kind sponsorship displayed as a bird or fish on the aquarium's Sea of Support wall.

The Florida Aquarium partnered with MGA Sculpture Studio in St. Petersburg to create this art installation in the first-floor lobby. Illuminated by changing colors of light, the crafted metal sculptures of flowing fish and graceful birds combine nature and art.

Choose a bird or a fish for a custom inscription. Select a special date, quote or message for placement in the Sea of Support wall. Options include small, medium and large bird or fish sculptures with a 36-character engraving.

The cost is $250 to $1,000. Click here.

Humane Society Fundraiser

The Humane Society of Tampa Bay is creating a brick tribute walkway around the gazebo to raise funds for the nonprofit animal rescue group.

The 4- by 8-inch bricks are laser engraved to ensure they'll last for years. For $125, a gift giver can provide a lasting legacy for the pet lover in their life. Click here.

Museum Gift Shops

Often overlooked by holiday shoppers, museum gift shops not only offer a host of gifts you won't find anywhere else but proceeds from these shops help support the nonprofit museums.

Some favorite shops are:

The Henry B. Plant Museum Gift Store, 401 W Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, where you can buy gifts such as a handmade glass minaret ornament for $28 or Tampa Bay Hotel ground locally for the Henry B. Plant Museum by Naviera Coffee, a staple in the Tampa community since 1921.

Dunedin Fine Art Center

The Dunedin Fine Art Center is hosting its 36th annual Splendiferous Holiday Show & Sale through Dec. 23 in the gallery shop.

Gallery shop hours are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m.

On a yearly basis, art center curators put together the best art with a gift-giving perspective in mind with creations by artists from around the region. The sale includes one-of-a-kind jewelry, cards, scarves, purses, ornaments, paintings, ceramics, fiber arts, soaps, books, music and unique home décor.

Parachute Gallery

The Tampa Museum of Art's Parachute Gallery, located at 1624 E 7th Ave., Suite 240, Tampa, is a 160-square-foot gallery located in the historic Kress building in the heart of Ybor City.

The Parachute Gallery is nestled in a cluster of creative spaces on the Kress’s second-floor annex, including Tempus Projects’ Tempus Volta (satellite project space) and Drift (independent curators’ space), QUAID gallery, Department of Contemporary Art Tampa and Screen Door micro-cinema.

An exhibition and micro-retail space, the gallery's mission is to amplify the voices of artists from a diversity of backgrounds and life experiences, elevate crafts media in Tampa and nationally and highlight underrepresented regional artists, introduce fresh national artists to Tampa, exhibit crafts media alongside painting, sculpture and new media, self-trained artists alongside academic artists, and functional alongside aesthetic objects and obliterate the historical art hierarchies that perpetuate racism, sexism and classism.

At the Parachute Gallery's museum shop are works of art ranging from a $1,200 framed etching by artist Golbanou Moghaddas to pocket sketchbooks with hand-printed covers by artist Jessica Todd for $7. Art lovers can also find hand-printed mistletoe cards and ready-to-give baskets.

Florida Botanical Gardens

At the Botanical Bounty Gift Shop, choose from a large selection of botanically themed items including books, apparel, home goods, children’s items, jewelry, stationery, spa items and other merchandise to support Florida Botanical Gardens at 12520 Ulmerton Road in Largo.

The Florida Botanical Gardens still needs to raise $700,000 to build its $3 million Majeed Discovery Garden, a 100-acre park managed by the Pinellas County Parks and Conservation Resources Department showcasing flora, fauna and natural resources while promoting environmentally friendly gardening techniques.

The gift shop features a number of gift items including Fairtrade-marked organic cotton beet and radish rattlers and musical strawberries for future gardeners, hand-crafted felt ornaments, seeds and biodegradable loofah pot scrubbers.

Natural Homemade Gifts From Cottage Industries

Head to any weekday or weekend outdoor market and you'll find a variety of handmade, sustainable products created by the thousands of cottage industries in the Tampa Bay area.

Not only are these products eco-friendly but they support these small business owners, most of which have small main street storefronts or create their products in their homes. Here are a few to consider:

Dunedin Candle Company

The Dunedin Candle Company, 1299 Bayshore Blvd., Dunedin, owned by Dunedin native Andrew Kovanis, sells a variety of handmade, small-batch, hand-poured soy candles with fun scents such as Salty Beach Vibes and "I Washed Up Like This."

Our Two Scents

Our Two Scents was started by two friends, Regina Klein and Lorrie Escobar, who worked together in the dental field for many years. They said their idea to make quality handcrafted soaps began after taking a fun soap-making class.

All of Our Two Scents soaps are handcrafted in small batches in Tampa with the finest ingredients including essential oils and high-quality vegetable oils that create a luxurious lather, relaxing aroma and moisturize the skin. They also offer salt scrubs.

Stella Royale Natural Pet Care

Mel Royale of Tampa founded Stella Royale Natural Pet Care in June 2021, offering all-natural pet care products for dogs and cats including shampoo, refresher spray, paw balm, treats and more, all made from human-grade ingredients to pamper your pets. Residents can find her at the Ybor Saturday Market Dec. 17, 24 and 31 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Florida Candle Co.

When it comes to sustainability, Deana James of Odessa, owner of the Florida Candle Co., has it covered on all fronts. All of her candles, room and linen sprays, melts, reed diffusers and aroma oils are cruelty-free, non-toxic, phthalate- and paraben-free and eco-friendly. And all her scents contain non-toxic vegan ingredients.

Her candles are made from biodegradable soy and contain wooden wicks for a slow, clean burn free of soot. Her wax melts come in clear glass jars with a black metal lid for easy recycling.

Shiva Urban

Based in Clearwater, Shiva Urban offers a variety of affordable handmade goods created by Balinese artisans including basket bags, Bohemian pants, dresses and decorative sarongs. The business was founded by Lisa Clark, who immigrated to Clearwater from East Java, Indonesia, and wanted a way to support struggling artisans in her homeland.

"Every piece is handcrafted by local artisans, and every purchase helps support them and their families to improve their lives," Clark said.