Season of Gift Giving: Alternative Gift Giving and Keeping the Lead Out

There has been a good deal of news coverage lately about lead content in toys and other products. Listed here are some alternative, non-material, gift-giving options. as well as some information about companies that specialize in selling natural, non-toxic toys. These links should help keep your holiday gift giving season lead-free and healthy. Happy Holidays!

There are a number of organizations that offer gifts of service and support to people in need around the world. Two organizations that make this type of giving easy are Oxfam International and the Seva Foundation. Both organizations will send a card to your gift recipient telling them what service or support you have purchased in their name.

Oxfam Unwrapped is a program of Oxfam International administered by each country’s chapter. Oxfam Unwrapped offers gifts to help people in need around the world in the form of safe drinking water, training and support for women, livestock & farming, fair-trade and micro-business support, and more. The U.S. website is: www.oxfamamericaunwrapped.com where you can conveniently order online.

The Seva Foundation was founded by a group of World Organization doctors in 1978. Seva means service in Sanskrit. The foundation works in 10 countries, particularly helping women and children have access to clean water and health care. Like Oxfam, Seva offers easy online ordering at www.seva.org.

No-Lead Toys: Made from wood and other natural materials
NovaNatural at www.novanatural.com
Three Sisters Toys – www.threesisterstoys.com - you can shop by category or by the country the toys were made in
Willow Tree Toys – www.willowtreetoys.com - made in U.S and Europe
Planet Happy Toys – www.planethappytoys.com
Magic Cabin – www.magiccabin.com
Our Green House – www.ourgreenhouse.com
The Organic Toy Box - www.organictoybox.com
Seasons Natural Toys - www.seasonsnaturaltoys.com