roozt

I love socially responsible shopping. If you are going to go shopping, why not buy products that are good for the world or give back in some way? Even if sometimes the products cost a little more than super-cheap bargain brands, you are making a positive impact with your purchase and, to my mind, that is worth a little extra. Roozt is an awesome website that makes being a conscious and responsible consumer fun and easy.

At Roozt, every purchase makes a diffference. All featured brands are fashion-forward companies that are making a positive impact in their community, environment, with their employees, or with humanity as a whole. They hand select only the best, most trendsetting brands that give back so you can enjoy a streamlined shopping experience while saving time and money. You can shop by category - Men's, Women's, Accessories, Pets, etc. - or you can shop by Impact. Click on the interactive world map and it will show you brands that affect a particular area of the world.


There is also a very simple, easy, and free way you can make a difference right now, without even buying a thing. For each member that joins Roozt, they will provide one meal to an American in need through Feeding America. Today, on Giving Tuesday, they are doubling their impact by giving back for twice: join the website (IT'S FREE!) and they will donate two meals to Americans in need. One Member. Two Meals.

Happy Responsible Holiday Shopping, y'all!

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happy thanksgiving!

It's that time of year again, friends! As you prepare to eat yourself silly and strategize your Black Friday shopping, also start thinking about ways you can give back this holiday season. We are going to try to post an easy way that you can make the world a better place every day between now and Christmas, so check back often!

In the meantime, eat, drink, and be very very merry. Happy Thanksgiving!

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*UPDATED* hurricane sandy

What a mess! What a mess, I tell you. New York City and the tri-state area got rocked earlier this week. As residents of New York City, we at goodiegoodie are amazed and awed at the outpouring of support from our own community and beyond with all of the offers of money, donations, and, most poignantly, people wanting to volunteer. It's a testament to who we can be as a city and a country if we stand up for one another. There are SO many ways you can help the people on the East Coast get back up on their feet - either by getting out and giving a hand or from the comfort of your desk or living room.

Occupy Sandy Relief
Occupy Sandy is a community-based, coordinated relief effort to help distribute resources & volunteers to help neighborhoods and people affected by Hurricane Sandy. They are a coalition of people & organizations who are dedicated to implementing aid and establishing hubs for neighborhood resource distribution. Members of this coalition are from Occupy Wall Street, 350.org, recovers.org and interoccupy.net.
"Like" Occupy Sandy Relief on Facebook and follow on Twitter @OccupySandy for regular updates.

Staten Island Recovers
This is a recovery organizing site for Staten Island in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. The site allows people to offer/request assistance, and is coordinated by the folks at Occupy NYC and community organizations on the ground.
* Staten Island was one of the hardest hit areas in NYC. 19 23 of the 40 casualties from New York City were in Staten Island. Hundreds of people are now homeless and aid is having difficulty reaching the people in this outer borough.

NYC Service
Everybody has something to offer. Use your time, passion, skills and willingness to help all New Yorkers in need following Hurricane Sandy. Find out how to donate to the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City or how to volunteer in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

The New Jersey Community Food Bank

The New Jersey Community Food Bank, which fights hunger and poverty by distributing food and groceries, is seeking donations as they respond to Hurricane Sandy. You can donate directly through the website or text “FEEDNJ” to 80888 to donate $10.

ASPCA

The ASPCA will assist and rescue the thousands of animals affected by Hurricane Sandy.

*****
It's not just the East Coast of the United States that got rocked by Sandy. Let us not forget the people who were affected when she began her trek northward in places like Haiti, Jamaica, and Cuba. Here is what you can do to help the hurricane-ravaged people outside our borders.

International Rescue Committee in Haiti
In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, the IRC is providing emergency assistance to thousands of  homeless earthquake survivors who endured the storm in deluged camps.

Heifer International's Disaster Rehabilitation FundHeifer International created its Disaster Rehabilitation Fund—a pool of money that can be accessed by country offices affected by disasters that exceed their ability to cope. The fund provides resources for an appropriate initial response to the disaster, but more important, to begin planning for the longer-term recovery that reflects Heifer’s model.

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hetrick-martin institute

A wonderful friend and non-profit colleague, Sue, works with an important organization helping LGBTQ youth in New York City and recommended them to be featured on goodiegoodie. The epidemic of bullying and abuse, and also the empowerment of LGBTQ youth are issues we care deeply about, so today we are happy to tell you about The Hetrick-Martin Institute.

In 1979, life partners and educators on gay and lesbian issues, Dr. Emery Hetrick, a psychiatrist, and Dr. Damien Martin, a professor at New York University, heard a heartbreaking story about a homeless 15-year-old boy who had been beaten and thrown out of his emergency shelter because he was gay. The two doctors were so moved by his story that they created what is now known as The Hetrick-Martin Institute.

The Hetrick-Martin Institute, home of the Harvey Milk High School, provides young LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning) people the safety and skills they need to reach their full potential. Hetrick-Martin is the oldest and largest organization dedicated to serving at-risk LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning) youth ages 12 to 24 who are typically under-served by schools, communities, and often (sadly) their families. In addition to hosting Harvey Milk High School, they also provide after school programs, supportive services, internship opportunities for HMI Youth Members, advocacy, and education.

You can make a tax-deductible donation to HMI to help them keep their programs free for the youth that they serve. You can also help by donating gently-used clothing, shoes, and accessories to The Hetrick-Martin pantry to help those youth that come to HMI needing the basics — food, shelter, and clothing.

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