There a lot of people that complain about things like Toms, or Product (Red), or other random percentage of the proceeds style of charities. People also like to moan about how "raising awareness" is a waste of time because it doesn't fix the problem. Because none of the things I've listed here fix the problem. But I still sometimes buy percentage of the proceeds items, and I'm here to tell you why, so there are 5 reasons to buy that pink strainer at target, or post an awareness "sticker" to your Facebook wall.
1) I need clothes. and many other things.
Things I wear regularly: jeans, tshirts, hoodies and (because for some reason I've become a grown up) sweaters. Non-regularly I wear fancy clothes. I use my phone daily, my computer, my car, dishes, etc. Often times I need new versions of these daily items because I have worn them out. If I am going to buy a t-shirt would I like to buy a tshirt that gives 100% of the net proceeds to the jet fuel for the CEO's private plane? Or would I like to buy a tshirt that, while giving 90% of the proceeds to the jet fuel, 10% (even if that's only $1) goes to someone that needs something? Of course with everything you should do your research, is the charity that is receiving that 10% a real charity doing real work that you really support? Is it a cause you can get behind? does 9% go to the charities CEO and 1% to the people or is the charity really doing good work with that money? If it passes all those tests, why not buy the shirt? I need a tshirt/strainer/phone case anyway.
2) Stuff looks cool.
I don't like the color pink. Its bright and cheery and bubbly, gross :-). But some people totally love the color pink. Sure that pink spatula at Target might only give .05cents to fighting breast cancer, and the purple toothbrush holder might only I've .10cents to fight domestic violence. But if you've been looking for a pink spatula, when better to get one than in October? Did you see those FeedUSA bags that Target sold a few months back? Or if you LOVE the color red, and you buy the red item, and it happens to give money to fighting AIDS, cool. The idea of NOT buying the thing you want because the attached charity doesn't give enough to the people in need is silly. .05cents is better than $0.00. (and yes all of the examples will be from Target because I only shop at Target and bookstores. Deal with it).
3)Really, some people don't know.
Human beings tend to stay inside their little bubbles. We hang out with like minded people, who share interests and hobbies. It is for that reason that "raising awareness" about bullying or domestic violence or AIDS or whatever else seems silly to most of the people in those groups. Why keep beating a dead horse? We don't need to tell people about it, we need to fix it. But that is incorrect. People don't know, a lot of people don't realize that 33% of female homicide victims are killed by a current or former partner, or that in the US each year there are more than 38,000 suicides. People don't know rape really happens, or violence is real. People live in bubbles, and they don't see it so it must not be happening. If we raise awareness and get people to understand these are real issues with real consequences for real people, they will fight harder to stop them. (or at least that's the hope, it doesn't always pan out that way).
4)bad economy killing shoes are better than no shoes. The big argument about buy one give one companies like Toms is that they are still using the same tired sweat shops and taking away from the countries ability to get their economy off the ground by letting them make and sell shoes and other items for themselves. Which is totally legit. But I don't see people clamoring to start a hand making company in Haiti. I see people clamoring for the latest, cutest Toms, and I see people not caring about sweatshops. I would rather people have shoes made in sweatshops than no shoes. Buy one give one is the lazy mans charity, but hey it's still giving people shoes. Also, back to point #1, you need shoes and point #2 they are comfy and cute/cool looking. If you have a problem with the way buy one give one works, start your own charity. Too lazy to start a non-profit? Then go buy some Toms.
5)Americans are selfish and lazy. Stop being offended, we are totally selfish and lazy. People are WAY more likely to give to charity when they get stuff in return. The "what's in it for me" disease is rampant in America. Not only that but we don't want to hear about all the bad things happening in the world. People get legitimetly upset when you tell them that young (8-15 year old) girls and boys are bought and sold for sex and slavery, or that children in Africa really have no clean water. We change the channel when those commercials come on with the sad hungry children, or Sarah Mclachlan's one eyed cats. And what better way to get people to help other people than to make them think they are really just buying a status symbol? Now you can tell all your friends that this shirt is one you bought because you wanted to save the children, but you never had to see the faces of the children. Win-Win (sort of). You are not really going to write a check to the charity for the full price of the thing when you get home, stop lying to yourself and others.
Bottom line, you don't have to SEEK OUT companies that give to charity when you buy stuff but at least don't boycott the companies that are at trying to give some money. Maybe they are doing it for publicity or marketing, maybe they are still making huge profits, but at least it's a number higher than zero.
