Make your holiday giving stretch further with purchases that help charity. All Portland businesses and nonprofits in the Street Roots Gift Guide were selected because they offer products or services perfect for holiday gift-giving, with part or all of the proceeds going to a dedicated cause that benefits the community.
While many businesses donate periodically to charitable causes, we selected only those in Portland with a dedicated charity built into their business model. Street Roots made its best effort to reach out to all not-just-for-profit businesses and nonprofits offering gift-worthy products based in the Portland area. If we missed you and you’d like to see if your organization qualifies to be included, please email the Street Roots editorial team.
Businesses and organizations with a physical storefront are included in our interactive map (see below).
Albertina Kerr
Albertina Kerr provides a wide range of services for individuals with mental health and developmental disabilities, empowering them to lead fuller, self-determined lives.
Artist’s creations
Albertina Kerr’s holiday Art from the Heart Art Show and Sale and year-round gallery both feature items made by adults with developmental disabilities, with 70 percent of the sale going to the artist and 30 percent to additional art supplies. Find creative art and gifts such as cutting boards, mixed media, pottery, screen-printed items and more.
Everybody's House: Art from the Heart Art Show & Sale
5 to 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15
Noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16
Art from the Heart Gallery
3505 NE Broadway St.
Albertina’s Place
All proceeds from shops inside Albertina’s Place go to support Albertina Kerr’s programming.
Fine gifts and holiday décor
Located inside the Old Kerr Nursery Building, this shopping center contains: Albertina’s Jewel Box, with an abundance of Christmas decorations, vintage and fine jewelry, and accessories; Albertina’s Heirlooms, with antiques and collectables; Albertina’s Closet, with thrift store offerings; and Albertina’s Kitchen, for a bite to eat.
424 NE 22nd Ave.
AlbertinaKerr.org
Audubon Society of Portland
This 110-year-old nonprofit promotes the enjoyment and protection of birds, other wildlife and their habitats.
Nature-themed gifts
The Nature Store features books, binoculars, bird feeders and birdwatching guides, plus gifts, such as handmade jewelry, plus puppets, games and other toys for children, all with a nature theme. A gift of membership to the Audubon Society of Portland supports local conservation and covers a yearlong subscription to their newsletter and discounted rates on classes and guided tours. Located at the society’s 150-acre Sanctuary adjacent to Forest Park.
5151 NW Cornell Road
audubonportland.org
Cards for Kids
For 25 years, Cards for Kids has been an annual fundraiser for Oregon Health & Science University's Doernbecher Children's Hospital, organized and produced by Friends of Doernbecher volunteers. All proceeds benefit OHSU Doernbecher.
Holiday greeting cards
This program transforms artwork collected from OHSU Doernbecher patients, their siblings and professional artists into classic greeting cards for the holiday season. Greeting card 12-packs may be purchased year-round. Custom cards, for corporate or personal use, are also available.
Order online here.
Or call 800-774-5857
Carved Life
Ten percent of proceeds from Carved Life sales go to OHSU Doernbecher Children's Hospital Congenital Brain Anomalies Clinic. The company’s owner has a family member who receives medical care from Doernbecher.
Cards, clothes & coloring
Carved Life offers clothing for babies and toddlers, including short- and long-sleeved onesies on organic cotton. The onesies feature adorable hand-drawn animals. Carved Life also offers coloring books and cards based on animal prints. Visit CarvedLife.com to place orders and for a list of Portland retailers.
Cat Adoption Team (CAT) Thrift Store
Proceeds from the store go to the team’s shelter to help fund the care and medical need of cats. Store purchases also help fund spay and neuter services for the public and support for the Nine Lives Transfer program.
Unique gifts for pets and people
The CAT Thrift Store is filled with unique gifts, from new and vintage home items and clothing to kitchen gadgets and a pet section stocked with enough items to make any pet happy. Gift cards and an array of cat-themed gifts are also available. Stock changes daily.
4838 SW Scholls Ferry Road
catthriftstore.org
Central City Coffee
Central City Coffee is a social enterprise where trainees learn sales and office skills they can use in future permanent employment. All profits go directly to Central City Concern programs to end homelessness in Portland.
For the coffee connoisseur
Central City Coffee's Holiday Roast is a lively, medium-roast blend with a festive combination of honey, stone fruit and spice flavors that pair perfectly with holiday meals and treats. Central City Coffee’s Holiday Roast, French Roast, Velocity and decaf are available in 12-ounce packages at New Seasons Markets, Whole Foods, Food Front, Green Zebra and other select stores.
Order online here.
Community Cycling Center
This nonprofit is dedicated to broadening access to bicycling and its benefits for all Portlanders. It offers earn-a-bike programs for low-income adults and children where safe riding and maintenance techniques are taught.
For bicyclists
The Community Cycling Center’s Bike Shop sells fully refurbished and as-is bicycles, new and used bike parts, accessories and tools, as well as gift certificates good for products or bike repair services.
1700 NE Alberta St.
communitycyclingcenter.org
The Flawless Foundation
This nonprofit seeks to revolutionize the way the world perceives, prevents and treats brain-based behavioral challenges. It also offers yoga programs at specialized schools for mental health and behaviorally challenged children.
Necklace and keychain
The foundation is offering a handcrafted, sterling silver Flawless necklace for $75, and a handcrafted leather and silver keychain for $20. Each comes in a small canvas bag hand-stamped with the Flawless peacock, with all proceeds supporting the foundation’s local yoga programs for children at specialized schools. These items are available online only.
Order online here.
The Forest Park Conservancy
Forest Park Conservancy recruits 1,000 volunteers annually to maintain trails, restore habitat and provide educational hikes within our largest urban forest. Purchasing a gift from conservancy supports its work to restore and protect Forest Park.
For hikers
The conservancy is offering a rain- and wear-resistant Trail Map and Visitor's Guide to Forest Park featuring loop hikes and runs, driving directions to trailheads and highlights along each loop; “I heart Forest Park” dog leashes and T-shirts; beautifully detailed poster maps of the park by a local artist; and more.
Order online here.
Free Geek
Buying reused and recycled materials is economical and better for the environment and helps support a mission to recycle technology and provide access to computers, the internet, education and job skills in exchange for community service.
Low-cost computing
Free Geek sells everything from cables and cards to laptops, tablets, iMacs, cellphones, audio-visual equipment and more, all at reasonable prices. You'll find great deals on complete warrantied computer packages including monitor, keyboard and mouse.
1731 SE 10th Ave.
freegeek.org
Friends of Trees
This nonprofit has planted 700,000+ trees and native shrubs in the Portland-Vancouver and Eugene-Springfield metro areas since 1989.
Plant a tree
Holiday-themed gift tree certificates and tree-packs are available starting at $35. When you purchase a gift tree, you will receive an email with a holiday-themed certificate to print and to present to the recipient. Friends of Trees will invite you and the gift tree recipient to help them plant a tree or trees in the recipient’s honor as part of the Green Spaces program.
3117 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
friendsoftrees.org
Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore
ReStore accepts donations of new and used furniture, appliances, home goods and building materials and resells them to raise money for Habitat for Humanity homebuilding projects.
For the DIY enthusiast
Find something new (and used) every day, from vintage furniture and lighting fixtures to materials for DIY projects. Gift cards are also available in any amount.
10445 SE Cherry Blossom Drive
pdxrestore.org
New Avenues for Youth Ben & Jerry’s
New Avenues for Youth owns and operates two Ben & Jerry’s PartnerShops, which provide job training, work experience and wages for youth at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness, with all profits going back into New Avenues’ job training programs.
Ice cream!
New Avenues’ Ben & Jerry’s PartnerShop gift cards make great stocking stuffers, holiday parties can be made special by serving a delicious Ben & Jerry’s ice cream cake, or have the PartnerShop cater your holiday office party.
524 SW Yamhill St.
PSU Urban Plaza at 510 SW Mill St.
Learn more here.
Oregon Wild
Oregon Wild protects and restores our state’s wildlife, wildlands and waters for future generations. With your purchase, you’ll help keep Crater Lake wild, support wildlife conservation and advocacy, protect clean water at its source, and keep public lands in public hands.
Hats and T-shirts
By purchasing our one-of-a-kind Crater Lake hats or 100 percent organic cotton T-shirts, you can be assured we’re working hard to protect the places you love. Let everyone know that you care about keeping Oregon a special place to live, work and play.
Order online here.
5825 N Greeley Ave.
Panacea
Panacea donates 100 percent of its profits from the sale of cannabis to support projects, organizations and businesses that promote social justice.
Cannabis for a cause
Panacea offers a wide variety of strains in the form of flower, concentrates and edibles, including chocolates, lozenges, lollipops, gummies and taffy.
6714 NE Sandy Blvd.
panaceapdx.com
p:ear
p:ear builds positive relationships with homeless and transitional youths through education, art and recreation. Each year the nonprofit’s programs serve nearly 900 people ages 15 to 24.
Paintings & sculptures
This nonprofit opens its gallery from 6 to 8 p.m. on First Thursdays, featuring prints, sculptures, paintings and sketches created by homeless and transitional youths and globally recognized artists.
The Dec. 7 “Friends and Family” show brings together p:ear’s community of volunteers, staff and youth in one giant art show.
Youth artists receive 90 percent of proceeds from the sale of their art, with the remaining 10 percent going toward the purchase of art supplies to stock p:ear’s art studio. At least 50 percent of proceeds from sales of renowned artists go directly to support p:ear.
Private gallery viewing is available by appointment. Contact William at william@pearmentor.org.
338 NW Sixth Ave.
pearmentor.org
PHAME
PHAME inspires adults with developmental disabilities to lead full, creative lives by providing arts education classes, performance opportunities and community-building events.
Prints & art cards
Limited-edition 11” x 14” full-color prints and art cards featuring student work are available for purchase online. Order by Dec. 15 to receive your order by Dec. 25.
Vist PHAME's website, phamepdx.org, for information about its annual Winter Concert.
Order online here.
Purringtons Cat Lounge
Purringtons offers potential adopters the opportunity to meet a cat in a natural environment while enjoying coffee and snacks in the café or drinks in the lounge, or even while stretching in purr yoga. Purringtons has adopted out more than 438 cats since 2015.
The purrfect gift
Purringtons has a large selection of cat-themed items for the crazy cat person on your list. These include gift cards for use in the cafe or lounge, coffee mugs, trucker hats, T-shirts, greeting cards, art, coloring books, stickers, pins, games, scarves, and a crazy cat lady action figure set, just to name a few. Wine by the bottle is also available, and Purringtons is the purrfect place for truly unique, private holiday party.
3529 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
purringtonscatlounge.com
ReBuilding Center
This nonprofit offers affordable, used building materials with the goal of building community through reuse. It moves roughly 8 tons of materials through the warehouse each day. Rather than going to the landfill, these materials are sold back to the community for reuse at 40 percent to 90 percent below market value. Profits are reinvested back into the community through its Community Outreach Program.
Hands on DIY classes
Give the gift of craftsmanship this holiday season with a gift certificate for a hands-on class using salvaged building materials at the ReBuilding Center. Participants can build their own table, bench, frame or even a drum. Check the website for current class offerings.
3625 N Mississippi Ave.
rebuildingcenter.org
SCRAP PDX
A nonprofit, donation-based, creative reuse store that provides a range of educational opportunities and affordable art materials for the community.
Kits for artists
SCRAP’s To Go Kits are perfect for both artists and kids. A hodge-podge mix of bits of ribbon, small toys, designer paper and other random materials, they can provide hours of entertainment for kids or compliment any mixed-media artist’s tool box. SCRAP also offers Collage & Vintage Packs for all your paper craft needs.
1736 SW Alder St.
scrappdx.org
Street Roots
This season, Street Roots is excited to announce a partnership with Marigold Coffee. Proceeds from its new Street Roast coffee will support the Street Roots vendor program and the newspaper. And beginning the Friday after Thanksgiving, Street Roots vendors have the opportunity to sell a limited-edition zine (small-circulation magazine), along with weekly issues of Street Roots newspaper.
Street Roast
Help give individuals experiencing homelessness and poverty a hand up and support independent journalism – by drinking your morning coffee. Starting in December, Marigold Coffee is launching Street Roast in New Seasons Market and Marigold stores throughout Portland. The proceeds from each bag of Street Roast will go to support Street Roots.
Holiday zine
“Perspectives on Escape” is a zine containing the original works of Street Roots vendors. The zine is sold to vendors for $1 to cover printing costs, and they will sell it for $4, keeping the remaining $3 as a means of earning extra income this holiday season. Through poetry, art and short stories, the zine provides a window into the lives and minds into some of these vendors. They express myriad ways to escape, from letting their minds wander into fantasy to saving their own lives. Vendors will be selling at their usual turfs throughout Portland.
streetroots.org
Sseko Designs
This not-just-for-profit Portland-based fashion brand hires women in Uganda to make sandals, enabling them to earn money. A portion goes into a college savings account, which Sseko matches 200 percent. Sseko also designs and sources ethically made products from East Africa.
Shoes and accessories
Sseko's most popular gift during the holidays is its trademark interchangeable ribbon sandals (seen on ABC's "Shark Tank") along with their Holiday Ribbon Package so that the wearer can easily switch out sandal ribbons for a whole new look. Other products include jewelry, leather bags, wallets, scarves, shoes and gift certificates. Find Sseko products at Pie Footwear, Popina Swimwear and EcoVibe Apparel and online.
ssekodesigns.com
Eat and drink for a cause!
Why not give twice when treating friends and family to dinner and drinks this holiday season by supporting local eateries that donate their proceeds to programs benefiting the community? These establishments also offer gift certificates.
Po’shines Café de la Soul and Poshette’s Café
This North Portland restaurant is a nonprofit run in partnership with the Celebration Tabernacle church. Po’shines offers Teach Me To Fish, a job-training program teaching at-risk youth how to work in the service industry, and offers contemporary soul food with a Cajun flair.
8139 N Denver Ave.
Oregon Public House
This nonprofit pub donates 100 percent of its profits to select, rotating charities. Through the end of the year, purchases made at Oregon Public House will go directly to support Urban Farm Collective, Pink Phoenix Dragon Boat Team, One Tail at a Time, Depave, Home PDX and The Wayfinding Academy. It features a rotating tap list, classic pub fare and a daily happy hour.
700 NE Dekum St.
Pearl Tavern
Pearl Tavern donates 3 percent of its profits to the Harrington Family Foundation, which provides college scholarships to Oregon students. The tavern is a partnership between Joey Harrington and ChefStable.
231 NW 11th Ave.
Ex Novo Brewing Company
This nonprofit brewery and pub donates its profits to select nonprofits, and currently supporting Mercy Corps, International Justice Mission, Impact NW and Friends of the Children. It boasts a rotating tap list of seasonal and one-off brews and a menu featuring favorites with a twist.
2326 N Flint Ave.
