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Amanda Kloer at Change.org’s End Human Trafficking blog gives a strong reminder that our consumption affects trafficked people—especially this time of year.

Here are some simple ways you can change what you buy to help protect exploited people.

• Shop at Stop Traffick Fashion (of course).
• Check out these other vendors and resources for gifts for everyone on your list (including yourself): Fair Trade Federation, Fair Trade Shopping Network, Global Exchange, and Ten Thousand Villages.
• Seek out fair trade chocolate and sugar (which is a little tougher to find) for all your baking.
• For that family member who has everything: Shop the World Vision catalog. You can help kids and families around the world through education, health care, livestock, and more. If you’ve ever wanted to say, “Hey, Uncle Ted, I got you an alpaca for Christmas!” This is your chance.
• Sponsor a child through World Vision or Compassion International. This protects kids from being at risk to be trafficked.
• Make a donation to organizations like Hagar International and International Justice Mission that confront trafficking head on.
• If you’re broke (it happens!): Skip cheap gifts that will just make you more broke, will (let’s be honest) not likely bring extreme delight to your family members—and are quite possibly made by exploited workers. Instead spend quality time together: cook dinner together, go for a walk in the park, drive around and look at Christmas lights, or host a family game night.
• Check out our resources page to find books and films that you can use to inspire action, hope, and awareness in yourself and others.
• Take time out during your family celebrations to remember and pray for those who are exploited and feel alone and hopeless around the world—and keep your eyes open for these people in your own towns and cities.

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