A new popular trend has risen out of purchasing merchandise that donates to different causes as a means of helping animals and other people.

“I have one bracelet that gave money to saving sea turtles and a different one that gave money to build shelters for the homeless,” junior Cassandra Quinby said. “I also have an Ivory Ella shirt and a shirt that gave money to the sea turtles.”

Students feel these organizations are deserving of money and need to be supported.

“It’s important to help out,” Quinby said. “Even though only a small portion of the money goes to the organization or cause, a little can go a long way. It’s good to help animals because honestly we’re the majority of the reason that they live in such poor conditions. Helping others who don’t have homes is also good because those people deserve somewhere to feel safe and call home. It decreases the amount of homeless people too.”

Helping others isn’t the only benefit of purchasing from companies that donate.

“The merchandise is always really nice and cute,” Quinby said.

Other students are involved in the opposite end of the spectrum, and sell merchandise for a cause.

“”For the last five years, we have been involved in Women at Risk International,” junior Kristen Nease said. “We would sell their jewelry to help keep women in the United States and Thailand from drugs and sex trafficking.

This summer, we were introduced to the women from Nepal that work for Aid through Trade and we decided to support their mission. We are selling their bracelets to support them and give these women a form of work.”

Nease said it’s beneficial for people to buy them since they are supporting a good cause.

“The women in Nepal hand-make each bracelet,” Nease said. “We buy them and sell them and they get that money for the work they’ve done so it gives them a home, food and a form of work. It keeps them from being on the streets subject to drugs and sex trafficking.”

The bracelets let more people know about the women in need, which causes more profit for them.

“When people see the bracelet you’re wearing, they’ll ask you about it and you can spread awareness towards the cause they are for,” Nease said. “It’s a really good thing.”

17rbasso@usd489.com