Tucson may be in the spirit of giving for the holiday season but for these local shops, the gift of giving is year-round. These 10 gift shops are run by nonprofits that give back to the community.
If you’re looking for thrift shops and other second-hand stores, many of which also give back to our community, check out our list of over 30 places to go thrifting in Tucson and Southern Arizona.
Whether you’re looking for a birthday present, holiday gift or a little something just because, here’s where you can purchase items that contribute to a good cause. (Listed in alphabetical order.)
Finished Kindness Coins at Ben’s Bells, 40 W. Broadway.
Ben’s Bells
Locals can shop for gifts at Ben’s Bells both online and in person. They offer items like stickers, ornaments, kindness coins, apparel and more. Every purchase of a handmade item goes toward the organization’s “community art studios and kindness education (program), and furthers our mission of inspiring kindness,” according to their Instagram page.
Ben’s Bells was founded by Jeannette Maré in 2002 following the death of her son Ben as a way to honor his legacy and promote kindness in the community.
Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona
While the Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona's shop carries many Girl Scout necessities like uniforms and program guides, they also carry gifts like earrings, bath bombs, tote bags, science kits and more. Items can be purchased online or in person!
The Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona council serves nearly 5,000 Girl Scouts and over 2,000 adult volunteers, according to their website.
Sardar Ahmed loads a crate of fruit into the van as members of the Iskashitaa Refugee Network finish up their task during a harvest day trip in Tucson on Jan. 11, 2019.
Iskashitaa Refugee Network
3736 E. Second St. (pick-up only)
Iskashitaa Refugee Network’s online IskaShop sells small-batch items like lemon habanero marmalade, prickly pear jam, tomatillo salsa and even hot honey. Items are not available for shipping and can only be picked up from Iskashitaa’s office.
All items are hand-harvested locally and handcrafted by the organization’s refugees and volunteers.
Iskashitaa was founded in 2003 to create “opportunities to integrate United Nations refugees into the Southern Arizona community while educating the public, strengthening the local food system, reducing local food waste and increasing food security,” according to their website.
Mission Garden
Mission Garden is managed by Friends of Tucson’s Birthplace, a nonprofit that aims to “preserve, honor, protect, restore, re-create and promote the cultural heritages and historic landscapes of Tucson’s Birthplace at the foot of Sentinel Peak,” according to their website.
The shop inside Mission Garden offers handmade goodies like jams, marmalades and dried herbs. You can also find items like books, art and plushies. Looking for something a little bigger? Trees and other plants are also available for purchase.
Fun fact: “The area surrounding Sentinel Peak is one of the longest-known areas of continuous cultivation in the United States,” according to Mission Garden’s website.
Native Seeds/SEARCH
3584 E. River Road (pick-up only)
Native Seeds/SEARCH has a large online gift shop specializing in Indigenous arts including Diné weavings, Zuni carvings and Tohono O’odham basketry. Of course, you can find a wide variety of seeds, too. All purchases contribute to the organization’s mission.
Since closing their retail shop in 2020, Native Seeds/SEARCH’s gift shop is solely online. Customers can opt for local pick-up at their headquarters or choose to get their order shipped for an additional fee.
Native Seeds/SEARCH was founded in Tucson in 1983 and strives to “conserve and promote the arid-adapted crop diversity of the Southwest in support of sustainable farming and food security,” according to their website.
Southern Arizona Animal Food Bank
Would this really be a #ThisIsTucson list without something to do with our furry friends?
The Southern Arizona Animal Food Bank’s location in the Monterey Village shopping center houses an artisan gallery where local creatives showcase and sell their artwork. A portion of every purchase from the gallery goes back to the food bank.
The Southern Arizona Animal Food Bank has helped keep local pets’ bellies full since it was founded in 2015.
The organization’s mission is to “make sure no one ever has to make the choice between feeding themselves or feeding their animals,” according to their website. “As a local Arizona nonprofit, we collect and distribute free pet food to low-income, unemployed, elderly and otherwise disadvantaged residents of Southern Arizona.”
Customers browse the abundance of handmade goods, gifts, crafts, needlework and toys at The West on Nov. 16.
The West
The West is a nonprofit retail store run by volunteers. The shop carries home decor, artwork, books, stationery, children’s toys, various needlework supplies and more.
The West distributes grants to other local nonprofits that focus on women, children and disabled adults, according to their website. Some of this year’s grant recipients include the Children’s Advocacy Center of Southern Arizona, Emerge Center Against Domestic Abuse, More Than A Bed, Sister José Women’s Center and Youth On Their Own.
The nonprofit has provided over $2.6 million in grants to over 73 organizations in Tucson since 1981.
The West was initially created to help fund The Brewster Home — a former home for unwed mothers. In 1968, the Brewster Home Auxiliary opened a consignment shop for handmade items. Eventually, the auxiliary joined the Women’s Exchange Society and they changed the name of the shop to the West — an acronym for Women’s Exchange Specialties of Tucson.
Tohono Chul
Tohono Chul has three gift shops on its sprawling 49-acre property. You’ll find items like art from local makers, desert foods, handcrafted Indigenous jewelry and educational gifts for children. A portion of the proceeds goes back to Tohono Chul to help maintain the park.
Tohono Chul also has the option to shop online in case you can’t make it in person!
The mission of Tohono Chul is “to enrich people's lives by connecting them with the wonders of nature, art and culture in the Sonoran Desert region and inspiring wise stewardship of the natural world,” according to their official guide.
You can find garden items, clothing, accessories, educational toys, books, body-care products and more at the Tucson Botanical Gardens gift shop, 2150 N. Alvernon Way.
Tucson Botanical Gardens
The Garden Gift Shop at the Tucson Botanical Gardens offers a curated collection of items from local artists and businesses. You can find garden items, clothing, accessories, educational toys, books, body-care products and more.
Purchases made through the gift shop help support the overall mission and programs of the gardens.
The Tucson Botanical Gardens was founded in 1964 and became a nonprofit in 1969. Its mission is to “connect people with plants and nature through art, science, history and culture,” according to their website.
The United Nations Association of Southern Arizona Center and Gift Store exhibits and sells folk arts and crafts including textiles, ceramics, jewelry and clothing. Its purpose is to raise funds and educate the public about the United Nations mission.
United Nations Association of Southern Arizona Center
The United Nations Association of Southern Arizona Center carries a variety of desert-inspired gifts and international items.
Purchasing items from the center supports UNICEF and its mission to “advocate for the protection of children's rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential,” according to their website. Some items are available to purchase online, too!
