Something strange happens when Cyber Monday officially reaches its end at midnight. For absolutely no reason whatsoever, it is universally agreed upon that the holidays are here. Lights start lining doors, trees appear in windows, and some neighbor, somewhere, is losing their marbles because someone popped their blow-up Santa. Amidst the holiday drama that Arnold Schwarzenegger captured hilariously well, it is, as the songs insist, the most wonderful time of year.
But something else happens when the holidays unofficially commence: The spirit of giving grows stronger in our hearts. Because the thing about seeing beautiful sights, like wrapped presents under the tree, is that even though we very much love to see them, a little part of our brain is wondering about the people who do not have an exciting day of gift unwrapping to look forward to.
XOXO Fashion Magazine regularly covers many types of charity collections, fundraising events, and fair trade/cruelty-free/vegan brands. One that is especially important is our support of programs that help those living with HIV/AIDS. Community programs to help the HIV/AIDS epidemic include mobile caravans that are camped around popular cities, offering free testing for HIV/AIDS and free condoms; AA and NA meetings that are held inside HIV/AIDS support centers; programs that provide free shelter and free medication for the community; and programs that provide food, blankets, underwear, and other similar products, some specifically for people with HIV/AIDS, and some for people in need in general.
This year, when you are shopping for cool gifts for your loved ones, consider the following retailers, some of whom have brick and mortar stores in NYC, and some online. All of them put a portion of their sales toward programs to help those with HIV/AIDS.
Apple – (PRODUCT)RED
For the past 16 years, Apple has been selling their trademark iPhones, Apple watches, and various other items, including headphones and iPhone cases, in versions that specifically support (PRODUCT)RED, meaning that a portion of proceeds from those products go to programs for HIV/AIDS. Apple states that, since the time of its inception, the program has donated more than a quarter of a billion dollars towards these programs.
Not only is this a very easy way to donate an ample sum toward these programs, by getting tech products you were planning to buy anyway, but there is an added benefit: the products whose proceeds support HIV/AIDS programs are the ones that come in a bright candy apple red color, making them quite the eye-catcher. Knowing that, by buying that color, you contributed to supporting programs for those with HIV/AIDS, will be the chocolate chip on top.
Housing Works
In Housing Works’ words, they are a program that “fights for funding and legislation to ensure that all people living with HIV/AIDS have access to quality housing, healthcare, HIV prevention, and treatment, among other lifesaving services.” Housing Works has several brick and mortar second-hand shops around New York City, whose profits benefit their programs. Their location at 157 East 23rd Street has a drop box as well, where you can donate ANY type of medication, including but not limited to antiretroviral medications. Among the other programs they offer, Housing Works has pharmacies for their clients in all five boroughs.
Like typical second-hand shops, they sell awesome vintage and new items of clothing. However, in addition, their multitude of second-hand shops scattered around the five boroughs have general themes for what you can find there. The one at 1222 2nd Avenue, for example, is a hot-spot for finding valuable pieces of art that local art collectors have donated, while the one at 157 East 23rd Street – where you can donate medication – sells many mid-century Afrocentric furniture and decor pieces. Their location at 126 Crosby Street is a gorgeous bookstore. Not only can you find rare and important books there, but it’s also a splendid venue that people regularly get married at.
Out of the Closet
Like Housing Works, Out of the Closet is a chain of NYC thrift stores that benefit programs for HIV/AIDS. In their words, “Out of the Closet Thrift Stores provide free HIV testing and AHF Pharmacy services (at select locations). You can get tested for HIV or fill your prescription and shop while you wait. Our finger-prick HIV tests are fast, easy, and offer same-day results.” 96 cents out of every dollar they make is put toward HIV/AIDS services nationally and internationally.
Excitingly, Out of the Closet now sells their best pieces on Poshmark as well, making it easy breezy to buy designer items for a fraction of the price while surfing the internet. While the Housing Works shops are your go-to spots for unique art, furniture and decor, Out of the Closet’s Poshmark page sells a wide range of designer labels in excellent condition for bargain prices.
There is nothing quite so beautiful as the smell of winter while you watch couples skating under the Rockefeller tree – and a very large part of that beauty is, undeniably, the fact that the holidays bring out all the people in love. To quote one of my favorite singers, “Everybody’s falling in love”, and the holidays make that especially palpable. Holidays are a time for embracing this giant, squishy teddy bear that we call humanity, and embracing the knowledge that, though every thread is unique, we are all far more similar than we are different. Whatever form your threads take, let us all take joy – after an exceptionally chaotic year – in knowing that we are all here for a reason, and we were all created exactly as we were meant to be. This holiday, do feel free to shop until you drop, and please do remember these stores when you do. Most importantly, in a world where you can be anything, be a ray of f#*&ing sunshine.
XOXO,
Your fashion bestie
