This one is so cool, I can hardly stand it. Project 7 is such a simple concept and yet hard to describe fully in short piece, but I’ll do my best. In a nutshell, Project 7 has created a line of everyday consumer goods that give back to seven areas of need. If you purchase a canister of coffee beans, you also end up giving a donation to some wonderful charities worldwide.
Project 7 was founded in 2008 by “social capitalist” Tyler Merrick and his wife Taylor in Southlake, Texas. The Merrick’s goal was to turn the seven deadly sins upside down. For example, instead of focusing on a person who is gluttonous, focus on helping the person who has nothing to eat. The seven areas of need are:
- Heal the Sick
- Save the Earth
- House the Homeless
- Feed the Hungry
- Quench the Thirsty
- Teach Them Well
- Hope for Peace
Tyler says, “We’re not asking you to buy more stuff, just to change the way you buy.” The product line includes:
- Coffee (Organic and fair trade),
- Bottled Water (local water and bio-degradable material)
- Sugar-Free Gum (Each flavor is tied to a different cause)
- Sugar-Free Mints (Made with reusable and resalable tubes)
- T-shirts (Made from five plastic bottles, organic cotton and eco friendly inks)
Project 7’s 2011 nonprofit partners are:
- A Child’s Right
- Blood: Water Mission
- Camfed
- Children’s Hunger Fund
- DTJ
- Invisible Children
- Partners in Health
- Plant with Purpose
- Restore International
- Samaritan’s Purse
- Trees for the Future
- Trees, Water and People
- World Vision
In addition to purchasing Project 7 products online, you can also find many of products at participating stores including Walmart, Barnes & Noble, Hastings, The Food Emporium and many more – over 3,000 stores nationally.
Grab Bag Sale
You can sample for yourself Project 7’s best products with a grab bag available online. For $25 you’ll receive 1 canister of coffee, 1 pack of gum, 1 tube of mints, 1 bracelet and 1 t-shirt – a $50 value.
There’s plenty more to read online at Project7.com including Tyler’s story, how to get involved with local projects and more.
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