Shopping with Purpose: How the gifts at Good Deed Goods give back.

By Ashley Daniels

The gift of giving isn’t anything new, of course, but it’s not always the basis of a business model. Unless your business is Good Deed Goods, which lives and thrives by Hebrews 10:24: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”

Good Deed Goods, a local giveback boutique located within the landmark Lee’s Inlet Apothecary in Murrells Inlet, was the brainchild of mother-daughter team Melissa Lee and Mary Emily “Mel” Healy in 2015. 

“I just had felt God nudging me to do more. And I wasn’t quite sure what more was,” says Lee. “[Lee’s Inlet Apothecary] was always a Christian store from the concept 22 years ago … We wanted to be like that city on a hill and be the light of Christ to people. It was always that way.”

The idea for Good Deed Goods specifically dawned on Lee, she says, while going down the escalator of the Atlanta airport, where everything is at your disposal–unlike in Honduras, where Mel, her dad, and her brothers had traveled to build houses.

“The people there had basically nothing but didn’t want for anything,” says Lee. “They were just content people. And I asked myself, ‘How can the world of giving and getting collide?’”

That was when, after much brainstorming and prayer, the family rebranded the apothecary’s gift shop into Good Deed Goods, a not-just-for-profit business model that gives 10 percent back of every gift purchase to a charity of their choice for a six-month period. The shop partners with a rotating number of local, national, and international charities that are focused on working for the good of other people.

“The 10 percent comes from the tithe,” says Lee. “For us, it’s sacrificial, but we’ve never doubted it. … It just felt right. It feels honoring.”

Healey says the shop’s space is small, but they are very intentional in stocking it with an eclectic variety of unique Christian-based goods, including jewelry, home décor like candles, baby and kids’ items, bath and body products, inspirational items, and more. 

“We really try to source goods that are unique, but we also are looking to partner with companies that are mission-based as well, and have their own give-back programs,” she says. “That’s a win-win.”

Since its launch in 2015, Good Deed Goods has donated more than $100,000 to charities from its sales proceeds. The current charity partner is Meals on Wheels of Horry and Georgetown County. Past charity partners include the Anglican Relief Fund, which is focused on providing relief aid to the border between Israel and Palestine; the Anglican Relief Foundation, which supports relief efforts in Ukraine; the Tim Tebow Foundation’s Project Unknown, which helps identify child victims of virtual sex crimes, protect them from further harm, and seek justice on their behalf; and an abundance of local community charities, such as Caring & Sharing. Each six-month charity partnership runs from June 1 to November 30 and December 1 to May 31.

“Our goal in doing what we do at this point is to give the women in our community an opportunity to be a part of something,” says Healy. “When they’re shopping for a gift, which is something we all do … One of my mom’s love languages is definitely gift-giving … It’s only natural that this has kind of become a part of her legacy. We’re pleased and proud of how we can give our community that actual space to come in and not only find a gift that’s going to be special for the recipient but also serve as an opportunity to do more with their dollar, to cast a vote for the kind of world you want to have and to shop with purpose.”

“I’ve always said that we give it, and God multiplies it,” adds Lee. “In God’s economy, a little change can create big change, so we’re doing our part, and our customers, when they shop with us, are doing a part as well to just make the world a better place. … I just took it from Jesus saying, ‘Go into the world.’ And I know he was talking about creating disciples with that, but until you have people who are fed and sheltered and clothed and safe, they’re not going to see the gospel as real as much if they’re hungry, if they’re cold, if they’re not protected and they have nowhere to live.”

For more information on Good Deed Goods, visit Gooddeedgoods.com or visit their brick-and-mortar shop inside Lee’s Inlet Apothecary at 3579 Highway 17 Business, Murrells Inlet. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.