There are a variety of occasions to shop for others including birthdays, holidays or just to let someone know you are thinking of them.

Not only do I enjoy perusing brick and mortar stores, I also am a fan of online shopping. 

There are many unique items that can be found online and one of my favorite websites to order from is Amazon.com. 

Recently, I discovered an even better reason to purchase from the website. 

In Bay St. Louis, there is a wonderful little restaurant called the Starfish Café. It is run by the non-profit group Pneuma-Winds of Hope Inc. 

The café offers a 20-week hands-on learning experience for students ages 18 to 30, whose life experiences may be leading them down the wrong path. The students also learn how to cook, serve and man the register. 

My very first feature story for the Sea Coast Echo was about the first young man to graduate from the program. 

He went on to obtain a job at a local restaurant. 

The food is tasty as well, especially the lemon curd. 

Through Facebook, I discovered that the executive director of Pneuma-Winds had signed up for AmazonSmile. 

According to www.smile.amazon.com, Amazon donates 0.5 percent of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the charitable organization of your choice. 

The AmazonSmile website offers the same great products and prices as the regular website. 

So, now when I order something online, I am helping out a non-profit that is near and dear to my heart. 

Shopping at a small business is another great way to support your community, but there are times when online shopping is just too convenient. 

AmazonSmile provides a great opportunity to give back to a non-profit in the area. It’s definitely something I suggest utilizing. 

You can learn more about AmazonSmile at www.smile.amazon.com. Find the Starfish Café through Facebook at Starfish Café.