Last night, I attended a concert that benefited two Nashville-based organizations: Thistle Farms and Magdalene. It was a pretty moving experience; Thistle Farms and Magdalene are programs that help women with histories of prostitution and drug addiction, and some of the women were on hand to tell their stories of survival. Many of the program members have sad stories of sexual abuse, domestic violence, jail time and homelessness in their past. But Magdalene and Thistle Farms provide inspiration for how we can help individual women and transform entire communities.

Magdalene is a residential program open to the women described above. It was founded in 1997 by Episcopal priest Becca Stevens as a place where women could recover and build community among themselves. The women live in a private home (Magdalene currently operates five houses and an emergency safe house) for two years, and they receive therapy, job training and medical care. The women also do outreach to other struggling women, and they work with local police to discourage prostitution. The organization is funded by individual donations, private grants and the proceeds generated by Thistle Farms, which opened four years after Magdalene.

Thistle Farms is operated by the women who live in the Magdalene houses. Using natural, environmentally friendly materials, the women craft bath and body products by hand. Their products include hand lotion, lip balms, body scrubs, room sprays and candles. Looking at all their goodies last night, I couldn’t help but think that these products would made the perfect Mother’s Day gift. Not only do you give Mom something that smells like heaven, you’re helping someone else’s mother — a mother that is struggling to overcome the bad hand dealt to her and the mistakes she made along the way.

Magdalene’s success with women has made it a model for other programs around the country, and I’m betting some of you know of similar rehabilitative efforts in your corner of the world. Before throwing down dough on a generic Mother’s Day gift, why not consider the products of an organization like Thistle Farms? If body lotions aren’t Mom’s thing, there are plenty of other gifts that will benefit women trying to make ends meet. You could seek out baked goods from a female small business owner, purchase a print or painting from a female artist, or find handmade crafts or accessories from women in the developing world. Not only will mothers be happy with the token, they’ll most likely appreciate the proof that they raised a child that is kind and supportive of others.