10 gifts that will make your dad’s day

June means it’s time to turn our attention toward the contribution of the dads and father figures in our lives. These days, when many of us have had to be apart, this holiday has some extra significance. It is also a more important year than ever to thank your dad with gifts that keep dollars close to home.

Jerky Subscription
Show him some love all year long with a regular delivery of his favorite meaty treats. In addition to selling one-time orders, Paul’s Gourmet Jerky offers monthly subscriptions ranging from $20-$90 a month. The $20 Starter Pack entitles the receiver to 3 Jerky packs and 6 snack sticks to arrive monthly. Jerky options from which to choose include Cherry Chicken, Cranapple Turkey, Hillbilly Beef, Honey BBQ Beef, Hot Darn Beef, Old Fashioned Beef, Peppered Beef, Sweet and Spicy Beef, and Teriyaki Beef. Snack stick flavor options are BBQ, Teriyaki, Hickory, Pepperoni & Cheese, or Jalapeno & Cheese. Subscription choices can be changed at any time.

Military Carved Coin
Honor him by honoring his service in a unique way. Carved Coins, LLC allows you to choose a type of coin, and if available, even a year that has special meaning. The military logo for his branch of service is then carved out of the coin. You can get it as a pendant to be worn or added to a keychain, or simply in a plastic coin case for display.

Beard Balm
If there’s one thing that has increased since the quarantine, it’s facial hair! Granted, some men are starting to shave as the temperature rises, but many find their new look, and lack of shaving, irresistible. What they might lack; however, is the product to keep it looking and feeling good. From light conditioners that will keep his hair and skin looking and feeling healthy, to styling aids that can help tame the wildest scruff, Detroit-made Beard Balm can keep his beard in check.

Manly Mask
Masks are a fashion trend that will be with us for a while. While many companies have come out with fancy, blingy, colorful options best suited to women, leave it to our friends at Stormy Kromer to create some truly masculine options. These washable and reusable face coverings use popular Stormy Kromer flannels on the outside and a solid polycotton twill on the inside. As an added bonus, 10% of all sales will be donated to the Gogebic Range Health Foundation in Ironwood, Michigan and St. Luke’s N.E.W. Life Center in Flint, Michigan.

Scrumptious Brittle
Dad will go nuts for these melt in his mouth brittles from Granny’s Confections in Howell. You can pick up or send a 1-lb jar of a single flavor, a 3-pack or a 6-pack. There’s also a sampler option that includes a 6-oz bag of each flavor so he can taste them all and at least try to pick a favorite from among Peanut, Pecan, Jalapeno Peanut, Cashew, Almond, and Coconut Brittle. The combination of crunch and melt away flavor is so satisfying that this might even become an annual tradition.

Outdoor Themed Apparel
With a company name like The Michigan Outfitter, it should come as no surprise that most of the designs pay homage to the great outdoors. Whether he’s into hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, or just some local pride, they’ve got a design to suit him, and let’s face it, right now we could all use some freshening of our casual-wear wardrobe. As an even better incentive to shop, 25% of each purchase is being donated to United Way’s COVID-19 Community Response Fund.

Concord Business Wallet & Card Holder
Supporting the mission of Pingree is almost as cool as this handy item. This worker-owned company makes a concerted effort to hire and train military veterans to handmake its products. The Concord is an urban utility card wallet and business card holder designed to be slim in a pocket, durable, and easy to use. It’s made from upcycled automotive leather and can hold about 30 business cards or 12 plastic cards.

Portable Campfire Grill
If ever there was a summer built for staying outdoors, this is it, and while there’s nothing quite like cooking over an open flame, carrying a grill around can be quite a hassle. Call of the Yooper has come up with the perfect solution. These portable grills fold up easily so that they take up very little room in a car or backpack, yet provide a stainless steel, sturdy campfire grill to feed a hungry family, or his buddies after a long day of adventures.

Mystery Book Series
Introduce your dad to Martin Preuss, a fictional detective working in suburban Detroit. Author Donald Levin has written a 6-book series following the investigator’s exploits as he endeavors to solve crimes in locations that many Michiganders will find familiar. Start him out with the first book in the series, Crimes of Love, in which Martin Preuss joins a frantic search for a seven-year-old girl with epilepsy who has disappeared from the streets of his suburban Detroit community, or the latest endeavor, Cold Dark Lies. The latter of which involves prostitution, drugs, a crime lord, and a vengeful killer.

Handcrafted Drinking Vinegars 
Maybe your dad is into the craft cocktail scene. If that’s the case, he’ll have a great time experimenting with these amazing mixers. McClary Bros combines organic, unpasteurized apple cider vinegar with fresh, seasonal ingredients and organic cane sugar to create tasty shrubs, a Colonial-era drink mixer. They can be enjoyed with soda or turned into delicious cocktails. Flavors include: Michigan Apple Pie, Lemon & Ginger, Michigan Beet & Carrot, Pineapple & Fennel Seed, Michigan Saskatoon, Watermelon, and Michigan Cherry. Buy one or send a set. You can even throw in a bottle of the company’s new Hand & Surface Sanitizer to help him stay safe.

Cheers to all the dads out there who protect, support, inspire, and love their kids with all their hearts–especially mine.