This holiday season I’d rather make a difference in the world than accumulate things I may never use or give gifts that beg to be re-gifted.
Here are a few conscious giving gift ideas to put on your list for Santa or give to those closest to you:
Ethical Ocean- Ethical Ocean provides eco-friendly products, enabling buyers them to make smarter choices for themselves and the environment. Everything on the site is eco-friendly, animal friendly, or people friendly. I’m eying the reusable sandwich and produce bags!
The Fistula Foundation- Make a donation or purchase a gift to repair women’s bodies broken during childbirth in poor countries.
National Wildlife Foundation- Adopt a baby giraffe and receive a plush toy giraffe friend!
Heifer International- Donate an animal. Help children and families around the world receive training and animal gifts that help them become self-reliant.
Humane Society- Make a one-time donation in the name of a family member, friend or favorite pet and receive a personalized Humane Society greeting card.
Beams of Grace- Choose by gift or cause to make a difference. Search-friendly website allows you to make a donation to the charity that pulls at your heart or purchase an item with that money going to the charity. Beams of Grace supported me after my accident. <3
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital- Donate a share of chemotherapy, a “No Mo’ Chemo” party and more for kids battling at St. Jude.
BAD RAP- BAD RAP took most of the Michael Vick pit bulls and works hard to rehabilitate dogs and educate the public. Shop T-shirts and other merchandise to support their efforts. One of these shirts is the only thing I’ve asked for this Christmas.
Armed with a Paintbrush- Support this organization, who empowers disadvantaged youth in Vietnam through art, and receive a child’s painting.
What gift have you given or received that made you feel good?
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
I love sleeping pictures, too cute! It comes from my dad who would always find it so funny to sneak pictures of us when we fell asleep on the couch.
Mitra recently posted..Christmastime is Here
i love those! i always appreciate those kind of gifts more than anything…..PURPOSEFUL!
lindsay recently posted..Scenes & Senses of Christchurch
I like to adopt animals for my family and friends from World Wildlife Fund. Seriously such a good organization!
Melissa @TryingtoHeal recently posted..Comment on BT: Cassowary by Sarah
I love these ideas! Thank you for sharing this list. I like you would rather have my money go towards something important this season.
I love these ideas! Another one I really like is sponsoring an animal through Best Friends animal society.
My husband and I just adopted a second puppy this weekend (she was rescued from FL and brought to MA), so I think she will be our gift to each other this year.
Amanda recently posted..New Addition
What wonderful gift ideas. I have a special place in my heart for mistreated animals so I regularly give financial and volunteer support to my local animal shelter.
Ellie recently posted..Symptoms of Panic
Great list! I’ll actually be in Ho Chi Minh City later this week (a week in Cambodia/Vietnam on tap) and have been warned that child labor is a big industry there.
Enjoying checking out the shopping on all these make a difference sites! This year we are doing a few handmade gifts for immediate family and a few gifts for our boys but largely doing donation giving, especially with our adopted boys still living in the shelters in Fukushima.
Thank you for sharing these! Ive found over the past few years that I want more and more to find ways to help out but get deterred (sadly) by the scam stories you hear about. These all sound like amazing ways to help someone else.
Christine recently posted..Bicep tendon tear