Many thanks to those of you who sent information to us so we can help you give gifts that count. Please consider a purchase a gift this year from this list. It’s been a tough year for Fundraising and Charities and they do good work for people in need.
World Vision Gifts: Over 100 unique gifts to multiply your giving dollar.
Charity Village: Has a collection of links for philanthropic giving:
The Hungersite: all shopping benefits 8 different causes of your choice. Help Hunger Issues, Autism, Literacy and more.
Chalice: 2011 Christmas Calendar Sponsors International Aid.
Alternative Gifts International: Give a gift that helps fight Hunger, Gender Inequality, Education and more.
Heifer Project International: Christmas gift catalogue
Habitat for Humanity: Clothes, Books and more gift ideas that help fundraise for putting people back into houses.
Green Gifts by the Natural Resources Defense Council: From Green Energy Boosts to Buffalo Babysitting gifts, the NRDC has a launched a new Green Gifts Online Catalog featuring over 40 gifts that help protect the environment and wildlife. [Purchase Green Gifts]
Inspired Gifts by UNICEF: Givers can purchase a School-in-a-Box to help set up a temporary school in times of crisis, vaccines, and even midwifery kits. Recipients get a card, and you help save lives. [Purchase Inspired Gifts]
Peace Bonds by Nonviolent Peaceforce: The purchase of Peace Bonds enable unarmed peacekeepers to go into conflict zones to protect vulnerable families. Givers can purchase as little as two hours of peacekeeping for $10 or up to 100 hours of peacekeeping for $500. [Purchase Peace Bonds]
Animal Adoptions by the National Wildlife Federation: From alligators to walruses, givers can adopt animals in the name of friends, family, or colleagues. Recipients receive certificates, posters, magnets, plush animals, or even binoculars depending upon how much you give. Adoptions range in price from $20-100. [Adopt an Animal]
Acre Adoptions by the Nature Conservancy: Donors purchase acre adoptions from all over the world. Recipients receive a map, fact sheet, an adoption certificate, and a subscription to Nature Conservancy magazine.[Adopt an Acre]
Creature Adoptions by Oceana: In addition to an adoption certificate, recipients also receive a cookie cutter of either a dolphin, shark, polar bear, penguin, octopus, or sea turtle. Adoptions range from $35-100. [Adopt a Creature]
Be the Change Gifts by MercyCorps: Givers can buy gifts that educate AIDs orphans, help women open businesses, or even purchase composting kits and cookstoves for in the developing world. Gifts start at $25. [Purchase Be the Change Gifts]
Online Gift Catalog by People for the Ethical Treatment on Animals: PETA has everything you could possibly imagine for animals lovers, particularly vegans and vegetarians. Clothes, books, mugs, calendars, computer accessories, and even gift certificates. [Shop PETA]
Holiday Honor Donations by the Make-A-Wish Foundation: Givers can choose whether to send e-Cards or to print certificates for either Christmas or Hanukah. [Make a Holiday Honor Donation].
OptInNow Gift Cards by Opportunity International: Givers can donate an amount in the name of a friend, family or colleagues. The recipient receives a gift card that they can then redeem and apply towards a loan to an entrepreneur in the developing world. [Purchase Gift Cards]
Green Essentials Kit: Set your friends and family on their green journey in style with a kit of essentials that includes a stylish reusable bag, a copy of The Green Book by Elizabeth Rogers and Thomas M. Kostigen, an energy saving compact fluorescent light bulb, a bar of Demarah Natural Soap, and a reusable travel mug. This Green Essentials Kit is available for $40 from thegreenperspective.com, which offers a great selection of green gift baskets for everyone on your list.
Biodegradable T-Shirt: It’s possible to be both chic, comfortable, and conscious all at the same time by giving them a biodegradable t-shirt for Christmas. Purchase one for $25 from todydesigns.com and teach the newbie greenies in your life about waste prevention!
Plantable Eco Calendar: Be green every day of the year with Botanical Paperwork’s Plantable Calendar. At the end of each month, they can plant the seed-embedded calendar page, add water, and wait 6-8 weeks for Bird’s Eye, Clarkia, Coreopsis, Poppy, Catchfly, and Snap Dragon flowers to bloom. Only $14.95 at botanicalpaperworks.com!
I Am NOT a Paper Cup: A clever porcelain rendition of a paper cup that looks just like the modern to-go cup, except it can be used over and over again. It’s made of double-walled porcelain so it will keep drinks hot and paper cups out of landfills. Put one of these in a friend’s hand for only $10 and you’ll help them be green every time they drink their coffee. ( www.uncommongoods.com)
Eco Salon is offering 4 different box gift sets with sustainable items: http://ecosalon.com/the-box-holiday-collection/
St. Louis Christmas Carols Association – Christmas cards, Ornaments and Wreaths support this group who’ve been singing for 100 years
Water Bobble: A reusable water bottle that has an activated charcoal filter in the spout. Each bottle is made of FDA approved, recycled plastic and comes in one of six bright colors. The bottles are $10 and the filters, which need to be replaced every two months, are $7. The water Bobble is a low cost solution to the wasteful, Earth-damaging water bottle and, therefore, makes a great gift for anyone on your Christmas list, including yourself. ( www.containerstore.com)
Reusable Lunch Bag: The adult who takes their lunch to work in one of these totes for a year can save 90 pounds of garbage, while the child who uses one every day of the school year will eliminate 67 pounds of waste. Give a reusable lunch bag like the Gourmet Getaway to friends and relatives so they can do their part to prevent unnecessary waste and pollution. It’s available at lunchville.com for $22.99 and comes in a wide variety of patterns and colors.
A Green Cookbook: Give the chefs on your list In the Green Kitchen: Techniques to Learn by Heart by Alice Waters and they’ll be able to create 50 recipes using fresh, local ingredients. Available from Amazon for as low as $16.30.
Triple-Certified Coffee: Much like chocolate, coffee is a Christmas gift that is rarely rejected by recipients. Buy 2-pound bags of Birds & Beans coffee for all your coffee-loving friends and relatives, for $19.25 each. Not only is Birds & Beans’ coffee organic, Fair Trade, and shade grown, but twenty percent of the profits from your purchase will be donated to one of seven non-profit conservation groups.
Organic Cotton Scarf: Scarves are one of the best gifts for women who have everything. That’s because they’re one of the most essential accessories in her closet. An organic cotton gauze scarf from Azuri is a better choice than a brand that uses Earth-costly synthetic materials. All you need to know is your friend or relative’s favorite color so you can select it from the 110 available shades. It’s only $39 at nimli.com!
EcoCharger: Help the techies on your list reduce their energy bills by 10 percent with a charger that pulls no idle current (a.k.a. vampire energy) once the device is fully charged! The Volt-Star EcoCharger’s Energy Star-compliant design fills up gadgets in less time than other chargers and even comes in an Apple-compatible version. Available at volt-star.com for $32-$34.
Popcorn Set: Help the movie-lovers and foodies on your list snack organic with a popcorn set from Eden Foods. The set comes with plain popcorn kernels, soybean oil, sea salt, and garlic-sesame seasoning (all of which is organic, of course), in addition to a food-safe enamelware bowl and a 40-page recipe booklet. It’s only $35 at edenfoods.com.
A Bamboo Beanie or Belt: Check out Arbor Collective’s selection of hats and beanies made from bamboo viscose blends. And while you’re there, look into getting someone on your list a top grain leather belt with a metal buckle inlayed with reclaimed bamboo from Arbor’s snowboard and skateboard production.
Pomegranate Gift Kit: Give a female friend or relative a regenerating body care gift kit by Weleda. The kit includes organic pomegranate body oil, body wash, and a naturally exfoliating loofah, all inside an eco-friendly, reusable bag. Only $18 at usa.weleda.com!
Shower Timer: Help your friends and family conserve water with a sand or digital shower timer. It will actually change their shower habits and help connect the whole concept behind water and energy use with reality. These recyclable, waterproof timers come in fun and attractive designs and cost between $1 and $5.15 at usalandlord.com.
Water-Powered Clock: The Bedol Water Clock works 100 percent on natural power; no batteries, no chemicals, no pollution. All it takes is natural tap water and a splash of lemon juice and it’s set to keep accurate time for 8 to 12 weeks. Sized at 4” x 3 ½” and costing only $16, this clock is ideal for any home or office. Check it out at bedolwhatsnext.com.
Recyclable Travel Set: The Preserve Travel Set, consits of a triple razor with a completely recyclable handle, six replacement blades, and a toothbrush with a handle made from recycled yogurt cups. The kit is a super gift because it teaches your loved ones to become green when they’re on the go. Costs only $15.99 from preserveproducts.com.
Organic Chocolate: Get the chocolate lovers on your list a unique and deliciously favored Shaman Chocolate bar, which are organic, Fair Trade, and only $3 each. Your purchase will provide support for the indigenous Huichol Indians of Mexico.
Organic Lip Balm Set: Give your girlfriend a USDA-certified organic, All The Better To Kiss You With eco lip balm set. Each 0.25 oz. Pepperminty, Lavender Vanilla, and Chai Mandarin lip balm is 100 percent cruelty-free and comes in a vintage, recyclable tin. The Eco Kiss Kit is available at babybearshop.com for just $20.
If you think that you have a gift collection that fits in these categories and benefits others, post your link in the comments so others can see.
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