Christmas / Holiday Gift Ideas: Donations to Good Causes

My family has more or less abandoned gift-giving. Dad said it's all goats for Africa this year. -- Ivor Tossell

Would your family and/or friends like to follow the same approach as Ivor's dad? Here are just a few of the many ways you can do that.

One such way is to participate in a zoo's adopt-an-animal program. Chester Zoo says it was "the first zoo to introduce animal adoptions" - and it's also one of the few that doesn't include a stuffed animal (or a similar type of item) in your adoption package. [photo from the Chester Zoo's photostream on Flickr, licensed under Creative Commons]




The American Red Cross has all sorts of gifts in its catalog: hot meals, phone cards, cleanup kits, blankets, and much more.




You could give the gift of a tree, to be planted in a national forest that suffered from wildfires. [via Green Your Decor]




Or you could follow the recommendation of commenter Kate on Unclutterer, who suggested participating in one of the many buy-a-brick fundraisers done by schools, libraries, pet shelters, etc. The Warren County Public Library Brick Paver Project and the Pet Save Buy a Brick program are just two examples; there might well be a similar project in your part of the world.

For more ideas, look at the posts listed below, from prior years. And yes, all you Kiva fans - Kiva is included in one of those prior posts.

Related Posts:
Christmas and Other Holidays: Donations as Gifts
Christmas and Other Holidays: Donations as Gifts, Part 2
Christmas and Other Holidays: Giving to a Good Cause