I post this every year. I love it. But I usually post mid to late December for last-minute ideas.
This year, I’m posting today, December 1st, for Giving Tuesday. (Note: If you shop today, most organizations will match, double, or even triple your gift.) Enjoy!
Quick, easy, heartfelt. ❤ 🎁 Perfect for Giving Tuesday (and last-minute gifts):
Environment / Nature
ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION
Mission: “to improve water and air quality, slow climate change, and reduce poverty by planting trees.”
These Trees in Celebration certificates are lovely and every single dollar you spend plants a tree. They also offer “Give-A-Tree E-Cards” to send a holiday greeting with meaning. Because. Trees. Behold the beautiful trees! 🌲
Animals / Wildlife
ASPCA
Mission: “animals are entitled to kind and respectful treatment at the hands of humans and must be protected…”
Show your love for our four-legged friends. Give a holiday gift card in honor of a beloved furchild. I can’t stand the cuteness of that puppy. You know you want to help these little munchkins. Available in ecards.
Hunger / Poverty
HEIFER INTERNATIONAL
Mission: “to work with communities to end world hunger and poverty and to care for the Earth.”
Choose a donation and print it out or email with a custom message to the gift recipient. Or you can give a gift card (to print out or send via email) so they can choose their own donation.
* My personal favorite gift to give is honeybees. They are awesome. Here are 2 reasons why:
“Food for Life: Honey is the only food that includes all the essential elements necessary to sustain life, including enzymes, vitamins, minerals and even water. Its unique chemical makeup also allows it to be preserved indefinitely.”
“Farmers’ Helpers: In the process of searching for nectar, bees pollinate plants. The placement of a single colony can potentially double local fruit and vegetable yields.”
Isn’t that incredible? It’s the bee’s knees. 🐝
KIVA
Mission: “to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty. We celebrate and support people looking to create a better future for themselves, their families and their communities.”
Print these out or email them to the gift recipient and they can start loaning right away. Change someone’s life, get paid back, help someone else… And on it goes. Making spirits bright.
Childhood Cancer/Childhood Diseases
ST. JUDE CHILDREN’S RESEARCH HOSPITAL
Mission: “Finding cures. Saving children. St. Jude is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.”
Please do check out the site if you don’t already know about St. Jude Children’s Hospital. And, if you do, well… ‘Nuff said.
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❄️ Have a beautiful holiday season! ❄️
We gave to heifer international last year!
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That’s wonderful! ❤ 🎁 Happy December, Noelle!
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We give every year to Heifer, Sarah. What a wonderful organization. And we give to St. Judes too. My husband tears up whenever he sees those adorable kids on TV – the softy. A wonderful, uplifting post, my friend.
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I remember that you give there. It really is a wonderful organization. ❤ 🎁 Happy December, my friend. Hope you and yours are well.
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That’s a lovely notion. Grand list.
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Thanks, Geoff. ❤ 🎁 ‘Tis the season and all that. Strange times right now but we can always give (money, hope, kindness…).
Hope you and your family are well.
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Yes, thanks Sarah. All fit and well and the younger ones still employed which can’t be said for several of their friends. Next year will be tough for other reasons I suspect but currently we have a wedding to look forward to. And you and yours?
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We are getting by. Congratulations on the wedding (and the new-ish book of poetry which I will be picking up as a holiday gift for myself). 🙂
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This is wonderful, Sarah. I didn’t know about Giving Tuesday. How did I miss that?
Happy holidays!
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I knew of Giving Tuesday but was *this* close to forgetting it this year. That’s what prompted me to post this early. Thanks, Norah. ❤ 🎁 I hope you are well. Happy Holidays!
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I’m pleased you remembered! Happy holidays to you too. Stay well. 🙂
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Alas, I haven’t done any sort of shopping lately, not for gifts or giving to others. I really should get on that.
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You might want to do that. It’s weird this year. I mean, everything is, obviously, but the holidays are…not sure…surreal? I’m not ready for them. Hope you have a great season and a wonderful, relaxing holiday.
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Wonderful list Sarah. This year I gave to Children’s Hospital ❤
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Thanks, lovely. ❤ 🎁 Hope you’re well.
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Hanging in my friend! Stay safe and happy holidays. ❤ xx
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You, too! ❤
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Lovely ideas, Sarah. Thanks for sharing.
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Thank you, Robbie. ❤ 🎁 I’m sure you’re busy constructing fun and delicious-looking gingerbread castles or something equally remarkable. 🙂
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