I love this post from 2016 and have published it every year. Wow. Seven years. Anyway, here’s Lemon Shark’s annual “Holiday Gifts from the Heart” post. ❤️ Happy holidays, my friends!
If you’ve got a couple (or a ton) of last-minute gifts to get, these amazing organizations let you email the recipient or print your own card. No waiting, just giving. Donations help those in need as well as give your loved ones a gift from the heart.
Quick, easy, heartfelt. ❤️🎁 The perfect 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 here.
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, email, or text 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.
❄️ Have a beautiful holiday season! ❄️
Lemon Shark 