Great Holiday Gifts that Give Back

(StatePoint) The holiday season is all about giving. This year, consider combining thoughtful gifts for loved ones with charitable efforts that benefit the larger community. There are many great ways to do so. Here are a few.

Give Books and Donate

Shopping for a bibliophile? Along with the gift of a book, consider honoring your gift recipient while promoting literacy and a love of reading in the wider community. Libraries often have programs that offer gift givers an opportunity to donate a book in someone's name. Or, you may consider donating books or a magazine subscription to a homeless shelter or school.

Give Clean Water

Unfortunately, these days, safe tap water is not always a given, no matter where one lives. With the incidence of natural disasters like hurricanes and earthquakes on the rise that may displace families and create uncertainty about water quality, consider gifting something essential -- safe hydration on-the-go.

Refillable water bottles that feature built-in filters can give recipients access to safe drinking water from virtually anywhere. Those from LifeStraw remove 99.999999 percent of waterborne bacteria (including E. coli and salmonella) and 99.999 percent of waterborne protozoa (including Giardia and Cryptosporidium), while reducing chlorine, organic chemical matter, bad taste, and odor.

For kids, LifeStraw Play is a good choice and will offer parents greater peace of mind. It's the first water bottle with a two-stage filter designed for children. The 10 oz. bottle is dishwasher safe, and its sturdy leak-proof design makes safer drinking convenient at home, school, on camping trips or during emergencies. For adults, consider LifeStraw Go with two-stage filtration that ensures safe hydration during travel, at home, in the office, at the gym, and outdoors.

For those thinking charitably this season, consider that for every LifeStraw product purchased, one child in a developing community is provided with clean drinking water for an entire school year through the company's Follow the Liters program. As of now, Follow the Liters has provided safe drinking water to 633,000 students at 1,000 schools, and plans to reach one million students by early 2018. LifeStraw products are available for purchase at specialty retailers and online at www.lifestraw.com.

Give a Local Experience

When shopping for a loved one or friend who seems to have everything, planning an experience may have a greater, longer-lasting impact than a gift card, video game, or flowers.

Consider giving tickets to an art gallery, a play at a nearby theater, or a local museum. Many of these venues are non-profit and donate revenues from ticket sales to charitable foundations. At the same time, you'll be supporting your local community.

This holiday season, you can spread cheer to loved ones and beyond with thoughtful gifts that make the world a better place.

More Resources

Survival Kit for the Holidays: Grace, Gratitude and Random Acts Of Kindness
If you*re like me, the holidays always have a way of sneaking in. And - like an unexpected visitor who shows up the week I haven't cleaned my home - I'm caught in a frenzy, desperate to scrape up the tumbleweeds of cat fur and make the place look presentable.
Quick and Easy Holiday Decorating
You're tired. You've worked hard all week.
Valentines Day Flowers
Flowers & Valentine's Day go hand in hand. Your Valentine will be so thrilled to receive a beautiful flower arrangement! Of course, Roses are known for their association with love.
Glorious Holiday Decorating (Without Breaking the Bank or Losing Your Sanity)
Decorating for the holidays can be both expensive and emotionally draining. But you can decorate your home beautifully--on a budget--by following just a few simple suggestions.
Stress-Free Holiday Entertaining
The holiday season is upon us! It is a time when family and friends gather together. Some people love to entertain and enjoy bringing people together.
A Harvest Halloween
To take advantage of the last days of autumn, we planned an outdoor Halloween party at our family farm. This gave us an opportunity to bring our friends together in an informal setting before the hectic holiday season.
A Diamond Christmas 2004!
When Archduke Maximillian of Austria bestowed a diamond ring on Mary of Burgundy in 1477, giving a diamond as a symbol of love and commitment was birthed. Prior to this only royalty wore diamonds, believing they symbolized strength and courage.
Traditional Anniversary Gifts Year by Year, the Twentieth - One Hundred Years
Twentieth through the twenty-fourth anniversaries traditional gift is china. Vintage china tea cups, bone china ornaments or a replacement piece for your own china are presents to consider along with a table for two at a Chinese restaurant or a trip to China.
New Years Resolutions
Ah, the start of another year! In a groggy haze on New Years Eve, I promised someone (or was it myself?) that I would be good this year. I said I would draw up my New Year's Resolutions - particularly after the roller-coaster year I had last year.
Making Mother's Day Special
How many times have you heard a friend say about someone who's no longer here, "I never got to tell her (or him) how much I really cared."We've all felt this way at some stage about someone in our lives.
SALOME and HERODIAS, A Curious Mothers Day Story, Part 1 of 2 Parts
First, a disclaimer:This article requires information about John the Baptist, whose life and works and words are holy, divinely inspired, to Christians. The sources I've accessed are religious, historical, literary, exegetic, and anecdotal.
EASTER: The Bunny and The Egg
Ever wonder why there's an "Easter Bunny"? Everwonder why he brings eggs? And dyed ones at that!The Rabbit and the Hare, because of their frequentmultiple births, are long time symbols of fertility.According to pre-Christian fertility lore, long before Jesus Christ was born, the Easter Bunny, akathe Easter Hare, represented the new life duringthe Spring season.
Fitness Tips On How To Avoid Gaining Weight During The Holiday Season
This holiday season don't be trendy - avoid the Seasonal Seven (the average weight most Americans gain between Thanksgiving and New Year's). That's one trend you don't want to participate in!I know what you are thinking - the holidays are a time for fun and indulgence.
Valentines Day Rapport
How to develop and heighten rapport on Valentines Day beyond your wildest dreams!With Valentines day on the doorstep for another year here is way of enhancing those romantic occasions. In thinking about something pertinent to Valentines, I thought I would write about a topic that fascinates me; developing rapport.
Holiday Candy Canes Are Festive and Fun
Candy canes are everyone's favorite holiday treat. Just think about how versatile they are.
The Holiday Shopping Experience - Rewarding or Traumatic?
Picture this scenario! It's December 24th, the day of Christmas Eve. On this day you should be relaxing, enjoying time with family and thinking of all the precious memories you have created throughout the year.
5 Tips to Reduce Holiday Depression
As the holidays approach each year, more and more people suffer from Holiday Depression.Some experts blame it on factors relating to nutrition.
Halloween & Hounds
Halloween is "fright night" for humans not dogs. Screaming, running, spooky children in masks make many dogs uncomfortable, nervous and frightened.
Successful Holiday Gift Giving Starts with a Plan
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas and the clock is ticking down as we grow closer to the holiday festivities. By now, many have either started thinking about what they are going to purchase for those on their gift list - others are in full holiday shopping mode.
Nine Questions To Ask Yourself Before You Head To The Office Party
One thing you can count on during the holiday season is the obligatory office party. No matter what the size of the organization, there is always an effort to bring coworkers together for one more moment of merriment.

More Holidays Information:

Related Articles

Why July 4th ?
On July 4th 1776 the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. On this day they formally declared that these colonies were free and independent states, not subject to the government of Great Britain.
What to Do When You Are Alone for the Holidays
Being alone for the holidays is a major challenge for many people. Holidays often conjure images of family, of warmth and the sharing of special time.
Celebrate Parks Day, Everyday this Summer!
Canada's Parks Day falls on July 16'th this year. First celebrated in 1990, Parks Day is an opportunity for individuals to participate in hundreds of unique and fun events taking place in sites from coast to coast.
Where Have All The Wise Men Gone? Jesus Is Not Acceptable For Christmas!
It's CHRISTmas!Where are the wise men?WOW - The wise men are MISSING! What kind of Christmas is this anyway?Are you caught up in the "season" with this Christmas thing? Do YOU know where the wise men are?For over 200 years we have celebrated Christmas and all of the joys and festivities that go with the "holidays" in this great country of ours. Christmas was declared a federal holiday in 1870 by President Ulysses S.
Valentine Gifts From The Heart
One of my fondest childhood memories is of my mother helping me make a Valentine's box to take to school. We pulled out white paste, an old shoebox, scraps of doilies, and construction paper.
Making Mother's Day Special
How many times have you heard a friend say about someone who's no longer here, "I never got to tell her (or him) how much I really cared."We've all felt this way at some stage about someone in our lives.
Celebrate the 4th and Help a Soldier
My good friend, Rae, just called and suggested having a Fourth of July cookout that supports our troops in Iraq. "How?" I asked, feeling somewhat guilty that we can drink margaritas and play lawn games with our families on Independence Day, while our troops in Iraq are risking life and limb.
A Mothers Keepsake
A mother's bracelet is a personalized bracelet that celebrates the most important woman in your life, mom. It makes for the perfect gift for many gift occasions from birthdays and anniversaries to mother's day and gifts to the new mom.
The Cheapest Christmas Ever!
Have you ever said "I wish we didn't have to spend so much money on Christmas?" or "I wish we could have Christmas without going into debt!" Well here is your answer - tell your family that next Christmas no one is allowed to buy a new, expensive gift for anyone! Yes, I really said that. Tell them that all presents must be from garage sales, tag sales, yard sales, auctions, handmade or made over.
Outside the Box Gingerbread Houses
Beyond trees and wreaths, there are few symbols of the holidays so well venerated as the gingerbread house. Throughout the country, gingerbread house displays and contests attract everyone from culinary architects to kids who love to savor the decorations.
A Simple Little Holiday Plan
The Thanksgiving leftovers have all been eaten and the gift-buying season has shifted into high gear. Remain calm and prepare yourself for the most jam-packed month in the calendar year.
Kids Halloween Costumes! Your Pint-sized Witches And Goblins Can Look Their Spookiest & Cutest Ever
It's not only the candy that puts smiles on kids' faces on October 31st! It's the fact that they love getting dressed up and scaring everyone along the way! Kids look cute in any sort of costume, but now that you can purchase their costume online, you'll be able to find the best selection of kids Halloween costumes ever!We can definitely say that Halloween is likely a kid's favorite time of year, and why wouldn't it be! They get to dress up as one of their favorite characters like Scooby Doo, or Pooh Bear, and go out and get the motherload of candy. Now just imagine how much happier they'll be if the family can go online and look at halloween costume ideas together! With the click of a mouse, you can find classics like that cowboy costume, ninja, Batman, black cat, as well as the adorable Disney costumes, and don't forget Bob the Builder! It's that easy! Halloween shopping has never been so fun and stress free!Find great costume accessories as easy as 1-2-3!Not only will you find great costume ideas, but you'll also see unique childrens costume accessories to accentuate that adorable Barbie doll dress, or that precious Princess gown.
SALOME and HERODIAS, A Curious Mothers Day Story, Part 2 of 2 Parts
First, a disclaimer:This article requires information about John the Baptist, whose life and works and words are holy, divinely inspired, to Christians. The sources I've accessed are religious, historical, literary, exegetic, and anecdotal.
The Origins of Mothers Day
Mother's Day is, in many countries, a day for celebrating motherhood and thanking mothers. Mothers often receive gifts on this day, and it is a huge time of year for mail.
Mothers Day Love Letter - The Best Way to Express Your Gratitude and Appreciation for Mom!
Abraham Lincoln said - "All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother"Wow! That is a worthy compliment to give mom this Mother's Day!Mothers are the source of our beginning and are always there for us, whether we realize it or not. Could that be one of the reasons why most of us take our mothers for granted?We just expect her to be there.
How to Put Some Sizzle in Your Summer Parties: 5 Ways to be a Gracious Host and a Great Guest
Now that the hot weather is finally here, we are looking forward to long, lazy days on the beach and hot summer nights that heat up after dark. Here are a few tips from lifestyle guru Kim Kristofferson-Magnusson on maximizing your fun in the sun!1) For family celebrations?KEEP IT SIMPLE!!Whether you're hosting a graduation party for 20 or a family reunion for 200, remember that it's your day to have fun too! To make the most of your time visiting with family and friends, take a vacation from your oven and corral your "grillmaster" of choice out on the patio.
Mother's Day Crafts
Make these quick and easy crafts with your children for Mother's day. These can be handmade for Mom or Grandma!Flower Pens for MomIs your mom always looking for a pen around the house, and can't find one? Well make this pen and she'll spot it right away!What You'll Need? Bic Pen (ball point)? silk flower? floral foam? low temp hot glue gun? floral tape? paint or markers? small notepaper or Post-It pads? small to medium sized terra cotta potHow To Do ItNote: Adult supervision is needed when using a glue gun.
The Truth about Mistletoe
You can call it the emasculator of the old king, a sexual symbol, latent with fertility or a good luck charm for a dairy herd. It's been used as an antidote for poison, a fire suppressant, a protection against evil spirits, a pain reliever for rheumatoid arthritis and as a gift of peace between warring neighbours.
Valentines Day - A Guide for Men
Did you know that after Christmas, Valentine's Day is the biggest retail holiday? That means a variety of things for you the consumer, but mostly it means the market is saturated with a plethora of heart-shaped, cutesy, not so worth it products. I have a philosophy?one that is not always popular?but here it goes.
Are You Truly Thankful For Everything?
Thanksgiving is the time of year when we stop and are thankful for all our blessings. Of course, we should be thankful every day of the year.