The Gift That Keeps on Giving

It’s holiday time, and for a lot of us that means gift giving and receiving. Thanks to editor Mandy Facer’s latest blog post, I learned that the United States spends over 450 billion dollars a year on Christmas, while it would only take 10 billion to solve our world’s water problem. It isn’t just water our world is having trouble with. There are countless issues: genocide, disease, famine, deforestation, homelessness and the list keeps going. There are so many people in the world who really need our help, and it really doesn’t take all that much to make a difference. The holiday season is all about giving, and the gifts you give this year can truly make a difference in our world. If you’re stuck for gift ideas this season, or cash, there are plenty of inexpensive ways to help human kind. Here’s a list of just a few of the many organizations that you can support.

Project Heifer– Project Heifer is an organization that has been helping fight world hunger since 1944 by providing long term solutions to victims of famine. In their gift catalog there are a wide variety of animal and plant gifts ranging anywhere from $10(donating a flock of geese)-$10,000 (donating to train an entire community in livestock development). The gift is selected is sent to a family in need. You can make a donation in honor of someone else, and they receive a card telling him or her about what a difference is being made in their name.

Nest– Nest is an organization dedicated to empowering female artists and artisans, and helps them create their own small businesses through interest free microloans. They provide women with the financing to purchase supplies, training, raw materials and bazaar space they need. However, Nest does not require pay back in cash. They encourage women to repay their loans through products, which are then additionally sold in the U.S. as well as their own small businesses. Nest also has domestic designers working, and the profits generated from these sales go to finance more women trying to work in underprivileged conditions. Nest stocks a wide variety of clothing, jewelry, and items for the home. All make great gifts.

Art For the Animals– Art For the Animals (AFTA) works with conservation organizations to protect wildlife and nature, and promotes economic alternatives to development through an array of programs that connect wildlife conservation to the economic interests of local communities. All profits go to funding conservation, educational and training programs, research, and the income of local artists. Their products range from clothing and accessories, to stationary, games and food items.

Adopt a Doctor– Adopt a Doctor works to keep doctors practicing in areas where they are needed most. For example a doctor in Malawi earns roughly $70 a year. Normally physicians will practice for three years before leaving the country. Adopt a Doctor sends funds to support physicians, in return that the doctor practice for seven years in a developing country. By donating you give a health professional and supplies to an entire community for seven years.

So how about this holiday season we give gifts that give a little more?