Christmas Gifts 2010: 9 Gifts That Give Back

In the frenzy of holiday shopping, many look for presents that reward a lot more than just department stores.

This year, there are tons of opportunities to support charities that have given back all year long. Put down the checkbook and pick up yoga bags, year-round produce or votive candles to give a gift that keeps on giving.

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Matt Damon has one, and so should you. Water.org and Damon have created a limited edition design for the $18.99 carafes – and 100 percent of the profits will help provide clean water to the 1 billion people in the world who currently are without.

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Matt Damon has one, and so should you. Water.org and Damon have created a limited edition design for the $18.99 carafes – and 100 percent of the profits will help provide clean water to the 1 billion people in the world who currently are without.

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Comments

[Downtown Printwear]

03:17 PM on 12/06/2010

Great ideas! Charity is always popular, as is apparel and accessories. So, we created our own list of popular gift ideas for the holidays: http://bit.ly/eqA4II

Two of our favorite apparel/charity ventures are Pan the Man Ventures (http://www.pantheman.com/) & Selfless Tee (http://www.selflesstee.com/). We support them both!

[Readbetweentheelevens]

05:12 PM on 12/04/2010

Christmas gifts are for children. I don't understand giving Christmas gifts to adults.

[DanSc]

05:49 PM on 12/04/2010

It's a nice thing to do?

[Madison Lib]

07:14 PM on 12/04/2010

Yeah, I've used that excuse a time or two myself.

[Bryant Turnage]

08:08 PM on 12/04/2010

Really? I'm kind of glad you're not in my family, you'd be overwhelmed!

[atl50]

04:24 PM on 12/04/2010

A new lacy red bra for my wife.

[moonflowerjewelry]

07:36 PM on 12/04/2010

Aw, come on! That is a gift for you and you know it... (looking at her in it, not for you to wear)
;-)

[Ty Jones]

03:56 PM on 12/04/2010

How about skip the gift and give the dollars straight to a charity. WHY do you have to have something?

[SlowBurn]

10:15 PM on 12/05/2010

I agree. The whole notion of "giving back through gifts" makes no sense to me - if you really want to help, make an actual donation or go volunteer. However, the inclusion of Heifer Project is a little confusing to me - it truly is 100% a donation, and can be offered in honor or in memory of someone.

[FoxIslander]

03:02 PM on 12/04/2010

Where's fruit cake? damn good chance you'll get THAT back.

[J in Alaska]

01:20 PM on 12/04/2010

Add this to the list:
www.themicrolite.com
It is a tiny LED light to illuminate your remote control if you watch TV in the dark or have vision problems like many, many Seniors. Love it, perfect stocking stuffer under $10! The owners started the business to raise money for conservation efforts, so you support a great cause.

[Madison Lib]

07:15 PM on 12/04/2010

I have a key chain with a tiny LED to find the keyhole in the dark. (No snarky remarks from my friends, please.)

[battlinbob]

01:18 PM on 12/04/2010

Non profits make people rich! Great industry to be a part of!

[fourthestatepost]

12:12 PM on 12/04/2010

Chuck Taylors (high top) and Toms Shoes are the only things that touch my feet.

[SpencersMom]

11:13 AM on 12/04/2010

Shame on Pottery Barn for only given half of the proceeds on their nearly $30 candle to charity!

Our local fondue restaurant, The Melting Pot, is selling $20 gift cards for $10, and giving 100% of the $10 donation (not profits) to St. Jude's.

[battlinbob]

01:18 PM on 12/04/2010

Your right... Shame on them for contributing to help others in need..... Why dont you donate all of your after expenses money to a "non-profit"

[SpencersMom]

07:59 PM on 12/05/2010

'bagger

[BlueKansas]

09:33 AM on 12/04/2010

Here is a real give-back gift. It's a local Kansas City charity called The Bishop Sullivan Center. They have an option where you can "lift a burden" for a pre-screened applicant who has an urgent need for help. They list about a dozen cases at a time, costs ranging anywhere from $50 to $250. Last week we paid the gas bill for a single mother, giving her heat for Thanksgiving. This week, we paid off an old electric bill for a woman who will qualify for a public housing apartment once that bill is paid, and now she will be able to leave the homeless shelter she's been in for a few months. In the summertime, we participate in Bishop Sullivan's 'Project Eldercool', which purchases air conditioners for KC's elderly poor. It saves lives, especially during summers like the last one we had. We are incredibly blessed to be able to do this. Grateful doesn't even begin to describe how we feel.

[moonflowerjewelry]

10:25 AM on 12/04/2010

You rock! I know hearing applause from strangers isn't why you do this, or you posted , but I am proud that you do these little things that make such a huge difference.

[SpencersMom]

11:14 AM on 12/04/2010

x2!

[BlueKansas]

11:38 AM on 12/04/2010

Thank you, and you're right; I'm not looking for kudos from anyone. My point is the unrelenting feeling of genuine joy that comes from 'lifting a burden' from someone less fortunate. Every day of my life, I know I could just as easily be in their circumstances if I hadn't had opportunity and sheer luck come my way. We are not rich, not big beneficiaries of Bush's tax cuts, and we are not particularly religious. But we do know what is right and what is wrong, and caring for the sick, elderly and poor is never wrong. These people aren't freeloaders. They are tired, frustrated, anxious and afraid. Giving beats receiving hands down.

[ohjodi]

04:09 PM on 12/04/2010

What a fantastic organization!

[BlueKansas]

09:25 AM on 12/04/2010

My 26-year old stepdaughter works for Oxfam in Oxford, UK. Each year since 2006 when she began working for them, she has given us gifts that give back, but they're better than anything in this slide show (except for Heifer, which is very similar) because her entire expenditure goes to someone else. We get a card, just a card, and it tells us about a goat she has bought in our name for an impoverished family in Africa, or a chicken coop for a family in Appalachia. We look forward to those gifts each year. We don't need for her to buy us more books or DVDs.

[cliffhammond]

02:34 AM on 12/04/2010

This comment is pending approval and won't be displayed until it is approved.

Whatever you do, just remember to keep the boycott gong against Izzy Real's products. In this way you support the people of Paleo I stine and work against the effnok cleaning that is being peppered traded against them.

[cliffhammond]

02:31 AM on 12/04/2010

Whatever you do, just remember to keep the boycott gong against Israeli products. In this way you support the people of Palestine and work against the ethnic cleansing that is being perpetrated against them.

[jambi77]

01:43 AM on 12/04/2010

I cant believe they said "Christmas" on this site...

[moonflowerjewelry]

10:26 AM on 12/04/2010

Shocking, that there are lefties, progs and liberals that are also Christian or people of faith... because there are...

[jambi77]

03:19 PM on 12/04/2010

huh

[mabinog]

03:06 PM on 12/04/2010

shocking that you are so stew pid to think that our business folks using the term happy holidays is a threat to how you celebrate your faith.

[jambi77]

03:20 PM on 12/04/2010

what does your comment have to do with what I stated

[onwisconsin]

10:19 PM on 12/03/2010

Heifer International is my favorite charity. We make donations on all of our nieces' and nephews' birthdays and also send a present. It's taught them that in addition to getting something from us, they are also giving something to someone else. They all love animals so we make sure the animals that are sent are their personal picks. We make big family donations on our birthdays and on major holidays and in honor of our parents' birthdays.

It's just become a family thing. I grew up in Arkansas, where Heifer is headquartered and remember going many times to the farm in Perryville. We took groups there to learn about what it was like to live in areas around the world. My mom still takes school groups there.

Can't give enough praise to this incredible organization. Google heifer international and learn about how these self sustaining programs work. It's incredible!

Reminds me -- we need to make out our checks now.