Gifts that give back: 10 holiday gift ideas that go towards a cause

By: Hannah Brencher

Posted: 11/24/09

Come midnight on Thanksgiving, people everywhere will be hurling themselves into the holiday season, filling up carts and swiping credit cards for loved ones and friends. The holiday season; it is all about giving to the ones that we care about, right? Well what if we had the chance to do this while giving back? Here you have it, ten gift ideas that are both practical but promoting of a cause. So get ready to give twice this season, once with the present and twice with the cause that your money will go towards.

1. FEED: A nonprofit started by model Lauren Bush, FEED bags raise much-needed funds for World Food Programme school-feeding operations and raises awareness toward the problem of child hunger. A personal favorite of mine, these FEED bags and backpacks are reversible, and versatile to either use as a book bag or a purse. The "FEED 1" bag is a stylish, well-designed burlap and 100% organic cotton bag that will feed a child for an entire year. With prices ranging from $60-$125, your money is going towards making sure that children in third-world countries are getting their share of nutrients. For more information: feedprojects.org

2. Hallmark (PRODUCT) RED: Partnering with (PRODUCT)RED, Hallmark is suited up for the holiday season to bring you the coolest cards with a cause. I have already bought my cards from this company this season so that I know when I am extending a "Merry Christmas" to friends far and near I am also helping the AIDS epidemic in Africa. A card is a simple gesture and an essential, but proof that the tiniest things can make a world of a difference. For more information: hallmark.com

3. WorldVision: My personal favorite, the WorldVision giving catalog offers the chance to give a life-changing gift in the name of someone you love. You have the chance to purchase gifts by category and towards a variety of causes. From caring for an orphan for $25 to providing a goat for a family for $75 there is no price tag to be put on helping someone else this Christmas. For more information: worldvision.org

4. eBay GivingWorks: Not looking for a hand-woven basket or a shirt that promotes poverty awareness? Just looking for a normal every day gift? Check out this eBay site that will allow you to do your usual bidding but support nonprofits at the same time. Carrying on like a typical eBay auction, the sellers pick organizations that they want their proceeds to go towards and you do the bidding and buying. Same procedure, more of an impact. For more information: ebaygivingwork.com

5. Overlooked: Originally "Feed Just One," Overlooked seeks to educate on a variety of issues from human trafficking and hunger to clean water. A trendy online shop, this organization offers merchandise like t-shirts with bold statements such as "This shirt feeds starving children" ($20) to jewelry made in the villages of India and Africa. This is a great shop to catch anyone your list, from a sister to a parent. Call this merchandise both affordable and effective. For more information: weareoverlooked.com

6. Rwandan Peace Scarf: If the weather ever decides to get down in the teens this winter, this scarf may just come in handy. Stylish and a crimson red, this scarf can be wrapped in a variety of ways, while wrapping the proceeds around a cause. All the proceeds go towards genocide survivors in Rwanda. This is a cause that you can wear this holiday season. For more information: amberchand.com

7. World Wildlife Fund: Ok, definitely one of the coolest organizations that I have seen thus far. Have a sibling or friend who loves animals? Why not adopt a polar bear or panda in their name? A range of prices, when you adopt an endangered animal you will receive a plush version of the animal, photo and a certificate of adoption. For more information: worldwildlife.org

8. TomsShoes: We have all seen Blake on TV, the man who will donate a pair of shoes to a child in need with every pair bought. Now is your chance to get on the TOMS bandwagon, buy a pair of cool new shoes and know that a child in an impoverished country is no longer running around barefoot. Providing over 150,000 shoes so far, add one, two, or three pairs of shoes onto that number this holiday season. For more information: tomsshoes.com

9. BranchHome: Give back to the environment this Christmas with a ton of products that are organic. Cute plush stuffed animals, Branch Home will insure that you give a cozy gift to a little one as well as a present to mother nature herself. Creative and innovative, Branch Home mixes unique designs with an environmentally friendly purpose. For more information: Branchhome.com

10. The Blessing Basket Project: Weaving hope into the world one basket at a time. It is a simple statement and yet it carries so much hope. These hand-woven baskets from Ghana, Uganda and Bangladesh make for great home decorations or storage containers. By purchasing a basket, families of artisans are encouraged to thrive and exist on this planet. For more information: blessingbasket.org.

Ten gift ideas that have the capability to change the world this holiday season. These ideas are just a few of the thousands of possibilities out there that hold the prospect of creating a better tomorrow. So as you rush around this December, checking present off of your shopping list, keep in mind the idea of giving back while giving to the ones you love.