8 Charitable Gifts to Remind Us What the Holidays Are All About

“I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.” €”Maya Angelou.

What’s more rewarding than the gift that gives back? With this in mind, we’ve gathered eight ideas for charitable gifts that will not only boost your stockings, but extend beyond the home to help someone less fortunate this holiday season.1. Cause We Care Bracelet, Blue RubyOnce again, the local jewellery retailer has teamed up with Cause We Care to offer handcrafted holiday bracelets ($20 to $60) with 100 percent of the proceeds going towards programs and initiatives run by Cause We Care. blueruby.com2. Charity Bear, Hudson’s BaySince 2005, the HBC Foundation has annually introduced a plush bear that celebrates a historical figure important in shaping Canada. This year’s charity bear, Tolmie, ($22) commemorates HBC Chief Factor and groundbreaking scientist, Dr. William Tolmie, who was credited with developing the first scientific agricultural operation in the Pacific Northwest. Tolmie is truly a gift that gives back, as ­100 percent of net proceeds benefit the HBC Foundation. thebay.com3. Blanket the Country, Urban BarnIf you’re shopping at Urban Barn for gifts, a donation of 5$ could add a meaningful charitable contribution to your purchase. On now through December, Urban Barn is running its fourth annual Blanket the Country in Warmth campaign, which means that for every 5$ donation received in store, the retailer will deliver a new, warm blanket to a local shelter. blanketthecountry.com(Photo: Perch Restaurant.)4. Charity Holiday Dinner, Perch Restaurant Perch, a non-profit restaurant in Vancouver is offering a special four-course holiday menu (featuring local and sustainable ingredients), that sees your $35 bill go towards AMS student programs at UBC, including Safewalk, the Sexual Support Centre, Food Bank and more. On the menu you can look forward to starters like Spiced Ham Terrine and B.C. Belgian Endive Salad, with a choice of Slow Roasted Turkey Breast or Pumpkin Risotto for the mains. perchrestaurant.com5. Charity Gift Cards, Canadahelps  A Charity Gift Card from Canadahelps—an organization that helps fundraise for a variety of charitable campaigns—beats an iTunes gift card any day. You choose the card design, the value, delivery date and you can even include a personal message. Canadahelps will then deliver your card by email, or you can print it out yourself. You’ll also receive a charitable tax receipt and be notified when your gift is redeemed. canadahelps.org 6. Soft Toys for Education, IkeaThrough December 26, for every soft toy or children’s book sold at Ikea, the Ikea Foundation will donate between $1 to $2 to UNICEF and Save the Children, to help provide quality education to kids living in poverty in developing countries. ikeafoundation.org 7. Give a Little Hope Decor, Pottery BarnWith the purchase of two select items, the German Glitter Victorian House Ornament ($15), or the Winter Village Napkin set of 4 ($32), Pottery Barn distributes the proceeds to benefit charitable organizations across the country including Cause We Care. potterybarn.com 8. A Real Letter From SantaSpread holiday cheer and keep kids believing in holiday magic with a personalized red letter from St. Nick. This Santa gram comes on beautiful parchment paper with a gold embossed Santa signature, a wax seal bearing Santa’s emblem, and even an official Alaskan USPS stamp with a real North Pole post mark.With every Santa’s Red Letter purchase, $1 goes towards the Toys for Tots charity. And, because not everyone makes the Nice List, Santa’s letters can also come in black for those more deserving of coal. santasredletter.com