It happens to the best of us each Christmas. As we unwrap that oddly-shaped parcel which turns out to be another pair of slippers, we prepare our gracious smiles and ‘thank you so much!’ in feigned enthusiasm. Re-gifting is a wonderful thing.
To avoid being on the receiving end of that dreaded moment this year, give your loved ones something that gives back to the greater good, And the best part is, you don’t have to brave the masses to buy them.
We’ve compiled the top charity christmas gifts that won’t end up under the tree for someone else next year.
OXFAM Gifts Unwrapped: For only $15 Oxfam’s cattle manure pack can help crops to grow in places like Sri Lanka. Your gift recipient gets a card telling them what you’ve bought on their behalf. Order online and send as an e-Card or print it off at home here.
Barnardo’s Charity Christmas Cards: No gift is complete without a card. For $2.99 you can buy a box of ten cards from your local ALDI store and help Barnados to provide books, clothing, bed linen and household goods to kids who need them most. Last year ALDI raised $141,830 for Bernardo’s from these cards. To find your nearest stockist click here.
Foodbank NSW/ACT and Barilla – Cooking Classes with a Purpose: Purchase a cooking class gift voucher at $120 per person (minimum of 12 people and a max of 24 people) to a feel-good cooking day over the Christmas season for a work team or a group of friends. And of course, you’re not only doing something that will benefit society, but you’ll also enjoy an evening of delizioso Italian food and wine. To purchase and book this experience click here.
The Fred Hollows Foundation – The Gift of Sight: For just $25 you can give one person their sight back in Africa, Asia-Pacific or Australia. Your gift recipient gets a card telling them what you’ve bought on their behalf. Order online and send as an e-Card or print it off at home here.
Unicef – Anti-malaria mosquito nets and drugs: Every year, over 219 million people are infected with malaria. $47 will buy ten life-saving mosquito nets, while $35 buys 360 tablets of anti-malarial drugs. Your gift recipient gets a card telling them what you’ve bought on their behalf. Order online and send as an e-Card or print it off at home here.
Gift Yourself: Want to give back without gifting? This Christmas, commit to giving your time on a regular basis to a community organisation or event that you care about. Visit dosomethingnearyou.com.au, type in your postcode and find volunteering opportunities in your local community. If you’re short of time, the site gives you volunteering activities that you can do online at home.
Image Credit: dosomethingnearyou.com.au and Food Bank NSW