5 Last-Minute Charitable Gift Ideas
Maybe you want to give a gift that keeps giving this year, but your brain is three-sizes-too-small due to pre-Christmas stress. Here are a couple of gift ideas to help you make the most wonderful time of the year a charitable time, too (and still in time for Christmas!).
1. The Gift that Gives for You
There are plenty of options for this one! So many companies now sell products that donate a portion of their proceeds to a charitable cause. While you may have to spend a little more moolah, part of the gift to your loved one is her knowing that you cared enough to support something she cares about!
A couple of my favorite companies that do the giving for me are Toms and The Elephant Pants. I love their products, and support their missions.
2. The Gift for Someone Who Has it All
There really are some people who just have it all already. While it can be nice to give a thoughtful but not-completely-necessary gift, there's also the option of giving a gift that has been given away. How special to give in honor of the person you love, for her and for the person receiving the gift!
An organization that gives some pretty awesome gifts, and that I am a #1 fan of, is FMC. With their "Gifts of Mercy" you can give a warm blanket, medical care, or even a home to someone who needs it! They make sure the gift makes it to the person in need, and you can wrap a card, frame, or ornament with a little note that tells your loved one who their Christmas gift is blessing this year.
3. The Gift that Gives Giving
You can check out my recent blog post that tells my story of why this one means so much to me. It's beautiful to give your loved ones (perhaps most especially your kids) the opportunity to give.
You could go to the store together to pick out special care package items for a group in your community, and then give those care packages away together. Alternatively, and especially for teens and up, you can give the opportunity for your loved one to go on a service trip. One organization whose mission is to make service trips affordable for college students is College Missions Company. Giving a service trip is an awesome gift that gives the gift of giving.
4. The Give-it-Away Gift
With Facebook, it is super easy to set up a donation for a charitable organization in your honor (for birthdays and such). If you're still getting the "What do you want for Christmas?" question, you might consider asking for your loved ones to donate to your favorite charity instead of buying a material gift for you.
If you and friends or fam are looking to pitch in for that perfect gift, but can't come up with anything, consider going in on a charitable donation in your loved one's honor instead.
5. The Gift from the Givers
Finally, so many awesome organizations have shops with cool goodies that help to rep their movement. Find a tee, mug, hat, or tote that helps to get the word out about your loved one's favorite organization. A couple of my favorite orgs with great stores are FTND and Amazima Ministries.
And that's a wrap! Hopefully you've gotten some of the inspiration you need to be a giving gift-giver this Christmas. In the meanwhile, happy Advent!
