5 Charitable Christmas Gifts That Make A Real Difference€¦ · 5 Charitable Christmas Gifts That...

12/8/2017 5 Charitable Christmas Gifts That Make A Real Difference

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Joan Kelley Weisshaar WalkerFormer Model, Avid Fashionista and WorldVision Ambassador

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5 Charitable Christmas Gifts That Make A Real DifferenceI want to give gifts that will help others, and show love to people in need inCanada and around the world.� 12/07/2017 11:32 EST | Updated 12/07/2017 11:33 EST

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JOAN WALKER

It felt good to start my Christmas shopping last night! I found all kinds of things that I

seem to buy every year, like slippers, pajamas, electronics, books, cosmetics, toys,

sporting equipment... I was on a roll!

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But something made me pause. It dawned on me that, every single year, I struggle to

find gifts with meaning. I want to give gifts that will help others, and show love to people

in need in Canada and around the world.

It also shows the person that I'm buying the gift for that I've thought about something that

is meaningful to them. Recently, I bought a friend some medical kits in her name for her

birthday, and she absolutely loved it.

So I did some research. I found some great causes that cover a wide range of interests,

and are doing so much to help so many people.

Here is my 2017 list of gifts that mean something:

The Pin Project #ThePinProject

Currently there are more than 65 million refugees worldwide and the number is growing.

By buying a pin you can support refugees. A coalition of social enterprises, NGOs and

small businesses from around the world have joined to form the Pin Project Initiative,

which creates employment and income for refugees living in camps or informal

settlements. When you buy a pin, you buy directly from the refugees, creating

opportunity for refugee populations around the world.

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WORLD VISION

One cow can change a child's life, producing up to 20 cups full of proteinrich milk every day. This

means yogurt, cheese and butter to sell at the market, paying for things like schooling and medicine.

And one cow can produce a whole herd of calves in her lifetime!

Gift catalogue #LoveCanGive

The World Vision Gift Catalogue offers a multitude of gifts that create a measurable

impact in global communities. I have been fortunate to personally travel to many remote

areas with World Vision to see how gifts like this improve life for families. When you give

a child in need a gift, you're changing their life. A couple of my favourite gifts from this

catalogue are goats, cows, bee keeping kits, clean water, baby kits and emergency food.

pact in global communities.

Gifts for the Cure (Canadian Cancer Society)

Great holiday gift ideas and many options to choose from, to help people affected by

cancer. For example, you can support a woman who is facing one of the many side

effects of cancer — hair loss — with the gift of a wig. Your gift will make sure cancer

fighters will find exactly the wig they want, to help build confidence, courage and brighten

their spirits. You could also gift a ride, a phone call or even the gift of sleep, plus many

more.

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Plan International Gifts of Hope

An ethical giftgiving program that gives twice — once here, and once abroad. It includes

a huge range of gifts such "girl power" — with this gift, you can unleash the power in

every girl by offering nutrition, education and protection while opening up economic

opportunities to women so they can lead their families out of poverty. Another bright light

in this catalogue is the gift of a solar power kit. This kit ensures a brighter future by

providing light in homes so children can complete school work.

Gifts of Light #GiftsOfLight

CAMH Foundation (the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health), Canada's largest mental

health and addiction hospital and a world leading research centre, now offers "gifts of

light." You can provide many essentials, such as Healing with Music, a gift that has the

power to calm and heal while allowing patients to express themselves and build positive

relationships through the joy of music. There is also Pet Therapy, Reading Glasses and

so much more to help support people on their way to recovery.

Now that I've pored over these websites, I am going to think about which gift would mean

the most to the ones I love. Because giving not only makes me feel good, but it honours

the recipients and has the power to change lives.

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Happy shopping, happy holidays, happy Hanukkah and merry Christmas!

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