Holiday Gifts to Help the World

OXFAM is an international organization that creates partnerships to combat hunger, poverty and injustice.

Type of Gifts
* For animal lovers, the gift of a goat is $50.
* For gardners, you can plant a vegetable garden for $30.
* For kids or art lovers, buy art supplies for kids for $18.
* For someone interested in business or a coffee lover, invest in a fair trade coffee cooperative for $50.

How it Works
1. Select your gift.
2. Receive a card that you can personalize either online or in the mail.
3. Your donation goes where it will have the biggest impact.

HEIFER INTERNATIONAL, works to end hunger and poverty and care for the earth. They specialize in livestock and training.

Gifts include:
* A heifer for $500, because when a family has a cow, they always have milk.
* A flock of chicks for $20, and a family will always have eggs.
* The gift of an ark for $5,000, the gift that keeps on giving. A family receives two animals, and promises to pass on the offspring to someone else in need.
* Knitter's Gift Basket for $480, a family receives four animals that provide wool.

My husband and I have been involved with PLAN USA for more than twenty years and currently sponsor two children. PLAN operates in 48 countries and their work is on the ground in those countries; it is child and community centered.

You do not have to sponsor a child to make a donation. You can sponsor a child in someone else's name or you can give a one-time gift. They have gifts of hope at all levels. Here are a few of them.

* Rehabilitate a preschool in Haiti for $20,000.
* Build a home for a teacher for $5,000.
* Build a girls-only latrine for $100.
* 3 baby chicks will cost you $15.

For $30 per month, or $360 for a year, you can sponsor a child in the name of someone else.

World Wildlife Fund has been protecting and conserving nature for more than 45 years. According to their website, their mission is:

* protecting natural areas and wild populations of plants and animals, including endangered species;
* promoting sustainable approaches to the use of renewable natural resources; and
* promoting more efficient use of resources and energy and the maximum reduction of pollution.

They have a number of ways to give, while supporting WWF.

1. Buy a gift card for $50. The recipient will get:
* A soft plush version of their adoption animal
* A Species Spotlight card full of fascinating information about the animal
* A handsome 5"x7" adoption certificate, suitable for framing
* A beautiful 5"x7" full-color photo of their adoption animal
* A drawstring gift bag
* Bonuses! Including: adoption certificate, AIM icons, wallpaper and screen saver of their adopted animal

2. Adopt an animal, for example, a gray wolf. For $250 your gift recipient will receive a 32" plush animal, shown above, a framed photo and certificate.

3. Make a donation and the recipient can choose the animal.

4. Purchase apparel and gifts from their gift center.

Plant a tree in the name of someone you love.

Trees for Life International began planting fruit trees in India, but now they do so much more. They now plant trees in more than 12 countries and also invest in projects such as bee-keeping, water conservation, and energy efficiency.

3 Easy Steps

1. Select an item, such as trees, books, or computers.
2. Complete the payment.
3. Customize a printable card or e-card.