An Alternative to Traditional Gift-giving
 

If you are looking for an alternative to traditional gift-giving, there is a non-profit organization called World Vision that gives you the ability to make a specific charitable contribution on behalf of someone you love. You get a gift card to send to them.
- According to their information, 85% of every donation goes to their programs to help children and families overcome poverty in over 100 countries
- You can specify what country you want to help; for example, you can donate school supplies, warm clothes, or personal care items to low income families in the U.S.

There are a lot of gift options to choose from. And, I'm sure there are a lot of other similar organizations around.

Just food for thought if you are looking for gift-giving alternatives.
http://www.worldvisiongifts.org

We have donated to Heifer International for years. At the holiday season, we make a big donation and buy a cow or a llama or a water buffalo for a poor family somewhere in the world and the organization teaches them how to care for the animal and how to provide for their family using the animal. It is like teaching someone to fish.

All of the adults in our family get a gift card saying this donation was made in their name. Everyone likes this alot. They send you gift cards to sent to your folks explaining the program and what they donated. Donations can be made to pay for part of an animal ie: half of a goat or a dozen chicks to pretty large donations to buy the large animals. Any amount is appreciated. Their website is www.heiferinternational.com

Quirky, thanks for posting. As Thanksgiving is near, it reminds us to be thankful for what we have, and to be generous if we can. We give gifts each year to SeeYourImpact.org, which sounds similar to the organization you mentioned. 100% of the money goes to those in need. Apollo Ohno (Olympic speed skater) is a spokesperson.

Thanks!
 

Thanks LadyDoc and Taj44! I will add these to my "favorites"list!

Three years ago my son gave me a gift that I am still enjoying. It was a $25 gift certificate to use at Kiva. This is an organization where you make mirco loans to a person or group of people around the world. You get to choose who you want to make a loan to and over a period of time they repay the loan and then you can turn around and make another loan to another. I am on my 5th loan off of the original $25 Christmas gift. Since I am a female and a crafter I try and find a woman who is involved in some sort of local handicrafts.

Suzanne

Great Concept!
 

That's a great concept, Momesu!