Great charitable gifts for the holidays

What do you get for the person who already has it all? Giving a charitable donation in someone’s name is a great way to warm hearts and do some good this holiday season. Try donating to one of the many charities at CanadaHelps.org. Or support an organization like SickKids Foundation or World Vision Canada: Both allow you to donate unique items like a $25 play set for a child at the hospital or a $35 agricultural package for three families in an underdeveloped region.

Or, click through this gallery to learn about some of this season's best charitable gifts.

By now, you’ve likely heard about the TOMS footwear phenomenon and their One for One philosophy. For every pair of TOMS shoes purchased, they’ll donate a pair to a child in need. These comfy shoes are a perfect gift for kids. They come in all kinds of fun patterns and colours, and they're great for indoor, outdoor, and evening wear.

Red Tiny TOMS Glitters, $38

Where to Buy? toms.ca (also check for availability at your local shoe store)

Got a little girl (age six to 12) on your list? She'll love one these new "Hearts for Hearts" dolls from World Vision Canada.

The diverse dolls were created to inspire young girls to make a difference. Each doll represents a different region: Laos, Belarus, India, United States, Ethiopia and Mexico. For every doll sold, a donation will be made to World Vision, in support of children around the world who are in need.

Comes with a friendship bracelet and inspiring book.

Hearts for Hearts Girls, $32.96

Where to Buy? Walmart stores across Canada

Everyday Essentials™ has created this beautiful woven throw to bring not only warmth, comfort and style to your home, but also to help bring awareness and funds to homes and communities across Canada.

Net proceeds go to Habitat for Humanities programming, including their 360 Built Smart program — which seeks to build sustainable communities across Canada through activities that focus on family outreach, financial education, homeownership and environmental impact and much more. 

Everyday Essentials™ Habitat for Humanity Throw Blanket, $19
Where to Buy? realcanadiansuperstore.ca

Inspire the artist or writer on your list with a cute Ecojot notebook. Ecojot has teamed up with The Schoolbag Team to help school kids get what they need to learn. With every Ecojot notebook purchase, they’ll donate a notebook to a child who needs it. To date, more than 200,000 notebooks have been delivered to kids in need. 

Bird aqua jumbo journal, $17
Where to Buy? ecojot.com

Talented artists around the world are turning hardship into triumph with these bracelets made from bullet shell remnants. Shells are melted down, transformed into beads and threaded on string. All proceeds go to JoinFITE, a charity that empowers third-world female entrepreneurs.

Bullets to Bracelets, $10
Where to Buy? Dermologica

Got a future soccer star on your list? Support their love for the beautiful game and give a child in need the chance to play, too, with One World Futbol. When you order this extremely durable soccer ball (no pump necessary — it never goes flat, even when punctured!), One World Futbol will donate one in your name to a child in an under-developed country through a variety of organizations.

One World Futbol, $40
Where to Buy? oneworldfutbol.com

Every Ten Thousand Villages gift has a story. Known for its wide range of fair-trade items, this national chain features authentic handcrafted pieces. Each one offers employment opportunities to people in underdeveloped countries. Ten Thousand Villages has tons of unique gift ideas, like this handcrafted sunflower vase, which makes a great hostess gift.

Happy Sunflower vase (L), $12
Where to Buy? tenthousandvillages.ca

This Christmas, wear your heart around your neck with a silk freedom scarf made by survivors of modern day slavery and trafficking. These scarves help empower the women who make them by providing them with work, which helps them achieve independence. Each scarf is as unique as the survivor who makes it.

Empowerment scarf, $50
Where to Buy? empowermentstore.org

The Obakki Foundation traveled to Cameroon and asked children to answer three questions: “What makes you sad?”; “What makes you afraid?”; and “What makes you happy?” Their answers inspired a collection of clothing, and 100% of the proceeds from Obakki Foundation items will go directly to help these children in need.

OF Children's Logo T-shirt, $40
Where to Buy? obakki.com

Not only are these glass and silver earrings a perfect way to polish off any outfit, they also represent a good cause. Purchase these earrings and $10 will go to the Silpada Foundation, which supports women and children in need.

Ablaze Earrings (W2775), $59
Where to Buy? silpada.com

Add a Blue Orange game to someone's board game collection this Christmas. This eco-friendly company plants two trees for each tree used in the making of their games. This year, try Fastrack, Blue Orange’s new game and winner of the Dr. Toy Green Product Award. Fastrack (recommended for ages 5+) is described as part hockey and part archery, and helps develop reflexes and dexterity.

Fasttrack, $20 USD
Where to Buy? blueorangegames.com