December 18th, 2011
Ah the holidays. I don’t know about you, but I get completely swept up in everything that is holiday cheer. Skating on outdoors rinks – pausing only to get a tasty (if not watery) vending-machine hot chocolate, passing by homes lit up with lights and tacky decorations, walking into warm coffee shops and smacked with smells of cinnamon and peppermint. I love it all. But you know what I think is the best part about the holidays? The giving. Whether it be giving an awesome gift that you’ve planned for ages, or giving a fluffy toy to a toy drive, or giving your time to a worthy organization in need.
It’s the season where you can share the love and share how grateful you are for everything you have – regardless of what you celebrate. And here at Getinvolved.ca, we understand that you want to give back (either through donations or volunteering) but that you don’t have a lot time this busy season. So, I’ve put together a list of 25 fun things you can do over the next 25 days that will help you give back in 30 minutes or less. Sometimes, it’s as easy as picking up a gift for that hard to buy pal on your list.
Do one, or do them all – and I promise you that warm feeling you get inside from giving back, will be a hundred times better then that overpriced peppermint latte.
————————————————————————-
Thursday, Dec 1st: It’s World AIDS day! Why not pick up the highly anticipated Isabel Marant World AIDS Day T-Shirt online . 50% of all profits from the newest PRODUCT(RED) will go to the Global Fund to help those living with HIV/AIDS.
Friday, December 2nd: Kick off the holiday season with a party! Throw a jewelry party with 31 Bits, a jewelry design company that sells pieces made by Ugandan woman. AND 31 Bits does it all for you – they send you the jewelry to showcase and information on the Ugandan designer (free of charge) as well as all the extras you’ll need. 31 Bits not only provides a platform for these woman to sell their jewelry, but they also provide communities with education programs and micro-loans to get their own businesses running.
Saturday, December 3rd: Are you in the GTA? Today is “Give a Toy, Get a Tour Day” at CP24. If you come down to the CP24/CHUM building today with an unwrapped, unopened toy for their toy drive and one of the CP24 hosts will give you a tour of the building and the studios. A great outing for your family from out-of-town.
Sunday, December 4th: Not able to take a lot of time off over Christmas? How about saving your vacation time for the dull winter months of February or March and go somewhere gorgeous to do some good? The Humanity Exchange offers volunteer “vacations” for people interested in traveling and helping out in third world communities. Transportation and lodgings are organized for you – and on your days off you can head out on your own adventures. Plus interested volunteers who register before Dec 31st will receive a $150 credit towards one of their programs. Check out all the fabulous (and warm) places you could be heading to in the winter now!
Monday, December 5th: It’s the International Day of the Volunteer! Why not volunteer 30 minutes of your time today and change a child’s life. Infinite Family provides volunteers with the tools to be come online mentors for pre-teens and teens in Africa. All it takes is 30 minutes a week of your time online and you could forge a friendship for life. Learn more about this opportunity Infinite Family here.
Tuesday, December 6th: Buy someone a coffee today. Here in Canada, Tim Hortons coffee is our second type of national currency. And a coffee goes a long way. Grab an extra coffee for the person behind you in-line today, or for the security guard at your office, or for the bus driver who gets you to work/school. They won’t forget your kindness and you’ll be beaming all day from the feel-good vibes you get.
Wednesday, December 7th: Looking for stocking stuffers or something to pick up your secret santa? Try a GiveNow Card – gift cards for $10 or more that let the recipient go online and donate the card’s worth to a charity of their choice. The cards are cute, personal and can be printed, emailed or sent. Well at least that’s one person off your list.
Thursday, December 8th: After work or school today, head down to your local food banks with a few cans. Food banks are heavily relied on by thousands of Canadian families this holiday season, and a little canned soup or boxed pasta helps alot. Not sure where to find you local food bank? Click here.
Friday, December 9th: Want to buy something lavish for that fab girlfriend who has stuck by you through thick and thin? Get her one of the fabulous Matt & Nat purses. Not only are they beautiful and unique, but you can feel good making the purchase because they are 100% eco-friendly.
Saturday, December 10th: Today is Human Rights Day! Learn about Bikes Without Borders, an organization that uses bikes and bike-related solutions as a tool for development in marginalized communities. Providing bikes for communities in 3rd world countries help people in small villages get access to health care facilities, and fresh water and food supplies. So if you’ve got any bike fanatics on your list, buy a set of replacement tires for a Community Health Worker in Malawi in his/her name.
Sunday, December 11th: Unleash the designer inside. Participate in Junk Food Clothing’s first ever customizable social cause tee, allowing all to write their passion on their chests. Marker in your cause of choice, take a photo of your tee and post to their Facebook – the winning design will be part of their next season with 100% of profits going back to that cause!
Monday, December 12th: Online donations are always a great way to give – it doesn’t take a lot of your time and you don’t have to give a lot. The tough part is finding an organization you want to donate to. Well here’s one that pretty much lies close to everyone’s heart: Noah’s Ark. It’s rehabilitation centre for animals and a group home for kids – the children grow-up working with and taking care of the animals – which in turns helps them move away from their own pasts of abandonment and abuse. Children reside for free at Noah’s Ark, so every penny you might be able to spare helps!
Tuesday, December 13th: Harness the power of a click. With EveryClick, a UK based charity, you can raise money for your organization of choice in three very simple ways. Their search bar allows you to raise money from businesses simply by using the EveryClick search engine, their app allows you to online shop and donate a percentage of your purchase price to a charity, or you can send Christmas cards from their site, raising donations with each one you send!
Wednesday, December 14th: What’s better curling up to than a fire? Well how about a new furry friend? Just like us, kittens and puppies want someone to celebrate the holiday with. If adopting a pet is something you’ve been thinking about for yourself or a family member, this weekend is a great time to drop by your local animal shelter and add a new member to your home.
Thursday, December 15th: For many of SickKids sickest patients, the holidays must be spent in hospital. Buy them a Get Better Gift to give them a holiday smile. Your donations help support programs that make the holiday season a special and magical time for these brave children and their families – from decorations that for the hospital walls, to providing gifts at bedside for children who are unable to leave, to serving a special holiday meal to give families a break. Check out the adorable things you can buy for amazing kids like Ioan, featured in this video.
Friday, December 16th: Okay, so it’s a huge shopping weekend. You’ll be hitting the mall, large gift list in hand. Once your arms of full of pressies, head to The Body Shop to pick up an awesome bag to lug all your newly purchased gifts in. The “Bag for Life – Joy Edition“, is produced by Teddy Exports, an organization that provides employment for over 400 people in southern India. All the proceeds also help fund Teddy schools and support HIV/AIDS awareness initiatives across local communities.
Saturday, December 17th: Yes lip balms, bath salts, mugs, and coffee shop gift cards are all great fall-back gifts for someone you don’t know that well, but what if you could buy a goat and safe water for a small African community, or veggie and tree seeds for farmers in Sri Lanka? Check out Oxfam Unwrapped Canada where you can “buy” items to donate in someone’s name as a gift. There are even big gifts that you could go in together with your office for your hard-to-buy boss.
Sunday, December 18th: Volunteer your time to be a gift-wrapping elf. Not only is it super festive, but it’s a really easy and fun way to give back. Shifts are usually only a couple of hours, and you get the chance to wrap, decorate, glitter and bow, to your heart’s content. Lots of malls have these fundraising wrapping campaigns going on, but if you are in the GTA I would recommend checking out the Gift Wrap Campaign – in support of Epilepsy Toronto.
Monday, December 19th: Now here’s something you rarely see from a fashion designer – 100% of the proceeds go directly to charity. But jewelry designer Joan Hornig has done just that. She has created elegant pieces with a price tag that is donated entirely to your not-for-profit of choice.. A great gift for your mum, your boss, your in-laws, or just you.
Tuesday, December 20th: Buy a scarf and give some L.O.V. Live One Vision sells one-of-a-kind handmade organic scarves, made in the Southern regions of India. With the sale of every scarf, 25% of the proceeds go to orphanages and charities around the world in need of help. Click here to learn more.
Wednesday, December 21st: It’s great to be able to give to your favorite organization all throughout the year. Whether it be helping them out with your time, a donation, or simply sharing and spreading the word via twitter or facebook, there is always something you can do for an organization you support. Not sure which organization you want to support yet? Check out our three seasons of Get Involved – a television series that featured awesome Canadian organizations making a difference in our communities.
Thursday, December 22nd: After checking out all of our videos of worthy causes are you feeling a little overwhelmed? Too many awesome organizations in need? That’s something Sevenly understands. Each week, Sevenly features a worthy cause and an awesome designer tee that you get when you donate. At the end of the week-long campaign, Sevenly sends the featured charity a check with 30% of the proceeds from each tee sold. Check out this week’s charity.
Friday, December 23rd: Raise awareness for autism. The Golden Hat Foundation is dedicated to eliminating barriers for people with autism around the world, and creating environments and opportunities that allow people with autism to thrive. Plus you can pick up a gorgeous “Golden Hat” Lancôme lipstick for your mum and help be a part of their $200,000 donation this holiday season.
Saturday, December 24th: ‘Twas the night before Christmas and all throughout Barney’s store, Lady Gaga was making fabulous gifts and raising awareness galore. Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation focuses on empowering youth through mentoring and anti-bullying initiatives. 25% of the proceeds from “Gaga’s Workshop” items from Barney’s will be donated to the Born This Way Foundation. The items are wacky, original, glamorous and hand-made – just like the Lady herself.
Sunday, December 25th: Take a moment today and think about how lucky you are. If you are spending the holiday with your family, your friends, your pet or your t.v. – think about how fortunate you are. And remember how good it feels to give back. It doesn’t have to take too much time and it doesn’t have too cost too much money, but any one of these awesome ways to give back will help you spread holiday cheer throughout the year.
Search Resources
Interested in finding a Volunteer Centre in your area? Check out this list of centres across the country!
