CityLine.ca Holiday Gift Guide:

Charitable And Ethical Gift-Giving

By Suzanne Ellis

Evergreen (pictured)
www.evergreen.ca

This holiday season give the Gift of Nature. With a donation of $45 Evergreen will plant a tree in honour of your loved one and send them a beautiful card and package of heirloom tomato seeds. Easy and fun to grow, these luscious tomatoes will thrive in a container, on a balcony or in the garden for the ultimate in local, healthy food. Order online at evergreen.ca or 1-888-426-3138 ext 224. Evergreen is national charity that makes cities more livable. Bring community greening projects to life and inspire a future of sustainable cities by supporting Evergreen in honour of friends and family this year.

Grandmothers to Grandmothers – Stephen Lewis Foundation
www.stephenlewisfoundation.org

The Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign seeks to raise awareness and mobilize support in Canada for Africa’s grandmothers. The campaign was launched by the Stephen Lewis Foundation on March 7, 2006, on the eve of International Women's Day.

Since the launch, more than 220 groups of Canadian grandmothers have taken up the call to action and together have raised over $7 million for the campaign. SLF directs these funds to community-level organizations in 15 sub-Saharan African countries that provide grandmothers with much needed support, such as food, housing grants, school fees for their grandchildren and grief counselling.

Package with framed photographs of the family.

World Vision
www.worldvision.ca

World Vision is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice.

Package with children's books for a teacher.

Canadian Association of Food Banks
www.cafb-acba.ca

The Canadian Association of Food Banks (CAFB) and member food banks work to feed the hungry and eradicate hunger in Canada. Founded in 1985, the Canadian Association of Food Banks (CAFB) is an umbrella organization representing a national network of regional and community food banks, including provincial associations and food distribution centres.

Package with cookbooks.

Habitat for Humanity
www.habitat.ca

Habitat for Humanity Canada is a national, non-profit, faith-based organization working for a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to live. The mission of the organization is to mobilize volunteers and community partners in building affordable housing and promoting home ownership as a means to breaking the cycle of poverty.

Package with gingerbread house kit.

Sick Kids Hospital
www.shopsickkids.com

The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), affiliated with the University of Toronto, is Canada's most research-intensive hospital and the largest centre dedicated to improving children's health in the country. As innovators in child health, SickKids improves the health of children by integrating care, research and teaching. They accept long distance phone cards to help the family of ill kids communicate with loved ones.

Package with cell phone.

Right to Play
www.righttoplay.com

Right To Play programs help to create a healthier and safer world through the power of sport and play.

Package with Right To Play mini soccer balls or other sports equipment.

World Wildlife Fund
www.wwf.ca

World Wildlife Fund Canada (WWF-Canada) was founded in 1967 by Senator Alan MacNaughton, and has become one of the country's leading conservation organizations, enjoying the active support of more than 150,000 Canadians.

Package with stuffed animals or toys from the World Wildlife Fund.

War Child Canada
www.warchild.ca

War Child Canada is a registered Canadian charity dedicated to providing urgently needed humanitarian assistance to war-affected children around the world. War Child Canada helps generate awareness, support and advocacy for children's rights everywhere.

Package with War Child CD, sweatshirt or T-shirt.

Plan Canada (Formerly Foster Parents Plan)
www.plancanada.ca

Plan is one of the world's largest international, child-centred development organizations. We work in more than 45 developing countries where, worldwide, our long-term community programs benefit 1.3 million children and impact the lives of 13 million people. Plan is non-religious, non-political and has no government affiliations.

Package with gift basket of goodies (coffee, tea, hot chocolate, cookies, etc).

Originally published on CityLine