12/8/2017 5 Charitable Christmas Gifts That Make A Real Difference
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/joan-kelley-weisshaar-walker/5-charitable-christmas-gifts-that-make-a-real-difference_a_23299369/ 1/6
Joan Kelley Weisshaar WalkerFormer Model, Avid Fashionista and WorldVision Ambassador
� & � �
THE BLOG
5 Charitable Christmas Gifts That Make A Real DifferenceI want to give gifts that will help others, and show love to people in need inCanada and around the world.� 12/07/2017 11:32 EST | Updated 12/07/2017 11:33 EST
E D I T I O N
� CA
� & � � %
JOAN WALKER
It felt good to start my Christmas shopping last night! I found all kinds of things that I
seem to buy every year, like slippers, pajamas, electronics, books, cosmetics, toys,
sporting equipment... I was on a roll!
-
12/8/2017 5 Charitable Christmas Gifts That Make A Real Difference
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/joan-kelley-weisshaar-walker/5-charitable-christmas-gifts-that-make-a-real-difference_a_23299369/ 2/6
But something made me pause. It dawned on me that, every single year, I struggle to
find gifts with meaning. I want to give gifts that will help others, and show love to people
in need in Canada and around the world.
It also shows the person that I'm buying the gift for that I've thought about something that
is meaningful to them. Recently, I bought a friend some medical kits in her name for her
birthday, and she absolutely loved it.
So I did some research. I found some great causes that cover a wide range of interests,
and are doing so much to help so many people.
Here is my 2017 list of gifts that mean something:
The Pin Project #ThePinProject
Currently there are more than 65 million refugees worldwide and the number is growing.
By buying a pin you can support refugees. A coalition of social enterprises, NGOs and
small businesses from around the world have joined to form the Pin Project Initiative,
which creates employment and income for refugees living in camps or informal
settlements. When you buy a pin, you buy directly from the refugees, creating
opportunity for refugee populations around the world.
12/8/2017 5 Charitable Christmas Gifts That Make A Real Difference
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/joan-kelley-weisshaar-walker/5-charitable-christmas-gifts-that-make-a-real-difference_a_23299369/ 3/6
WORLD VISION
One cow can change a child's life, producing up to 20 cups full of proteinrich milk every day. This
means yogurt, cheese and butter to sell at the market, paying for things like schooling and medicine.
And one cow can produce a whole herd of calves in her lifetime!
Gift catalogue #LoveCanGive
The World Vision Gift Catalogue offers a multitude of gifts that create a measurable
impact in global communities. I have been fortunate to personally travel to many remote
areas with World Vision to see how gifts like this improve life for families. When you give
a child in need a gift, you're changing their life. A couple of my favourite gifts from this
catalogue are goats, cows, bee keeping kits, clean water, baby kits and emergency food.
pact in global communities.
Gifts for the Cure (Canadian Cancer Society)
Great holiday gift ideas and many options to choose from, to help people affected by
cancer. For example, you can support a woman who is facing one of the many side
effects of cancer — hair loss — with the gift of a wig. Your gift will make sure cancer
fighters will find exactly the wig they want, to help build confidence, courage and brighten
their spirits. You could also gift a ride, a phone call or even the gift of sleep, plus many
more.
12/8/2017 5 Charitable Christmas Gifts That Make A Real Difference
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/joan-kelley-weisshaar-walker/5-charitable-christmas-gifts-that-make-a-real-difference_a_23299369/ 4/6
GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCKPHOTO
Plan International Gifts of Hope
An ethical giftgiving program that gives twice — once here, and once abroad. It includes
a huge range of gifts such "girl power" — with this gift, you can unleash the power in
every girl by offering nutrition, education and protection while opening up economic
opportunities to women so they can lead their families out of poverty. Another bright light
in this catalogue is the gift of a solar power kit. This kit ensures a brighter future by
providing light in homes so children can complete school work.
Gifts of Light #GiftsOfLight
CAMH Foundation (the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health), Canada's largest mental
health and addiction hospital and a world leading research centre, now offers "gifts of
light." You can provide many essentials, such as Healing with Music, a gift that has the
power to calm and heal while allowing patients to express themselves and build positive
relationships through the joy of music. There is also Pet Therapy, Reading Glasses and
so much more to help support people on their way to recovery.
Now that I've pored over these websites, I am going to think about which gift would mean
the most to the ones I love. Because giving not only makes me feel good, but it honours
the recipients and has the power to change lives.
12/8/2017 5 Charitable Christmas Gifts That Make A Real Difference
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/joan-kelley-weisshaar-walker/5-charitable-christmas-gifts-that-make-a-real-difference_a_23299369/ 5/6
Happy shopping, happy holidays, happy Hanukkah and merry Christmas!
Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook
Also on HuffPost:
MORE:
Suggest a correction
blogs charity gift guide holidays Living
Popular In the Community
Phillip Bedford
5h
Christmas has becomenothing more than a…
Raven43150
1d
It might be lessexpensive to relocat…
Allister Macdo…
2h
This is a biggerproblem then peopl…
Jacobin GW
2d
For the obscenelywealthy, politics is…
I havefeeling
MAJORITY OFCANADIANS AGREE…
ENDING BOIL-WATERADVISORIES ON FIRST…
HIGHWAY 401 DRIVERCHARGED FOR GOING…
BILL MORNEAU ISANOTHER CEO WHO…
SOMEONEW H
Advertise Careers FAQ
User Agreement Privacy Comment Policy About Us About Our Ads
12/8/2017 5 Charitable Christmas Gifts That Make A Real Difference
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/joan-kelley-weisshaar-walker/5-charitable-christmas-gifts-that-make-a-real-difference_a_23299369/ 6/6
Copyright © 2017 TheHuffingtonPost.com, Inc.
"The Huffington Post" is a registered trademark of TheHuffingtonPost.com, Inc. All rights reserved.
Part of HuffPost News