Christmas Gift Ideas: Gifts That Give Back

Christmas – the time of the year where we give and shower our loved ones and friends with gifts. This Christmas, why not extend the spirit of giving by giving back to the community as well?

Take this opportunity to not only make your family and friends happy but also to help the community and disadvantaged. We list down the following ideas where you can buy gifts and at the same time, give back to the community.

⇒ Related Read: Christmas Gift Ideas For The Whole Family

1. World Vision Singapore

World Vision Singapore Christmas Gifts that Give Back Help them through interventions such as health kits, nutritious food, learning aids and health checks

As we venture into a new normal, the COVID-19 pandemic also presents a chance to imagine the world anew – a world where the most vulnerable children are safe, happy and protected.

In this season of gifting, we want to encourage families to come together and browse through the World Vision Gift Catalogue to pick some gifts that can protect these children and their families from poverty.

Featuring over 70 gifts, from mobile libraries, nutritious meals, vaccinations to life-changing interventions such as vocational education and shelter from the elements, each gift contributes to a better tomorrow.

Website: worldvision.org.sg

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2. Geneco presents #HappilyEverAfter

Geneco presents #HappilyEverAfter

This festive season, Geneco, Singapore’s number one residential electricity retailer is calling for you to #PowerTheChange and join them in giving back to the community and creating a happily ever after for vulnerable youth and children through the arts. For this year’s festive campaign #HappilyEverAfter, Geneco has created an e-book aptly titled “The Little Green Heroes” that is co-illustrated by the children at 3Pumpkins and aimed at raising awareness about sustainability and gathering donations to support 3Pumpkins in their initiatives. Donations can be done via the crowdfunding charity, Ray of Hope and via Geneco’s festive #HappilyEverAfter site.

Website: geneco.sg/hea

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3. Endowus Gives Back

Endowus Giving Machine UOB Plaza

During this year-end festive season, Endowus is encouraging Singaporeans to contribute to a good cause by making gifting convenient for all. With 20 ‘vending machines’ placed in 6 locations across the country, people can choose to donate to 23 charities, including Causes for Animals, SPCA, the Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations (SCWO), and more.

Physical machines can be found at: UOB Plaza, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Orchard Central, Far East Square, Gardens by the Bay, ION Orchard.

People can also donate virtually at a “virtual machine”, or in the comfort of their homes online.

People will be able to donate from now till 31 December 2022.

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4. Mandai Wildlife Group

Mandai Wildlife Group Meaningful Gifts

Gift your loved ones something special from Mandai Wildlife Group’s sustainable Wildlife Sanctuary collection, with new additions such as a nature-themed cardholder-cum-lanyard and tote bag joining the lifestyle range just in time for Christmas. You can also get your game on with family and friends with the limited edition Mandai Monopoly Board Game Set and Top Trumps card game, or take your pick from Mandai Wildlife Group’s collaboration collection with Huggs Coffee, consisting of items such as a sun-bear themed Tyvek picnic bag and tumbler to keep your food and drink warm or cool all day, and a small yet mighty FSC-licensed wooden Bluetooth speaker!

Every purchase from Mandai Wildlife Group’s retail stores (both physical and virtual), as well as proceeds from tickets to the wildlife parks, come with Conservation Included, contributing to conservation projects throughout Singapore and the Southeast Asia region. All items will be available in-stores at the Singapore Zoo, River Wonders and Night Safari retail shop, and selected items available on e-stores Shopee and Lazada.

In the spirit of giving, you can also give back to a meaningful cause amid the festive cheer with Mandai Wildlife Group’s partnership with Soft Toy Hospital. Bring your pre-loved plush toys to the donation boxes located within the retail shops at Rainforest KidzWorld in Singapore Zoo and River Wonders, to be upcycled and rehomed to underprivileged children and related charities.

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5. Another Sole

Weighing only 280g, shoes from Another Sole are really quite perfect for travel. They stitch the soft leather directly onto the flexi-rubber soles, which makes the shoes soft and flexible, just like gloves on your feet.

But besides providing great quality light-weight shoes, Another Sole also has another mission – to feed children and build sustainable communities.

10% of their revenue will go towards this goal. This #Buy1Feed1 fund will be used for the buying of food supplies and funding sustainability for underfunded orphanages, building sustainable communities for children to thrive and qualified missions with a school feeding operation. They are currently working with charities that are already functioning towards the goal of benefiting the kids directly.

Website: anothersole.com

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6. TOMS Shoes

Toms one for one

In 2006, American traveller Blake Mycoskie befriended children in Argentina and found they had no shoes to protect their feet. Wanting to help, he created TOMS Shoes, a company that would match every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need. One for one.

They have since given close to 100 million shoes to people in need. To carry on the spirit of giving, TOMS dedicates a third of their net annual profits to a giving fund.

Website: toms.com

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7. FEED: Products That Feed The World

Photo credit: FEED

FEED began in 2006 when acclaimed model and activist Lauren Bush designed a bag to benefit the United Nations World Food Programme’s (WFP) School Feeding program. She first created the FEED 1 bag, a reversible burlap and organic cotton bag reminiscent of the bags of food distributed by WFP, to help raise funds and awareness around these school feeding operations.

FEED also started a non-profit organisation called the FEED Foundation, which is dedicated to supporting programs and organisations that are effectively working to fight hunger and eliminate malnutrition throughout the world.

To date, FEED has provided over 100 million meals.

Website: feedprojects.com

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This post has been updated. An original version of this article was first published in The New Age Parents e-magazine.

It is almost Christmas. We have compiled a list of Places to See Snow in Singapore 2022 and Christmas Events in Singapore. Do check them out.