‘Tis the season for giving and receiving. But isn’t it nice when you can find a holiday gift that does a little something extra? From providing meals to supporting girls in developing countries, we’ve rounded up some of our favourite gifts that give back this holiday season.
1. Baby Animal Collection
Photo: Courtesy of Cuddle + Kind
Each doll from the Cuddle + Kind collection not only comes with a name, birthday and “about me” card, but for every purchase the company will provide five to 10 meals to children in North America and around the world. From $42, cuddleandkind.com
2. HBC Point Blankets
Photo: Courtesy of HBC
The Blanket Fund, launched by Hudson’s Bay Foundation and the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund (DWF) will be donating a hundred percent of all net proceeds from the sale of HBC Point Blankets to Indigenous Peoples. From $325, thebay.com
3. 2022 Niimitaak! Holiday Gift Box
Photo: Courtesy of Raven Reads
Raven Reads was founded to support Indigenous authors and entrepreneurs. A hundred percent Indigenous-owned and women-run, purchasing this box will help amplify Indigenous voices and brands and helps Indigenous entrepreneurs and authors take a stronger position in the economy and to grow healthier communities. Inside, you will find luxury gift products sourced from some of their newest and lesser known brands from both Canada and the USA. $240, ravenreads.org
4. What Makes You Happy Scarf
Photo: The Obakki Foundation
The design of this Obakki scarf was inspired by the answers that children gave in response to the questions: What makes you happy? What makes you sad? What makes you afraid? All proceeds from the purchase of this scarf go towards providing food, education, housing and medical support for the children of St. Valentine’s Orphanage in Cameroon. $89, obakki.com
5. Chance & Friends Holiday “Lucky” Plush Kitty
Photo: Courtesy of Petsmart
Surprise your furry friend with an adorable squeaky plush. When you purchase this toy, you help support PetSmart Charities’ mission of finding lifelong, loving homes for all pets by supporting programs and thought leadership that bring people and pets together. For each plush purchased, PetSmart donates 10 percent of the sale to PetSmart Charities. $5, petsmart.ca
6. Kids Help Phone Tote Bag
Photo: Ellie Mae
This tote bag is not only perfect for your everyday needs (love the tie-dyed straps!), but will also help to spark a conversation. Proceeds from this bag will go towards Kids Help Phone’s Back-To-School initiative to help increase youth support and empowerment. $60, elliemaestudios.com
7. The gift of STEM learning: An investment in youth across Canada
Celebrate the teachers in your life by donating to Let’s Talk Science. A national charitable organization, Let’s Talk Science provides innovative programs and resources to Early Years to Grade 12 educators that help boost engagement in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Your gift helps ensure there are no costs to schools and communities, thereby minimizing barriers to STEM education and increasing future career awareness. Donation amounts are flexible to fit into your budget, letstalkscience.ca
8. Who Farted? by Farshore Farshore
Photo: Courtesy of Simon and Schuster
When you buy this hilarious seek and find book, one percent of the net proceeds goes towards helping children in high-needs communities through the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation. $20, indigo.ca
9. Children’s Signature Ribbed Hats
Photo: Courtesy of Sentaler
These exceptionally soft and warm hats are made from a hundred percent baby alpaca yarn and feature the signature Sentaler rib knit. Proceeds from the sale of all hats, scarves and gloves from this Canadian designer are donated to SickKids Foundation. $195, sentaler.ca
10. Gifts of Hope
Photo: Plan International Canada
Plan International Canada is offering monetary gifts to support girls’ nourishment, education and protection by creating safer schools and ensuring that girls are not forced into early and unsafe marriages. The money also goes to engaging boys and men to help achieve gender equality, and opening up economic opportunities to women so they can lead themselves and their families out of poverty. Some gifts are as low as $10 so visit their online shop to check out the wide variety of causes you can support. $100, plangifts.ca
11. Raph the Dog
Photo: Magic Bag
These cute little compresses are registered with Health Canada and are carefully filled with hypoallergenic rice to safely calm aches and pains and soothe troubled minds. For each Warmy product sold, a percentage of the profits goes to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. From $16, magicbag.com
12. Lucky Iron Fish
Photo: Lucky Iron Fish
This simple cooking tool provides 6 to 8 mg of iron per use, which is more than 50 percent of your daily required iron intake. A portion of every sale goes to help undernourished communities around the world. $50, luckyironfish.com
13. LOVE Swaddle Baby Blanket
Photo: Courtesy of Lovevolve
Each purchase of these printed swaddles goes towards supporting the One Love Foundation that provides swaddles to babies in participating hospitals. $40, lovevolve.com
14. The Human Being Journal
Photo: Mahara Mindfulness
Need a break from chasing your kids? This journal offers guided questions with regard to your health, career and relationships to help you practice mindfulness. A percentage of every journal sold will go towards supporting global mental health organizations. $48 U.S., humanbeingjournal.com
15. Toques from the Heart
Photo: Toques from the Heart
Everyone needs a good toque for the winter. That’s why for every knitted hat purchased from Toques from the Heart, they are giving another one to a Canadian experiencing homelessness. From $35, toquesfromtheheart.ca
16. Solidarity Candle
Photo: L’Occitane
For each of these vanilla-scented candles sold, L’Occitane is providing one year of vitamin A supplementations to four children. The lack of this crucial vitamin is one of the leading causes of childhood blindness and is essential to a child’s immune system. $12, loccitane.com
17. Rowan Earrings
Photo: Courtesy of Olaeda
This Toronto-based jewellery brand ethically curates and hand makes jewellery made from 14K gold-filled or solid gold. For every purchase, Olaeda donates to The Period Purse, a Canadian charity working to achieve menstrual equity and reduce the stigma surrounding periods. $80, shopolaeda.com
18. Stella Multiple Compartment Tote Bag
Photo: Lambert
For every purchase of this mom-friendly tote, a donation of $5 will be made to Make-A-Wish Canada. $140, designlambert.com
19. Bahari Baby Moccasin
Photo: Sam and Lance
Made in Kenya with ethically sourced material and chrome-free dyed leather, 100% of the profits from each pair will be donated to ZLT Hope Homes, which helps to support artisans in Nairobi, Kenya $47, samandlance.com
20. Clean Water Series – Cupanion Bottle
Photo: Fill it Forward
This water bottle is perfect for everyday use and it’s also helping to fund training and water restoration throughout Ontario’s First Nations communities. For every bottle purchased a $5 donation will be made to Fill it Forward’s charitable partners. $20, fillitforward.com
21. Kind Human Club x Project Halo for SickKids
Photo: Rachel Simpson
Mini Mioche’s newly launched Kind Human Club collection is exactly what you’d expect from the brand: super-soft organic cottons that will appeal to the whole family. The limited-edition line will donate 50 percent of all proceeds to ProjectHALO for SickKids, an organization that aims to help create spaces in the hospital for parents and caregivers. $15, minimioche.com
22. UNICEF Blooming Flower Double Dangle Charm
Photo: Courtesy of Pandora
Pandora will donate $20 from every purchase of this charm set to support UNICEF’s programmes around the world. The limited edition charm celebrates the potential of every young person, with the motif of a blooming flower and a star-set stone at the centre, to symbolize reaching for a bright future. $80, pandora.ca
23. WWF Wildlife Adoptions
Photo: Courtesy of WWF
Adopt a species to help conserve wildlife and bring home a super-sweet stuffy that doesn’t require any cleanup. You can choose from over 40 species; each adoption kit comes with an adorable plush animal. From $50, shop.wwf.ca
24. Speak Volumes Limited Edition Lip Gloss
Photo: Sappho
The proceeds from every purchase of this stunning vegan red lip gloss (made with organic oils and butters), will go towards the Kílala Lelum Indigenous Health and Healing Cooperative. The organization works to match Indigenous Elders with allied health professionals and provide physical, mental, emotional and spiritual care to Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside $44, mysappho.com
25. No Cold Shoulder Pin Pack
Photo: Nobis
For every #NOCOLDERSHOULDER pin pack sold, Nobis is donating 100% or the proceeds to a participating charity. $50, nobis.com
26. Greta and the Giants by Zöe Tucker and Zoe Persico
Photo: Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
This picture book retells the story of Nobel Peace Prize nominee and youth activist, Greta Thunberg. With each purchase, three percent of the cover price will be donated to 350.org, an organization working to end the use of fossil fuels and encourage renewable energy. $25, page-panel.myshopify.com
27. The Iris Pendant
Photo: Iris and Sol
Inspired by those who have suffered loss, a portion of the sale of each pendant will be donated to the Perinatal Mental Health at The Ottawa Hospital. From $40, irisandsol.com
28. CAMH Gifts of Light Emergency Kit
Image courtesy of CAMH Foundation
This gift package includes basic necessities such as a toothbrush and a pair of socks, and is given to CAMH patients who may otherwise arrive with nothing. Each gift includes a note or ecard that you can personalize. $34, giftsoflight.ca
29. Cooks Who Feed Aprons
Photo: Cooks Who Feed
For every apron sold, 100 nutritious meals are provided to those in need through the global charitable partners of Cooks who Feed. (In Canada, they’re distributed through Second Harvest.) The aprons come in a child and adult size for chefs of all ages. From $69, cookswhofeed.com
30. Plumpy’Nut bars
Photo: Unicef
Malnourished children need to gain weight fast. By purchasing this life-saving, peanut-based food supplement, you can help a hungry child gain up to two pounds per week. This gift will provide 21 packets of protein-packed Plumpy’Nut to nourish seven children who are suffering from malnutrition. $14, unicef.ca
31. Kid Connection Holiday Teddy
Photo: Walmart Canada
This brown fuzzy teddy bear gives more than just cozy snuggles. For every Teddy purchased, Walmart is donating $2 to Children’s Miracle Network. From $15, walmart.ca
32. The Home Depot Canada Foundation Toque
Photo: The Home Depot
A cozy hat to wear in the cold? Yes, please! One toque provides three nutritious meals a day, two toques provide a safe place to sleep and three toques provide one mental health counselling session. From $15, homedepot.ca
33. Kid’s Canadian Down Syndrome Society Fundraiser Socks
Photo: Friday Socks
The Canadian Down Syndrome Society (CDSS) and Friday Sock Co. have collaborated to create one-of-a-kind mismatched sock designs. Sold in a set of three, 100% of the profits will be given to CDSS to support their efforts to improve human rights, health, social participation, inclusive education and employment opportunities for those with Down syndrome. $16, fridaysocks.com
34. The Kids’ Challenge
Photo: The Good Challenge
These challenge packs come with 10 engaging activities to keep your kid busy while they get up to good! At least $10 from every pack is donated to a charitable organization (you can choose from over a dozen). You’ll also have the opportunity to win cool prizes and nominate others to participate in their own challenge. $50, thegoodchallenge.com
35. Apple (Product)Red
Photo: Apple
Each year, Apple releases a series of red products to fight against the impacts of HIV/AIDS. This year, with the purchase of the (Product)Red iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini and Apple Watch Series 7, Apple will direct 100 percent of eligible proceeds to the Global Fund’s COVID-19 Response to help provide services and treatment to some of the world’s most vulnerable communities. From $50, apple.com
36. 2022 Starlight Bear
Photo: Courtesy of Toys R Us
For the past 14 years, a plush bear is designed by a child who is or has been seriously ill recently. This year’s bear, The Sunshine Bear, was designed by five-year-old Noah,who was diagnosed with several congenital heart defects (CHDs) before she was born. The adorable stuffy is manufactured and sold at Toys”R” Us Canada with proceeds going to Starlight Children’s Foundation Canada. $25, toysrus.ca
37. The Holiday MEREband
Photo: Femme Faire
This stunning headband is not only the perfect accessory for the holidays, but the proceeds from each purchase will be donated to Girls INC, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering girls through various services and advocacy. The limited-edition headbands are ethically made in Canada. $45, femmefaire.ca
38. Clearly Eyeglasses
Photo: Clearly
If you’re looking to upgrade your eyewear, you can gift someone else a free pair of glasses at the same time. For every pair purchased, Clearly is donating a pair to someone in need. From $29, clearly.ca
39. Sesame Street x Peace Collective
Photo: Courtesy of Peace Collective
This nostalgic collection is perfect for the kid at heart. It offers everything from onesies to hoodies to totes and masks. In an effort to reduce their carbon footprint, the company manufactures each item from scratch but they’re ready to go within 5-10 days. And for every purchase made, a portion of the proceeds goes to the UNHCR to provide support to refugees and displaced communities. from $14, peace-collective.com
40. The Solar Blue
Photo: Solios Watches
This stylish wrist candy features a strap made from vegan leather and is solar powered by natural or artificial light so you’ll never have to change the battery. In fact, exposing it light for just two hours means it’ll have enough energy for six months. They’re also the first certified B Corporation company in the watch industry. With the purchase of this watch, Solios will donate $50 to the Make-A-Wish foundation. $350, solioswatches.ca
41. The Bassinet Solution
Photo: Silkzees
This 100-percent mulberry silk bassinet sheet will help your newborn sleep better at night. And you’ll sleep better at night knowing that 50 percent of the proceeds of the first two weeks in December will be donated to Scotland’s Yard, a dedicated group of women inspired to make Kids Cancer Care better in the Kitchener/Waterloo Community. $110, silkzees.com
42. Heart on Sleeve Varsity Jacket
Photo: Hilary Macmillan
This varsity leather jacket is giving us major Grease vibes and we love it—especially because 15 percent of the sales are donated to Up With Women & Black Women In Motion $165, hilarymacmillan.com
43. SickKids VS Grey Pullover Hoodie
Photo: The 5Fifty5 Shop
Proceeds from every 5Fifty5 Shop purchase help fund programs that have a direct impact on the patients and families at SickKids. With gifts ranging from the SickKids VS apparel, to board games, toys, musical instruments, books and more, there is something for everyone. $43, thesickkids5fifty5shop.ca
44. Be You Pop Socket
Photo: Autism Speaks
Gifts purchased from the Autism Speaks website that will help this organization that aims to support individuals with autism and their families. With so many items to choose from (like clothing, accessories and apparel), you’re sure to find something for everyone on your list. $13, autismspeaks.org
45. Purdys Dear Santa Bar [need image and link]
A creamy milk chocolate bar blended with salted butter toffee bits. $2 from every purchase of a Dear Santa Bar goes to a partnering Children’s Hospital Foundation. $5, purdys.com
