Alternative gifts: the 2008 round-up

This is an update of last year's post on alternative gift ideas (sometimes called ethical gifts). They won't clutter up anyone's home, but will make a significant contribution to the individual or community who are given the gift.

• Bible Society's Bible a Month
• Good Gifts
• Oxfam Unwrapped
• Samaritan's Purse Gifts to change a World
• Tear Fund's Living Gifts
• UNICEF Inspired Gifts
• World Vision's Alternative Gifts

And don't forget the Gift offset calculator which lets you to purchase carbon offsetting for driving, holidays, homes or even individuals!

Operation Christmas Child

Last year this blog ran a Countdown to Christmas series and the first post looked at Operation Christmas Child.

With less than 80 days until Christmas Day, maybe its time to preparing to send a message of hope to children in need around the world through gift-filled shoe boxes. You can drop off your filled shoeboxes between 1st - 18th November at a local Drop Off Point. If you would like to add a personal touch to your box, you could knit a scarf, hat or teddy. Its probably better not to knit a dalek!

Want to learn more about the impact of Operation Christmas Child? Then watch the video or read some stories.

Countdown to Christmas (3)

Still thinking about Christmas giving, here are some alternative gift ideas (sometimes called ethical gifts). They won't clutter up anyone's home, but will make a significant contribution to the individual or community who are given the gift. New this year is Tear Fund's Living Gifts - this is slightly different to the other schemes in that the recipient (rather than the giver) gets to choose the virtual gift.

• Bible Society's Bible a Month
• Good Gifts
  
• Oxfam Unwrapped
• RSPB Virtual Gifts
• Tear Fund's Living Gifts
• UNICEF Inspired Gifts
• World Vision's Alternative Gifts
  

Finally, the Gift offset calculator will enable you to purchase carbon offsetting for driving, holidays, homes or even one person's portion of the annual UK emissions (12 tonnes of CO!).

Countdown to Christmas

Am I the first person to point out that there are only 100 days until December 25th? If your first reaction is to utter a Scrooge-like "Bah, Humbug", then maybe a bit of retail therapy is required. But don't shop for yourself! Operation Christmas Child offers the ideal activity to focus on preparing for the Christmas season - by sending a message of hope to children in need around the world through gift-filled shoe boxes. Choosing gifts and then wrapping and filling a shoe box is a fun and rewarding activity – especially when you know these gifts are going to be used and treasured.

Operation Christmas Child enables caring individuals, churches, businesses, and other organisations to fill ordinary shoe boxes with small toys, school supplies, sweets, and other gifts for needy children around the world. Drop Off Points for the 2007 campaign will be open between November 4th and 20th. Want to learn more about the mpact of Operation Christmas Child - then watch the video or read some stories.