42 holiday gifts that give back

‘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. Hand Knit Dolls

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 10 meals to children in North America and around the world. From $40, cuddleandkind.com

2. What Makes You Happy Scarf

The design of this Obakki scarf was inspired by the answers that children gave in response to the question: 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

3. Dear Santa Bar

These creamy milk chocolate bars are not only delicious—they’re studded with salted butter toffee pieces—but they’ll also help make a difference this holiday season. For each purchase, $2 will go towards supporting a children’s hospital of your choice. $5, purdys.com

4. Lesley Hampton x The Bay Holiday Beauty Calendar

Valued at $1,300, the Lesley Hampton x The Bay Holiday Beauty Calendar offers a sample size of a variety of luxe products to help you countdown to Christmas. 10 percent of all proceeds will go towards Indspire, a national charity investing in the education of Indigenous people. $225, thebay.com

5. Holiday “Chance” Plush Puppy

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

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. From $60, elliemaestudios.com

7. The City Shred black canvas loafer

City Shred, in conjunction with George Sully, Founder of Black Designers of Canada, teamed up with six of the country’s top Black trainers and motivators to make this stylish black customizable shoe. All net proceeds from this initiative will be donated to Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada, who are working to remove barriers and create greater access to opportunities for children, youth and families involved in child welfare, particularly Indigenous and Black youth and families who have been and continue to be over-represented in child welfare. From $115, city-shred.com

8. Girl Power

Plan International 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. $100, plancanada.ca

9. Raph the Dog

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 $15, magicbag.com

10. 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

11. The Human Being Journal

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, humanbeingjournal.com

12. 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

13. Solidarity Candle

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

14. Stella Multiple Compartment Tote Bag

For every purchase of this mom-friendly tote, a donation of $5 will be made to Make-A-Wish Canada. $140, designlambert.com

15. Bahari Baby Moccasin

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 $46, samandlance.com

16. Clean Water Series – Cupanion Bottle

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

17. Grapefruit, Tea Tree + Fir Shower Steamer Fizzy Bomb

Experience the spa without even leaving your home with this 100% pure essential oil shower steamer. Beautifully packaged in a giftable box with a mesh bag for hanging, five percent of proceeds from every purchase will be donated to the Lovin’ Soap Project. $9, pennypaperco.com

18. Kind Human Club x Project Halo for SickKids

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 helps to create spaces in the hospital for parents and caregivers to decompress.  $15, minimioche.com

19. UNICEF Dreams Of The Future Crayon Pendant Necklace Set

Pandora will donate $20 from every purchase of this necklace set to support UNICEF’s programmes around the world. Designed to represent the spirits, hopes and dreams of children, the pendant features the quote “supporting young voices.” $170, pandora.ca

20. WWF Wildlife Adoptions

Adopt a species to help conserve wildlife and bring home an adorable stuffy that doesn’t require any cleanup. You can choose from over 40 species; each adoption kit comes with an adorable plush animal. From $45, shop.wwf.ca

21. Speak Volumes Limited Edition Lip Gloss

The proceeds from every purchase of this vegan stunning 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

22. No Cold Shoulder Pin Pack

For every #NOCOLDERSHOULDER pin pack sold, Nobis is donating 100% or the proceeds to a participating charity. $50, nobis.com

23. Holiday Hand Knit Sock Gift Set

This gift set comes with a hand-knit sock crafted by women in rural Newfoundland through the Newfoundland Outport Nursing and Industrial Association (NONIA). The organization helps women to earn extra income and support their families through the sale of beautiful hand-knit goods. $79, terrebleu.ca

24. Greta and the Giants by Zöe Tucker and Zoe Persico

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

25. The Iris Pendant

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 $37, irisandsol.com

26. Sagoskatt 2021

Designed for children, by children, all proceeds from these soft toys will go to local initiatives that support children’s rights to play, develop and have fun. $5, ikea.com

27. CAMH Gifts of Light Emergency Kit

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

28. Kimono Romper

This romper is not only an easy way to look put together on our busiest days, but 10% of all sales will be donated to the Canadian Women’s Foundation, which supports women, girls and gender-diverse people to move out of violence and poverty and into confidence and leadership. $175, truandtrund.co

29. Cooks Who Feed Aprons

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 $75, cookswhofeed.com

30. Plumpy’Nut bars

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. $11, unicef.ca

31. Kid Connection Holiday Teddy

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 $18, walmart.ca

32. The Home Depot Canada Foundation Toque

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

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. Paris Jewellers x Shayla Stonechild

This limited-edition collection is designed with Arrowhead-inspired pieces to amplify the stories of Indigenous women. For each piece sold, 100% of the proceeds will be donated to the Matriarch Movement, whose mission is to rewrite the stereotypes and narratives around Indigenous women. From $129, parisjewellers.com

35. The Kids’ 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

36. Apple (Product)Red

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 12, iPhone 12 mini and Apple Watch Series 6, 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 $399, apple.com

37. 2021 Starlight Bear

For the past 13 years, a plush bear is designed by a child who is or has been seriously ill recently. The adorable stuffy is manufactured and sold at Toys”R” Us Canada with proceeds going to Starlight Children’s Foundation Canada. $25, toysrus.ca

38. The Holiday MEREband

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

39. Clearly Eyeglasses

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

40. The Bassinet Solution

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 2 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

41. Heart on Sleeve Varsity Jacket

This varsity leather jacket is giving us major Grease vibes and we love it—especially because 15% of the sales are donated to Up With Women & Black Women In Motion $165, hilarymacmillan.com

42. SickKids VS Grey Pullover Hoodie

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