Why give Aunt Mabel another cookbook for Christmas, when she could help feed hungry kids in Africa ?  Giving the gift of food, water and shelter for people and animals are just a few of the environmental and humanitarian needs that might give some more meaning to playing Santa this year.

FEED 100 is a program exclusive to Whole Foods.  You buy the stylish organic cotton reusable shopping tote for $25 to give to Mom or your best friend, and part of the proceeds go to preparing 100 meals for Rwandan school children. 

Giving the gift of clean water doesn’t sound so impressive, but it’s a matter of life and death for many people in underdeveloped countries.  Poor sanitation and unclean drinking water cause disease and sickness.  1 out of 4 kids under the age of 5 dies due to water-related diseases.  I found two organizations that are committed to changing that.  The Water Project asks for people to join the effort to help bring safer conditions to thirsty people with money to build wells and water pumps.  And Water Partners International is a U.S. based non-profit which helps build accessible and sustainable water supplies for communities around the world.

And for the animal-lover in your life, buying them a calendar or similar type gift can help organizations feed, shelter and spay or neuter animals.  This Urban Tails calendar is not only made from 100% reycled paper -which saves trees, water and energy - but a portion of the profits goes to help get feral and stray cats off the streets and healthy again.

A word to the wise: Non-profit organizations must show how much of their charitable donations and other income actully go toward the cause and how much is spent on administrative fees, etc.  So it’s always smart to do some research before giving your hard-earned money away - even as a holiday gift.  Happy giving!

It’s our week of “giving green.”  Green gifts, that is.  The latest research shows that more people are concerned about taking care of the planet, so what better way to pay it forward than giving eco-friendly items to friends and loved ones on your list?

Many people are either cutting back or eliminating plastic water bottles from their daily routine.  For that plastic-free person in your life, try these cool Swiss-made aluminum drinking bottles from SIGG (pronounced Zigg.)  They’re reusable, recyclable and their unique lining keeps water or other beverages tasting as fresh as when you pour them in the bottle.  Seriously.  My son uses one in his backpack everyday and even after several days - the water never turns funky.  They make about 100 designs - and even some for kids - with interchangeable drinking tops, if you order on-line.  Price range is generally between $20 and $30, which sounds expensive - but they can last a lifetime.  http://mysigg.com/index.asp?PageAction=COMPANY

Are you an eco-conscious giver with a blank gift list for the holidays?  Here’s a super “green gifts” wish list that will make Santa green with envy!  And don’t worry - if you have mall-aphobia at the holidays - there are tons of terrific eco-gifts available on the web. 

Whether you’re shopping for someone who is a self-proclaimed tree-hugger or just want your holidays dollars to make a difference, Peaceful Valley Gifts out of Portland, OR offers a great variety of fun green things to choose from.  From recycled confetti glass drinking tumbers or a desk clock from reclaimed bicycle parts, I really liked the uniqueness of gifts on this website.  It’s hard NOT to find something for somebody here.