45 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.

Cuddle + Kind 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

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

Raven Reads 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

Obakki 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

Purdys Dear Santa Bar

Photo: Purdys

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

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

PetSmart 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

Ellie Mae 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

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

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

Sentaler 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

Plan International Canada 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

Magic Bag 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

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

Lovevolve 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

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. $48USD, 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

L’Occitane 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

Olaeda 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

Lambert 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

Olive & Annie 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

Fill It Forward 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

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

Pandora 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

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

Sappho 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

Nobis 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

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

Iris & Sol 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

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

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

Unicef 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

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

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

Friday Sock Co. Kid’s Canadian Down Syndrome Society Fundraiser Socks

Photo: Friday Sock Co. 

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

The Good Challenge 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

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

Toys R Us 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

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

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

Solios 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

SilkzeesThe 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