20 Sweet Gifts That Give Back, From $15 And Up
The only thing better than a thoughtful gift is a thoughtful gift that gives back. Whether it’s supporting Canadian wildlife, building peace or helping women and children around the world, here are 18 gift ideas that do just that.
Halifax Public Libraries Libaries “Logo” Canvas Tote, $15
Book lovers will appreciate a gift that supports their local library—many major public library systems sell merch whose proceeds supports their programming, services and/or collections. This cheery tote is inspired by the Halifax Public Libraries logo.
Paws & Give Kitty Bestie Bottle, $35
This incredibly cute bottle keeps drinks hot—or cold—and is perfect for young cat lovers. (Don't worry, there’s also an equally cute puppy version). Paws & Give is run by the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society, and each purchase supports shelter pets, spay and neuter programs and more.
Ronald McDonald House Canada: A Lifeline for Families with Sick Children, $25, $50, $100
When a child is critically sick or injured, being surrounded by the love and support of their family shouldn’t be a privilege. Ronald McDonald House is a lifeline for families – providing them with wraparound care, resources, and the stability they need to stay strong during their child’s fight. Your donation will help provide a community of support, warm meals, and a place to rest. Now more than ever, families across Canada need you. Donate today to help families stay in their child’s fight.
Peace Collective Santa Claus Parade Map Hoodie, $106
This midweight unisex hoodie—with a kangaroo pocket and small Santa illustration on the front—will appeal to their nostalgic side. (It’s also available in a forest green kids’ version.) Even better, Peace Collective is a Canadian company that donates 1% of its sales to support mental health research at CAMH, Canada’s largest mental health teaching hospital.
Plan Canada Food Basket, $50
This food basket from the Canadian children’s charity—which operates in nearly 80 countries—will be distributed to pregnant women and mothers of young children. It’s full of pantry staples, including dried beans, sugar, fortified cereal and cooking oil.
Purdys Chocolatier Dear Santa Bar, $6
A creamy milk chocolate bar packed with crunchy salted toffee bits. $2 from every bar sold will support a partnering children's hospital foundation across Canada, helping to fund child care for kids and their families during the holidays.
Province of Canada Striped Socks, $19
These retro-looking made-in-Canada crew socks have a cushioned sole and are made from 80% GOTS certified organic cotton (as well as nylon and Lycra). For every pair purchased, the brand donates another pair to a Canadian homeless shelter.
Milkjar Doug Candle, $39
Meet Doug, an evergreen, bourbon and musk scented candle that is guaranteed infuse any room with holiday spirit. Milkjar, based in Calgary, donates a dollar from every sale to help non-profits that support inclusion and safe workplaces. To date, the company has donated more than $445,000.
Make-A-Wish® Canada Gift of Adventure, $80
Choose a gift that improves health outcomes for sick children. Every WishGift helps fill a prescription that can cut the chances of a child needing the ER in half. With a Gift of Adventure, a child can explore without limits and discover who they can become—a superhero, a firefighter, a princess or anything else they can imagine. These transformational experiences build strength, resilience and hope when a child needs it most.
Cuddle + Kind Violet the Fawn, $104
Hand-knit in Peru, this adorable soft toy is made with pure cotton wool and stuffed with hypoallergenic fluff. With each purchase of Violet the Fawn, Cuddle + Kind donates 10 meals for children in 77 countries around the world through World Food Program USA, Children’s Hunger Fund, Breakfast Club of Canada and Feeding America.
Toques From The Heart Classic Toque, $50
This made-in-Canada acrylic toque comes in 14 colours (perhaps unsurprisingly, we’re partial to the hot pink). For each toque purchased, one is given to a Canadian experiencing homelessness in cities across the country.
UNICEF Plumpy’Nut®, $16 to $53
This holiday, make a lasting impact on a child’s life with a UNICEF Plumpy’Nut® Survival Gift®. Malnourished children need to gain weight fast and this lifesaving, tasty peanut-based and micronutrient-enhanced therapeutic food could help a child gain up to two pounds per week. With every Survival Gift purchased, you help UNICEF reach more children with urgent aid in the world’s most difficult places to be a child. Shop now and get a free card with every order.
Comeback Snacks Popcorn Sampler, $65 for 10 225-g bags
Comeback Snacks’ flavoured popcorns are incredibly delicious, and company founder Emily O’Brien has an inspiring backstory. While incarcerated, she noticed how some of her fellow inmates were able to make delicious and inventively flavoured popcorns while staying within their food budget. When she left prison, she founded Comeback Snacks. The company employs people with criminal backgrounds and also donates a portion of its profits to organizations that facilitate reintegration programs, prison reform and recidivism reduction—including the Elizabeth Fry Society, which supports women who are criminalized.
Cheekbone Beauty Sustain Lipstick in Yakni, $18
Tuck this orange-y brown lipstick from the Indigenous woman-founded Cheekbone Beauty into their stocking and all proceeds will go to the brand’s Indigenous Youth Scholarship Fun.
Diabetes Canada Banting House Holiday Tree Ornament, $25
Made in Canada, this intricately crafted pewter ornament captures Banting House National Historic Site, the London, Ont., home where Dr. Frederick Banting conceived his idea that led to the discovery of insulin. Stewarded by Diabetes Canada, the birthplace of insulin allows people from around the world to pay tribute to Banting and his team, their life-saving medication, and reflect on the Flame of Hope that burns until a cure for diabetes has been found. Support this legacy by purchasing an ornament this holiday season.
Peace By Chocolate Artisan 48 Peace Box, $63
Peace by Chocolate was founded by a Syrian family who immigrated to Antigonish, N.S., after operating a chocolate company in Damascus for nearly 30 years. This stunning box of chocolates includes chai spice truffles, dark chocolate caramel squares and mango-filled white chocolate domes, and three to five percent of profits go to the company’s Peace on Earth Society, which funds peace-building projects around the world.
WWF-Canada Symbolic Wildlife Adoption Kit, $50
This holiday, help wildlife thrive by adopting a capybara for a loved one. World Wildlife Fund Canada’s symbolic adoption kits include a gorgeous plush animal designed with wildlife experts, a personalized adoption certificate and a fact-filled poster about the species—all wrapped up in a reusable tote bag. This gift funds conservation efforts, helping real life species by protecting and restoring threatened habitats and fighting climate change. Shop more than 45 species now.
Evio Beauty Hydrogel Eye Therapy Pink Perspective, $22 for six
Brandi Leifso founded Evio Beauty in 2014 while living in a safe house after escaping an abusive relationship. Today, her Toronto-based brand has donated more than $500,000 to 28 shelters and non-profits in North America—and makes some seriously refreshing, de-puffing eye patches.
Save the Ocean, Save the Earth Cotton Long Sleeve, $65
Let them wear their values on their sleeve with this made-in-Toronto organic cotton pre-shrunk sweatshirt. Five dollars from every purchase will be donated to Sea Shepherd, which protects marine wildlife from illegal fishing worldwide.
YWCA Canada A Gift of Safety and Hope, $25
For too long, roses have been laid in grief for lives lost to gender-based violence. This holiday, join us and reclaim the rose as a symbol of action and hope. Support survivors and their children through outreach, awareness, and expanded services by donating to YWCA Canada’s national Rose Campaign. Help create a just, safe and equitable world—because this ends when we all begin: one voice, one rose, one action at a time.
Birds and Beans Snow Bunting Christmas Blend, $20 for 12 oz
Industrial coffee production has a huge environmental impact, from the destruction of tropical forests to the side effects of pesticide use—both of which impact migratory birds. If you have an avid birder on your list who also loves coffee, a pound of bird-friendly coffee is the perfect gift.
As Brett Tryon writes in our bird-friendly coffee explainer, the bird-friendly certification program, which was created by the Migratory Bird Center, a branch of the Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute in Washington, DC “is the most stringent [coffee] certification because it is both certified organic and truly shade grown... With strict criteria and regular inspections, the Smithsonian can verify that participating farms are organic and provide habitat for birds and wildlife.”
This Snow Bunting Christmas Blend from Birds and Beans—a Etobicoke, Ont.-based coffee roaster that specializes in Bird Friendly coffee—has notes of chocolate, mandarin orange, toffee and candy cane.
This article contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
The very best of Chatelaine straight to your inbox.
Maureen Halushak is the editor-in-chief of Chatelaine. Outside of work she's an avid runner, writer, reader and dog walker.
