In a panic because your gift list has yet to be checked off? Rather than gifting loved ones with more of the same, why not give a gift in this person's honor that really makes a difference? Thanks to Woman's Day for some wonderful inspirations for $20 or less.
- For $1, onewarmcoat.org will provide two gently worn coats to someone who can't afford even one.
- Feedingamerica.org delivers food for the hungry; $1 will pay for 11 meals.
- Cellphonesforsoldiers.com allows active military members to talk for an hour with their faraway friends and family for $2.
- $5 buys a paintbrush for Habitat for Humanity volunteers building homes for the needy (habitat.org), plants five trees in Brazil for rain forest restoration (nature.org) or guarantees that a family receives two children's books to promote literacy (firstbook.org).
- For $7, St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital (stjude.org) will provide a medical teaching doll to help a child understand his or her life-threatening disease and treatment. And seniors who can't afford enough to eat, $7 delivers one sustaining meal from mealsonwheelsamerica.org.
- For $10, Doctors Without Borders, a group of providers who travel the world to help those in medical and crisis need, will cover 54 emergency food rations (doctorswithoutborders.org). 4 Paws for Ability can purchase a week's worth of food for service dogs being trained to help disabled kids and vets. (4pawsforability.org). Nothingbutnets.com helps combat malaria in sub-Saharan Africa by distributing bed nets to protect against mosquito bites. One net cost $10. Children's HeartLink can help acquire a stethoscope for medical staff treating children in developing countries for $10. (childrensheartlink.org)
- $15 pays for a breast cancer survivor's fly-fishing equipment and therapy retreat at castingforrecovery.org.
- To help the hungry in Third World countries, $17 buys seeds to plant vegetable crops. Go to worldvision.org.
- For $20, Heifer International will send a flock of chickens, ducks or geese to a poverty-stricken family in a poor country.
Contact Ellen Phillips at consumerwatch@timesfreepress.com.