2009 GREEN GIFT GUIDE – Gifts That Give Back

We’ve got gifts for every budget, but if any coupons are available for the items shown below, we have included them under the product description for your convenience! In some cases, these coupons can result in great deals! Gifts are listed increasing order by price, so the most affordable gifts come first, with the higher-priced offerings toward the end. This list will be updated as I find more unique, thoughtful gifts. Some gifts appear in more than one category

Mercy Corps Mercy Kits. Give one of dozens of Mercy Corps kit in your friend or loved one’s name, and you can both feel good about helping those in need throughout the world. An emergency food kit helps the corps quickly deliver nutritious food to families displaced by crisis, and a climate change kit provides seed money for carbon-neutral projects that help fight climate change and create living-wage jobs in poor communities. $18-1000.

Adopt a Polar Bear. Polar Bears are the oft-mention poster child of the effects of climate change.  Make a donation to the World Wildlife Fund, with proceeds going to support their polar bear conservation efforts. Based on the size of the donation, you will receive one of several gift kits that can include plush polar bears. They’re too cute to resist, and your gift could help save them in real life. $25-250.

Kiva microloan gift certificate. While business startup costs are often high in the U.S. and other developed nations, a small microloan of even just $25 could change the life of a person in a developing nation who is trying to make a better life for themselves and their families. Give a gift certificate that allows the recipient to decide who gets the microloan. $25-5000.

Blue Planet Run donation. When you have daily access to clean water, it can be easy to take for granted the fact that many people go without. A $30 donation will provide one person with a lifetime access to safe water, and a $10000 gift will buy a village of 110 families a complete water system. There are lots of other donation amounts in between. $30-1000.

Toms Shoes. The cause behind this company definitely warrants a new pair of shoes. Toms donates a pair of shoes to a child in need throughout the world with every purchase of a pair. The person on your list will feel extra special knowing that their gift also helped a little boy or girl. $34-98 (aff).

• Get 5% off with coupon code “grechen.” (Source: greengrechen.com)

Trees for a Change. This organization that plants trees as gifts in U.S. National Forests that have been destroyed by wildfire. They are planted in areas that would have a very difficult time regenerating themselves and unlike most gifts, trees aren’t just more “stuff.” They also using only 100% PCW recycled paper for their Tree Gift certificates. $35.

Adopt a Sea Creature with Oceana. There are organizations all over the world working to protect wildlife. Oceana works to protect the ocean and its inhabitants, and you can help. Gift a special gift — the adoption one of the sea creatures the group fights to protect: a dolphin, shark, polar bear, penguin, octopus, sea turtle, hammerhead, killer whale or seal. Choose between creature cookie cutters or a stuffed animal as a gift to be sent out to the recipient. $35-$150.

O Bracelets from the Macy’s Rwanda Collection. These gorgeous bracelets are handmade by two women — one in Rwanda who uses this livelihood to care for her family in a way that would not be possible otherwise, and another artisan stateside who completes the process. Show you are for the woman on your list, and women around the world, with this gift. $35-350.

• Get free shipping on Path 2 Peace products with coupon code “RwandaGNO.” Exp. 12/12/09.
• Get 20% off orders of $99 or more plus free shipping at Macy’s with coupon code “MACYSFRIEND.”