‘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.
1. 2020 Hudson’s Bay Foundation Charity Bear
Photo: Hudson’s Bay
This adorable teddy is named Patrick after Sir Patrick Ashley Cooper, 30th Governor of Hudson’s Bay Company. Patrick is dressed in Hudson’s Bay Company’s iconic multistripes and features a 350 stamp on his left foot to mark the company’s 350th anniversary. All of the net proceeds from the sale of each bear will be donated to Hudson’s Bay Foundation and their commitment to improving the lives of Canadians. $24, thebay.com
2. Bowring’s Snowflake Wish Ornament
Photo: Bowring
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this glittery ornament will be donated to Make-A-Wish Canada, a foundation that creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses and whose mission is to bring every eligible child’s wish to life, because a wish is an integral part of a child’s treatment journey. $20, bowringwish.com
3. PetSmart Charities Holiday “Happy” Dog Toy
Photo: 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.com
4. Champion the Truth mask
Photo: Haley Elsaesser
The Champion the Truth capsule collection is a celebration and recognition of the essential service newspapers provide by delivering credible, diverse, local and original journalism in Canada. To support Canadian journalism, all proceeds from the sales of the Champion the Truth capsule collection will be donated to Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE). $25, hayleyelsaesser.com
5. No Cold Shoulder beanies and enamel pins
Photo: Nobis
For every beanie or pin sold, Nobis will donate 100 per cent of the pre-tax purchase price to New Circles Community Services, a community-based charity operating Toronto’s largest free clothing program GLOW (Gently Loved Outfits to Wear), which annually helps 13,000 newcomers, refugees and economically vulnerable families in Toronto to meet their basic needs and live and work with dignity. Beanie, $50; pins, $12/each; nobis.com
6. The City Shred black canvas loafer
Photo: City Shred
City Shred, in conjunction with George Sully, Founder of Black Designers of Canada, teamed up with six of the country’s top Black trainers and motivators to make this stylish black customizable shoe. All net proceeds from this initiative will be donated to Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada, who are working to remove barriers and create greater access to opportunities for children, youth and families involved in child welfare, particularly Indigenous and Black youth and families who have been and continue to be over-represented in child welfare. From $115, city-shred.com
7. Girl Power
Photo: Plan Canada
This monetary gift offers girls nourishment, education and protection through creating schools that are safe, 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. $100, plancanada.ca
8. Warmy by Magic Bag
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 $15, magicbag.com
9. 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
10. Bliss Plush Throw
Photo: Nordstrom
With the purchase of each cozy blanket, Nordstrom will donate a portion of proceeds to Operation Warm, an organization that provides winter coats to kids in local communities. $50, nordstrom.ca
11. The First Book Canada Tote
Photo: The Penny Paper Co.
All proceeds from the First Book Canada Tote will go to supporting First Book Canada’s mission to break down barriers to quality education, and provide books and educational essentials to children in need. $25, pennypaperco.com
12. 2020 Starlight Bear
Photo: Toys”R”Us
For the past 12 years, a plush bear is designed by a child who is or has been seriously ill recently and manufactured and sold at Toys”R” Us Canada with proceeds going to Starlight Children’s Foundation Canada. $20, toysrus.ca
13. 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
14. Toronto Public Library Foundation limited-edition puzzle
Photo: Toronto Public Library
For every puzzle sold, $20 of the proceeds will go towards supporting The Toronto Public Library, an essential resource in communities. $50, myshopify.com
15. Clean Water Series – Cupanion Bottle
Photo: Fill it Forward
For every bottle purchase, you unlock a $5 donation that goes directly to charitable partners. The Ontario bottle supports training and water restoration throughout Ontario First Nations communities. $20, fillitforward.com
16. Panda Toddler’s Tee
Photo: WWF
This branded t-shirt will not only show off their love for animals, but all net-proceeds help support conservation projects. $20, wwf.ca
17. Sebastian Professional Seb Man The Distinguished
Photo: Sebastian Professional
In association with Chatters, 10 percent from each purchase of this men’s hair care and grooming kit will be donated to charity to support men’s health research. $59, chatters.ca
18. Nobis x SickKids Foundation Bear
Photo: Nobis
Starting December 1, the Be Happy Bear will be available for purchase with 100 percent of sales being donated to the SickKids Foundation. $50, nobis.com
19. Happy Holidays Box
Photo: Sam & Lance
This company celebrates products ethically made by women. With the purchase of one of their holiday boxes, they’ll donate to the Native Women’s Resource Centre of Toronto’s Food Bank. $60, samandlance.com
20. Penelope the Flamingo
Image courtesy of Cuddle and Kind
Each doll from the Cuddle and Kind collection not only comes with a name, birthday and “about me” card, but for every purchase the company will provide 10 meals to children in North America and around the world. From $79, cuddleandkind.com
21. Walter Holiday Caesar Mix
Photo: Walter
Sure to add some luxury to your celebrations this holiday season, this limited edition Holiday Caesar Mix is made with sage, tarragon and North Atlantic lobster stock. For every bottle of Walter Holiday Craft Caesar Mix sold, the company will donate $1 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada. $7, loblaws.ca
22. Kids Ribbed Hat with Oversized Fur Pompon
Photo: Sentaler
Proceeds from the purchase of this cozy 100 percent alpaca hat (with an alpaca fur pompon) will be donated to The SickKids Foundation (The Hospital for Sick Children) in Toronto, Canada. $195, sentaler.ca
23. SickKids vs COVID-19 t-shirt
Photo: SickKids
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. $20, thesickkids5fifty5shop.ca
24. Children’s books
Photo: Indigo
For every children’s book sold, Indigo will donate 1 percent from the sale to support kids in high-needs communities across Canada. $29, indigo.ca
25. Vibes Ear Plugs
Image courtesy of Vibes
These hi-fidelity earplugs come in three sizes of interchangeable ear tips to ensure a comfortable fit for any sized ear and pocket-sized carrying case. Each Vibes purchase includes a donation to Hear the World Foundation, which provides hearing healthcare and hearing aids to children in need around the world. $43, amazon.ca
26. CAMH Gifts of Light Emergency Kit
Image courtesy of camh Foundation
Basic necessities, like a toothbrush and a pair of socks, mean everything to patients who arrive with nothing. $34, giftsoflight.ca
27. The Chalk Printed Scarf
Image courtesy of The Obakki Foundation
All proceeds from purchases of the scarves go towards building water wells in South Sudan. With every 500 scarves sold, The Obakki Foundation is able to drill a well, bringing clean water where none existed to the village of Mayual. $89, obakkifoundation.org
28. Thank You, Front Line 2020
Photo: Wonderkind
Send a thank you to your everyday hero with a care bag just for them. Packages include comforting, handcrafted products like tea and artisanal soap delivered to their doorstep. When you send a care package you are also supporting small businesses, communities across Canada and registered charitable partners. $99, wonderkind.ca
29. 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. $11, unicef.ca
30. Naeela Designs purses
Photo: Naeela Designs
Handmade with recycled metal and pieces of mosaic tile, a portion of each sale is donated to charities that provide victims of sexual violence with the resources and support they need to reclaim their dignity and begin the healing process. From $145, naeeladesigns.com