Give More Love This Christmas. photo courtesy of mysza831

As you tackle your Christmas gift list, try to think about how your dollar can do good. Not only will you be getting great gifts for your loved ones, but you’ll be supporting worthy causes at the same time. Here are some ideas that will make your dollar do more this Christmas season.

Flowers

Check out OrganicBouquet.com’s Flowers for Good section. Not only do these flowers smell good, but they do good, too. There are fifteen gorgeous bouquets to choose from, each one supporting a great cause like the American Lung Association, Nature Conservancy and Humane Society. Five percent of every purchase will support these charities.

T-Shirt

Everyone needs a funny t-shirt. Even though you can find these wardrobe staples in about three-fourths of the stores at the mall, why not pick one up at BringtheHope.com where 25% of profits go to charitable causes? That will make an ordinary t-shirt seem way more special.

Art

The beautiful photography found at AllieArt4Children’s Etsy shop supports Reach Out Children’s Fund, an organization committed to improving the lives of those living in the remote Andes mountains of Peru. Not only will you be purchasing an original work of art, but you’ll be supporting a great non-profit. And most of the art in the shop is under $20.

Soap

Magic Senses, the designer soap company, created a “Believe in You” Butterfly soap to support “Count Me In” in their efforts to promote economic independence and the growth of women owned businesses. 25% of the proceeds will be donated to this cause.

Purse

At Clutch for Cures, $10 from every purchase goes to a charity. When you make your purchase you’ll be asked to choose from a selection of non-profits and that’s the charity that will receive your $10. The unique clutches are designed by a mother of six in St. Louis. Choose from dozens of colors and designs to find one that someone on your gift list will love.

Food

Who doesn’t love good food? It’s a great gift idea for just about anyone on your list. And when you buy the food from AmericanFeast.com you can feel good about supporting family-owned sustainable farms in your area. Search for meat, cheese, and sweets that are made by farmers– not huge corporations.

photo courtesy of redstamp.com

Feel the need to do something you’ve never done before? Want to bless a stranger or make someone’s day even though you’ve never met? A funny thing happens when you try to do something nice for others– you end up feeling better, too! Try some of these ideas for giving a gift to a complete stranger.

Pay For the Person Behind You

This works perfectly whether you’re in the drive-thru at McDonald’s or waiting to pay a toll on the Interstate. Simply tell the cashier you want to pay for the person behind you. They’ll get a surprise gift and you’ll feel good knowing you’ve done something to improve another person’s day.

Send an Anonymous Gift

Pull out your phone book, close your eyes, and point to a name. Wherever your finger lands is the recipient of your gift. Send them a card with some encouraging words, some cash or a gift card to a local restaurant.

Call the Utility Company

Call your local power or water company. Tell them you want to pay someone’s bill who is at risk of having their service cut for non-payment. Perhaps you’re helping a struggling single mom or a father that lost his job. You may never know how much this gift means to someone in need.

Help a Teacher

Find an under-served classroom in your area through AdoptaClassroom.com and help a teacher by purchasing needed supplies or books. Not only will you be giving the teacher a gift, but you’ll be helping the students as well.

Bake Some Treats

Bake brownies, cookies or pies and take them down to your local fire station. Chances are you don’t know any of the men and women there, but you’ll be giving them a great gift– the knowledge that someone appreciates their hard work.

Pick up the Tab

Next time you’re at a restaurant, gas station or coffee shop, offer to pick up the tab for a stranger. If they ask for a reason just tell them you wanted to make another person’s day. And chances are you will.

“Wear Your Music” guitar string bracelets are unique bracelets and make a great gift to anyone who loves music and music artists.  These bracelets give fans an opportunity to take part and support artist’s charities while wearing a piece of music history.  Artists from Eric Clapton, John Mayer, and Avril Lavigne turn in their used guitar strings to have made into high-end bracelets for you to wear!  Best of all, a portion of each sale goes to different artist charities, such as Carlos Santanta’s Milagro Foundation and The Greatful Dead-affliliated Rex Foundation.

 

The Wear Your Music Artist Bracelets let you pick the artist you want your strings from!  Each guitar string bracelet is handcrafted from recycle fine silver and the used guitar strings from your artist of choice, making this bracelet also 100% Eco-friendly.  Each bracelet comes with a certificate of authenticity and packaged in a recycled DVD case.  Profits are donated to the artist selected charity or foundation.

Price: Varies by Artist

The Wear Your Music Fashion Bracelets are “one size fits all” bracelets that are crafted from a pool of over 150 various artists, including those from bands such as Metallica, Phish, and Social Disorder.  These unisex bracelets are made from real guitar strings and come in a number of stylish colors. A percentage of the profits from these bracelets are donated to charities that support music.

Price: $7-10 individually, variety packs available

Check out WearYourMusic.org for more information about the bracelets and other Wear Your Music merchandise.

GIVEAWAY

WearYourMusic.org has generously donated a Fashion Bracelet to one of our readers.

This Giveaway is for US residents only.

Prize: a fashion bracelet from Wear Your Music. We’ll have 1 lucky winner.

How to enter (required): visit wearyourmusic.org and then come back and leave a comment with the name of your favorite product.

For additional entries (leave a new comment for each additional entry):
- one additional entry if you grab one of our buttons and post it on your blog, please post the link;
- one additional entry if you join us on Facebook;
- one additional entry if you follow us on Twitter;
- one additional entry if you send a tweet about this giveaway, please post the link (once a day only);
- one additional entry if you fave us in Technorati;
- one additional entry if you blog about this Giveaway with a link back to 1HappyCorner.com and http://www.wearyourmusic.org
- one additional entry if you follow 1HappyCorner.com via email.

The giveaway ends on June 25, 2009. Good luck!

*Please make sure you leave a comment for each additional entry so you get credited.
*Also, please make sure you typed in the correct email address.
*The winner will be announced via e-mail and has 2 days to get back to us or other name will be chosen.

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Thank you all for participating!! The winner is…

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11

Timestamp: 2009-06-28 16:31:39 UTC

Congratulations, littlepurpleroom!! You have 2 days to contact us. If we don’t hear from you, another name will be chosen.