What Impact Will Your Gift Have This Christmas?

Australians are expected to spend over $50 billion in the lead up to Christmas, and while gifts are a great way to show appreciation for your loved ones, the charity and B-Corp sectors are encouraging shoppers to think creatively in their gift giving this year.

While Christmas is a time for gift giving, celebration, food and family, it’s also a time when charities encourage people to give back through their Christmas appeals.

If you’re trying to buy for the person who has everything, charities like The Smith Family, Foodbank, and World Vision Australia have gift giving options that extend beyond material value.

World Vision Australia CEO Claire Rogers told Pro Bono News gifts that have a greater impact can show people, particularly children, that the true meaning of Christmas lies in helping those most in need.

“For all the children opening gifts on Christmas morning, there are many more who are going without,” Rogers said.

“You can supply children with pencils to help kids write and draw their way to a future full of opportunity… a family in need can be gifted two chickens, providing them with more than 1,000 eggs, a valuable source of protein, and income opportunities leading to brighter futures for the next generation.”

With the 2018 Foodbank hunger report revealing that four million Australians have experienced some form of food insecurity in the past 12 months, Foodbank CEO Briana Casey said Christmas could be a particularly tough time for those struggling to put food on the table.

“This month alone, Foodbank will provide food relief for 710,000 people – 26 per cent of whom are under the age of 19,” Casey said.

“These are everyday Australians who have fallen on tough times, whether it be related to loss of employment, rental/housing affordability issues, an unexpected expense or a serious medical condition.”

She said there was a variety of simple ways people could help those struggling in the holiday season.

“You can organise a food drive, make a donation of any size – 50 cents will provide a meal to a vulnerable Aussie – or sign up as a volunteer at your local Foodbank.”

But donating to a Christmas appeal in the name of a family member isn’t the only way to make a difference. The number of social enterprises on the market has exploded in the last couple of years, and buying your gift from a business for good is the perfect way to still give a great present while doing good.

If you’re overwhelmed for choice, the 2018 Ethical Gift Guide lays out some of the most innovative, certified B-Corp’s around. From cosmetics, to outdoor gear, clothing, and wine – the guide has something to match everyone’s tastes.

So before you go out and buy yet another generic present this Christmas, charities say you should have a think about what impact your gift could have on the world and the most vulnerable in society this year.