Reply #2: A Great List

[grilled onions]

One should think "landfill". Will it end up in the landfill? Will the gift be contained in huge amounts of plastic,cardboard and other wasteful materials? Will the toy be broke in a week and again end up in a landfill? Few toys today can be repaired and it's crazy to buy it the second time. Aim for gifts that can be "given" again and again. A book "gift' to a senior center can be read all year long by many residents. If you have artsy talent a small watercolor painting,for example, can add so much to someone who lives alone. A gift card may seem kind of dull for many because they have so much but such a gift to someone with so little will give them the joy of picking things they might never be able to get otherwise. Shelters,human and animal can always use volunteer hours and they always have a list of items that can be utilized immediately.
It's not how much you give but what you give that counts!