They say it's better to give than to receive. Why not let your loved ones do both with these charity gifts, writes Joanne Hunt
1 For the girlsAn exclusive for the Fashion Targets Breast Cancer Ireland campaign, Marc Jacobs' bag features his signature character, Miss Marc. In a "Fight Like a Girl" tank and red boxing gloves (main pic), this girl's a survivor.
Roomy and packable, not only are you gifting great street style but retailing at €35, every penny goes towards programmes for Irish women fighting breast cancer.
For this designer bag with attitude, check out cancer.ie/catalog
For girls taming their tresses this season, there’s the Orchid GHD. Available wherever GHDs are sold, €10 from every sale goes to the Irish Cancer Society.
2 Recipe for Gift SuccessWhether it's brown bread, bacon and cabbage or a Christmas cake, every family has a recipe, loved as much for the memories it evokes as its taste
The Mixing Bowlis a beautifully illustrated collection of 70 family recipes, anecdotes and memories from men and women cared for at Our Lady's Hospice, Harold's Cross.
Sometimes passed on on the back of envelopes or dictated to family members, the delectable recipes are ingrained with years of experience, wisdom and wit. This is a tome of tips, tales and anecdotes from hobs all around Ireland.
€12 from themixingbowl.ie, in all good bookshops or on freefone 1850-660606. Proceeds go to older people’s services at Our Lady’s Hospice Harold’s Cross.
3 Send an ArkStruggling to think of the perfect gift for a loved one this Christmas? Why not give them the gift of knowing they are helping one of the poorest families in the world to lift themselves out of poverty?
Prices range from €10 for a share of snails destined for families in Cameroon where they will provide both nutrition and income, to €5,000 for the Bóthar Global Village gift comprising livestock for 17 of the poorest families as well as the training and veterinary support each family needs to get their mini-farms up and running.
Every gift comes with a gift card for you to put under the tree, ready for opening on Christmas day. Visit Bothar.ie or call 1850 829 999.
4 For GrannyWant to show your granny how much you love her this Christmas? Send her to Africa.
Well, not quite – but Oxfam is helping you to send your granny’s love there this Christmas with its unique “Supergranny” gift.
With a generation of African children loosing their parents to HIV and AIDS, it’s often their grandmothers who come to the rescue. Oxfam is supporting these grannies, who are just as amazing as yours, in countries like Malawi and South Africa. Purchase Oxfams “Supergranny” gift for €59 and you’ll be helping them to feed and school their grandchildren. And you’ll get a special Supergranny card telling your Nana all about it. We think shell be tickled pink. oxfamirelandunwrapped.com
5 Give a dog a homeIs someone you love longing for a pet? Well mums, dads and boys and girls of all ages are invited to two open days at the Dublin SPCA on December 17th and 18th when staff will be delighted to introduce you to their furry friends.
With loveable dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs and even horses all looking for homes, chat to staff about adopting a pet over a hot chocolate between 10am and 6pm.
With pets vaccinated, micro-chipped, wormed, de-flead and neutered before going to a new home, adopting from your local SPCA makes sense. For details see dspca.ie or contact your local branch.
6 Help SantaWith seven billion people now on the planet, Santa's never been busier. Teaming up with Barnardos Christmas Toy Appeal, he wants to make extra sure that every little boy and girl in Ireland has a gift under the tree this Christmas – and hes asking you for a hand.
In his postbag are requests for soft or sensory toys for toddlers, character or action toys for five to six-year-olds and games, dressing-up outfits, books and music for children up to age 12.
Santa would be grateful if unwrapped, new toys can be brought to any of the 120 GLS parcel shops countrywide between November 21st and December 21st. GLS and Barnardos will handle all North Pole logistics.Visit gls-parcelshop.ie, freefone 1800-283029 or visit barnardos.ie
7 Musical charityTen-year-old Emma McCarron's CD A Lighter Heart is a stocking-filler with a difference.
Emma underwent extensive treatment for more than two years at Crumlin Childrens Hospital when she was diagnosed with a rare childrens cancer, Neuroblastoma.
This year Emma (left) decided she wanted to do something for Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Dublin, and after she became interested in singing, collaborated with some talented relatives to record a CD. The result is four beautiful songs sung in Emma’s unique sean nós style.
All the proceeds go to Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital. It can be purchased or downloaded direct for €5 on emmamccarron.ie
8 Smart cardsSome of the wittiest Christmas cards you'll buy this year will not only give the recipients a giggle, but all of the proceeds go directly to LauraLynn House, Ireland's first Children's Hospice. The 12 days of Christmas are created by professional designers in memory of Daniel Farrell after his parents John and Fiona came up with the idea after his untimely death at just 15 months in 2007.
Cards are €10 for a pack of 12, from the Children’s Sunshine Home (sunshinehome.ie) and at Applegreen and Game outlets nationwide.
And remember, if you have unwanted gifts or want to make space for new stuff, your local Gorta shop will gratefully receive items from January 3rd.