The Gifts That Give Twice Items Ordered Through Nonprofit Agencies Support Work Of Charitable Organizations

Are you looking for a unique gift for the person who has everything? Consider a gift that extends its giving beyond the holiday season.

Often called a gift that gives twice, a purchase of one of these items returns a percentage of its proceeds to a charitable organization. The funds are used by the nonprofit groups to provide vital services to the community.

Altruism is always appreciated and the recipients of these gifts enjoy knowing that others are benefiting. Here are some exclusive items from local and national organizations that are delightful to give and meaningful to receive.

Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery Santa Express Store

Children who shop at Santa Express will learn the joys of giving while indirectly helping youngsters in our community who face crisis situations. The annual fund-raiser of Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery is a holiday store at NorthTown Mall filled with magnets, scented candles, stuffed animals, golf balls and much more - priced from 25 cents to $5.

Volunteers assist children 12 and under to choose and wrap their presents. Proceeds fund the nursery’s work of providing immediate, short-term relief to children while offering support and education to parents.

Santa Express opens Friday and continues through Dec. 23 on the second floor of NorthTown Mall. Hours are noon to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Beeswax Candles Benefit Suicide Prevention Organization

Sacajawea Middle School students offer handrolled beeswax candles with proceeds to benefit SMILE, a local suicide prevention agency. The 11-inch taper candles are available in several colors, sold in ribboned sets. A small card accompanies the gift, explaining its significance. Each set is $5 and can be purchased from noon to 3 p.m. every Saturday until Christmas at Joel’s, 165 S. Post in Spokane.

Children’s Home Society of Washington Gourmet Gifts

The Children’s Gift Catalog offers boxes of fresh fruit, gourmet foods and regional products with proceeds providing valuable support to the Children’s Home Society of Washington. The statewide organization strengthens children and families through programs including foster care, counseling and adoption support services.

Choose from Anjou pears, Red Delicious apples, and Cheddar and Jack cheese in sampler boxes ranging from $26 to $54. A delicious breakfast box includes blueberry pancake mix and blueberry syrup, scone mix, apricot preserves and your choice of tea or coffee for $27. Fresh and fragrant Evergreen Wreaths combine boughs of Incense Cedar, Blue-Berried Juniper and Noble Fir. A 20-inch wreath is $37.

Order by Dec. 14 to ensure delivery by Christmas. Call (800) 817-KIDS.

CASA Christmas and Hanukkah Cards

Whimsical children’s art decorates a variety of holiday greeting cards with proceeds to help abused children in Spokane County. The items are offered through CASA, the Court Appointed Special Advocate program, that works to ensure children are well represented in court.

A box of 20 cards and envelopes is $12. Also available is a Kids for Kids coloring book for $5, and a set of gift labels of children’s art for $1 per sheet. Request a brochure by calling Susan or Colleen at 458-2469. A limited number of items are also available for purchase at Spokane County Juvenile Court Services, 1208 W. Mallon.

Hospice of Spokane Holiday Gifts

Proceeds from an exclusive group of reasonably-priced gifts help terminally ill persons and their families in Spokane County. Hospice of Spokane offers notecards, gourmet foods and household items.

All catalog offerings are on display at the Hospice office, 1325 W. First, Suite 200. Gifts can also be purchased at the downtown Spokane Transit Authority Bus Plaza from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, through Dec. 23. For more information, call 456-0438.

Habitat for Humanity Holiday Gifts

A catalog of holiday gifts is available from Habitat for Humanity to help the non-profit organization build low-incoming housing in communities across the country. Catalog highlights include items bearing the Habitat logo, such as an all-purpose canvas apron for $8.95 (item 1807); a durable fanny pack with two outside pockets for $10.95 (item 1872); and a canvas tote bag with sturdy straps for $14.95 (item 1845). To place an order or request a catalog, call (800) 422-5914.

The Seeing Eye Holiday Greeting Cards

Dog lovers will enjoy two styles of holiday cards which benefit The Seeing Eye guide dog school, a philanthropy organization founded in 1929 which matches specially bred and trained dogs with blind men and women in the United States and Canada.

Both greeting card styles are reproductions of original watercolors commissioned by the school. “Holiday Hopes” features Seeing Eye puppies playing with a guide harness, surrounded by a decorative border of dog biscuits. The inside greeting reads, “May all your hopes and dreams come true.”

The “Special Delivery” set shows Santa Claus delivering a squirming sack of puppies to the front door of The Seeing Eye office during a snowfall. The card reads, “Delivering warm wishes for the holiday.”

A box of 20 cards and envelopes is $13, plus $6.95 postage/handling for the first box and $1 for each additional box. Send orders by mail with a check payable to: The Seeing Eye, c/o Parcel Plus, Chester Springs Shopping Center, Route 206, Chester, NJ 07930. Credit card orders can be sent via fax: (908) 879-5661. For information, call (973) 539-4425, ext. 751.

Better Homes Fund Holiday Gifts

Three charming gifts support the Better Homes Fund, an organization dedicated to helping homeless families become independent and self-sustaining:

The 1997 Collector’s Ornament is a 24-karat gold-plated scene of a Victorian seaside cottage for $19.95, plus $2.95 shipping.

Artist Mary Engelbreit has created “My Symphony,” 18 distinctive illustrations which accompany a 19th-century poem of the same name by William Henry Channing. The illustrations reinforce the verses’ theme of leading a virtuous life. A set is $14.95, plus $2.95 shipping.

Cape Cod Works Soap is bundled with a sea shell and tasseled ribbon for $12.95, plus $2.95 shipping.

To place an order, call (800) 962-4676.

Cassidy’s Place Benefit Album

The Broadway Kids, a group of talented performers, sing 13 holiday favorites on “The Broadway Kids Sing Christmas,” an album to benefit Cassidy’s Place. The national children’s advocacy organization helps homeless, handicapped and AIDS-stricken children.

Some album favorites include “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus,” “Jingle Bells,” “Somewhere in My Memory” and “Earth and Sky.” Available on audio cassette ($8.98) and compact disc ($15.98). To order, call Lightyear Entertainment, (800) 229-7867.

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