Fair trade gifts keep giving
Purchasing a gift from Ten Thousand Villages means that families in developing countries can raise animals, grow vegetables, and send their children to school. Ten Thousand Villages is a non-profit, fair trade organization that provides vital, fair income to people in the developing world by marketing their handicrafts and telling their stories in North America. The Living Gift is a special program of Mennonite Central Committee. Purchase one of four Living Gift projects and receive a handmade ornament and card for the recipient of your choice. Projects include providing corn for families in Burkina Faso, purchasing chickens for Croatian families returning home after years of political unrest, providing school uniforms and learning materials for children in Laos, and purchasing goats for a project that brings people together from different sides of the Rwandan conflict. Ten Thousand Villages stores are located at 1204 Commercial Drive, 2909 West Broadway, and 1387 Marine Drive in West Vancouver. www.TenThousandVillages.ca

Give a “wild” gift
A Western Canada Wilderness Committee membership is educational, sustainable, action-oriented, and lasts all year. New members receive a beautiful wildlife card bearing the name of the giver, as well as many membership benefits. Choose between an individual ($30) or family membership ($52). Other gift ideas, including books, cards, posters, videos, hemp products, First Nations products, and more are available at WCWC’s online store. Visit www.wildernesscommittee.org/store/. You can also honour a loved one, who has died, by making a donation to the Wilderness Committee in his/her memory. Call 1-800-661-9453 for more information about gift-giving options.

Adopt an animal: save a habitat
The Land Conservancy of British Columbia offers gift certificates, holiday getaways, boat cruises, and adoption and sponsorship gift packages, as well as heritage preservation packages. For a $35 donation, you can help preserve an animal’s habitat or maintain a piece of property in BC. Children’s versions of many of TLC’s property and heritage conservation and animal adoption gift packages are also available. Gifts, such as clothing, books, and gardening items may be purchased at TLC’s retail stores. To order from TLC’s online catalogue, visit www.conservancy.bc.ca Call 1-888-738-0533 or email enterprises@conservancy.bc.ca

Buy a fruit basket and fight diabetes
Green Earth Organics is offering fresh fruit gift baskets filled with organic edibles to raise funds for the Canadian Diabetes Association. Baskets cost $50 and all profits are donated to the Canadian Diabetes Association. Each fruit basket contains a delicious selection of fresh, certified organic fruits, nut bars, teas, information about diabetes, and a16-page recipe booklet, published by the Canadian Diabetes Association. Free delivery is available to residents of Vancouver and surrounding areas.
To purchase baskets, call Green Earth Organics at 604-708-2345, or order online at www.greenearthorganics.com