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Virtual gifts that can save the world

Virtual gifts
[Virtual gifts that can change the world/Getty Images]

The holidays are a time of giving but not all gifts come in the form of items you can hold in your hand. In fact, some of the best gifts you can give this season are virtual donations that will help put a smile on someone’s face, provide a cozy bed for a rescued animal, or give back to our abundant earth. Giving Tuesday may have passed but there are dozens of ways to donate to worthwhile charities across Canada – here are some to get you started. Feel free to list your favourite charity in the comments.

Wishing Well Sanctuary

Wishing Well Sanctuary in Bradford, Ontario is an oasis for animals. Each farmed animal that calls the sanctuary home has been rescued from death or an abusive situation. All the animals have their own unique life story and personality. There are over 50 happy animals on the property including cows, sheep, donkeys, pigs, goats, horses, chickens, cats, rabbits, and one gorgeous and curious white llama named Lightening that is always smiling his toothy grin. Wishing Well is also a center for humane education and healing and has seminars throughout the year to promote peace for all species. Sponsoring an animal monthly is a great gift for of course the animal, but also for the recipient that will receive the sponsorship certificate including the animal you have chosen. One-time donations are also accepted and help fund programs to promote emotional well-being for families

Llama
[A happy llama at Wishing Well Sanctuary/Miriam Porter]

Ve’ahavta

Ve’ahavta in Hebrew means “and you shall love” and they are Canada’s only Jewish humanitarian organization. Ve’ahavta, a non-profit registered charity, is based on Jewish values and believes in helping people of all backgrounds, cultures, and faiths that are marginalized by poverty. Their poverty alleviation programs rebuild human dignity while empowering individuals to break the poverty cycle. For twenty years their outreach van has been serving sandwiches to people living on the streets of Toronto. Ve’ahavta recently introduced a nutritious meal box program that will deliver wholesome meals to clients in need, and your holiday donation can go directly to funding this new initiative. They also offer a tribute card program with a personalized message in honour of a loved one.

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The Hospital For Sick Children

SickKids vision is “Healthier Children. A Better World” and they are constantly living up to this expectation. They are leaders in child health and passionately dedicated to improving the lives of children through compassionate care and clinical advancement. They do this though both local and global partnerships, research, and education. Perhaps SickKids has affected you personally in some way either as a patient years ago or as a parent you’re your own child. There are multiple departments to donate to including the toy and game fund that supplies toys for the hospital playrooms and used for diversional activities in patient care programs by Child Life staff.

Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation

The vision of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation (CBCF) is to create a future without breast cancer. They are Canada’s leading breast cancer charity and work towards supporting and advocating for the breast cancer community, funding groundbreaking research, and providing information to families dealing with breast cancer or who are at an increased genetic risk. One in nine Canadian women will be affected by breast cancer in their lifetime. There are multiple ways to donate to CBCF – you can honour a friend or family member with a personalized card sent to them or participate in Gifts for the Cure, an original virtual way to give back where you can choose exactly where your funds are going such emotional support to a patient, a research study, or an extraordinary BRA.

Rabbit Rescue Inc.

Rabbit Rescue is a lifesaving no kill registered charity in Ontario. They offer sponsorship certificates during the holiday season – perfect for the rabbit lover in your life that can’t adopt an actual rabbit. You can give a one-time gift or a monthly donation as an ongoing tribute. Your family member or friend will receive a personalized certificate with a message and a photo of the bunny the tribute is helping to save. Rabbit Rescue is the largest rabbit rescue organization in Canada. Not only do they rescue rabbits from abusive or life-threatening situations, they also adopt them out to loving homes, and provide programs and services to educate the public about animal welfare.

A Living Tribute

What better way to show love to someone than by planting a tree in their name? Through A Living Tribute you can plant a tree in Canada as a gift and send a personalized card to the lucky recipient. For $20 dollars you can choose if your tree is planted in Ontario, B.C., Quebec, the Prairies, the Atlantic region’s Acadian forests, or the Boreal Forest. You can also select specific locations such as Fort McMurray, Alberta to help with the wildfire restoration. The goal of A Living Tribute is make the world greener through environmental gift giving. Each tribute card they send out is not only sustainably sourced and acid-free, but Forest Stewardship Council certified.

Big Brothers Big Sisters Of Canada

This worthwhile organization believes that every child in Canada that needs a mentor should have one. Big Brothers Big Sisters has been positively influencing Canadian youth for over one hundred years. They develop and coordinate matches between little brothers and big brothers and little sisters with big sisters. They also facilitate group programs both in school and out. These volunteer role models and mentors teach by example and show that giving back to the community is imperative. Many of these relationships are life-changing for the “littles” and create lasting friendships. This holiday season you can make in-tribute and in-memorium donations that will help provide programs and services in your very own community.