Kiva: an organization in which you buy a loan ($25.00 minimum) and choose an individuals from around the world that you will give your loan to. This is the charity that never-ends as your loan will be paid back to you and you can then choose another individual.
http://www.kiva.org/
Heifer International: an organization that allows you to buy animals, crops, or food/water for those without. Those who recieve your gift also get training on how raise and care for their animals and plants and must promise to give offspring of their gift to a neighbor so that the help can be passed on.
http://www.heifer.org/
Toys for Tots & Operation Christmas Child: both organizations dedicated to giving children gifts for christmas who would not otherwise recieve anything for the holidays. Toys for Tots is maintained by the Marines of the United States and just requires an unwrapped gift. Operation Christmas Child is a Christian based organization in which you fill a shoe box with toys and gifts for a child in a third world country.
http://www.toysfortots.org/
http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/
Santa for Seniors: this organization can be known by many names and is usually run by the local hospice in the area. It requires participants to buy any items listed by an elderly recipient. these items are ones that the recipient needs for health and comfort in old age. The lists are often simple and simple items such as socks, blankets, adult diapers, and slippers.
(this website is for the local Santa for Seniors in my area; be sure to look for the organization near you)
http://www.sarcoa.org/content/content.cfm?coid=234
Food Pantry: There are plenty of these in any city and most universities, franterities, sororities, and student organizations support these during the holidays. Most ask for non-perishable items such as canned goods or dry goods.
Wounded Warriors & Christmas for the Troops: many organizations ask for either monetary or specific gifts to give back to our troops who are wounded, abroad, and retired.
http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/
http://www.supportourtroops.org/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&layout=item&id=2922
Other organizations that my not be nation or world wide but rather locally:
Donating food and items to your local humane society
Donating spare change to donation boxes or to organizations at a CoinStar
Donating clothing or items to charity stores such as Goodwill or Salvation Army
Hope all these options give you the opportunity to give back this holiday season so that you and many others will feel the joys the holidays bring :)
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