Catching up on some email from the past week I found a newsletter from The Stop. The following is copied and pasted verbatim:

Gifts that Matter

Looking for a meaningful holiday gift for your staff, clients, friends, teachers or anyone else on your list this year? By making a $25 donation to The Stop Community Food Centre, you can purchase a food hamper for a family in need on behalf of the special people on your list. We’ll send them a lovely card saying that you’ve done so. Imagine stress free holiday shopping that makes a difference.

Here’s how it works:

1. Send an email to Danielle@thestop.org with the names and addresses of the people on your list.
2. For every $25 donation, we’ll send a card to the individuals on your list with the following message: “A donation has been made by (Your name) on your behalf to The Stop Community Food Center to purchase a food hamper for a family in need this holiday season. Best wishes for a safe and happy holiday.”
3. You’ll receive a tax receipt for your entire gift, and the good feeling of knowing that your gifts are fighting hunger and poverty in the city.

Please note, we must receive your list of names no later than December 14th to ensure delivery of your card prior to December 25th.

View the newsletter.

So…

…a family in need gets a gift of food, the person you’re donating on behalf of knows that you’re thinking of them and also that you know that they have enough crap material stuff and don’t need more (not that “stuff” is bad, I like stuff), and you receive warm fuzzy feelings knowing that you gave and gave to those in need. Sure, it’s not a new set of pots, a Vita Mix, new DVDs or a new gaming system but helping those in need is valuable too. A donation doesn’t need to fit under a tree either.

Sounds great to me.