Wholesome Ways To Give Back This Christmas 2022

It's no secret we love Christmas and all the glitz and glam that comes with it, from beautifully wrapped gifts beneath pretty trees to swanky end-of-year parties with fancy food and drink. However, we also know that, as the Grinch himself discovered, 'Christmas means a little bit more'.

It's about spending time with loved ones, creating special memories and most important—helping out those less fortunate than ourselves. With that said, here are some simple ways you can give a little something back this festive season—who knows, maybe your heart will even grow a few sizes bigger, just as the Grinch's did...

Adopt A Sunflower, And Bring A Smile To A Sick Child

What could be better than putting a smile on the face of a sick child this Christmas (or any time of year, let's be honest)? You're right, absolutely nothing. That said, you'll wanna get behind this epic cause from Auckland start-up, Delicious Revolution (founded by Levi Brinsdon-Hall), who in partnership with the Starship Foundation is offering you the chance to adopt a sunflower for just $10, which will be planted in the hospital grounds around Greenlane Clinical Centre—bringing a dose of cheer to patients, staff, and the wider community (cute!). Delicious is planning to sow a whopping 20,000 sunnies across four different gardens at the hospital—where many Starship children receive treatment—alongside wildflowers and herbs, which you, the public, can actually help out with across the first three weekends of December, between 10 am-3 pm. Your $10 donation will go towards giving the sunflowers some all-important TLC, while a portion will also go towards the Starship Foundation. The sunflowers are expected to bloom between February and April next year, during which time Delicious Revolution will host a number of 'thank you' experiences for their supporters, including BBQs amongst the flowers with guest chefs, free weekly bouquets, and live music performances.

Smash These Chantal Organics x Bread & Butter Christmas Charity Cookies

Gift A Cleaner Coastline With Sustainable Coastlines

How's this for a mind-blow... in the week following Christmas, us Kiwis produce a whopping 50,000 tonnes of rubbish (think packaging, wrapping paper, ribbons, cards). That said, you might want to consider giving environmentally-minded friends and family a 'donation gift' this year that allows local charity, Sustainable Coastlines to remove sackfuls of litter from beaches and rivers on their behalf. Options start from $20 for 10 litres of rubbish.

Visit The World Vision Smiles Pop-Up Shop

Open exclusively for the festive season is a New Zealand first—a store where customers will literally walk out with nothing but a smile. We're talking about the magical World Vision Smiles Pop-Up Shop, located at 240 Broadway in Newmarket, which sells items for children and families in desperate need in places like Afghanistan, India and Uganda. Think school supplies, mosquito nets, emergency food and sewing machines, starting from as little as $10 (mere pocket money for making an actual difference in someone's life, right?). And we stand corrected—you WILL get a little something to take away, in the form of a card with your chosen gift printed on it, which wouldn't go amiss in a loved one's stocking. If you're unable to get along to the actual store, you can make a purchase online (though we strongly recommend heading there in person—this spot has been specially designed by Grand Designs NZ host, Tom Webster, and his wife Anna and is stunning).

Adopt An Animal With World Wide Fund For Nature

Not many gifts will bring about the warm fuzzies more this Christmas than an animal adoption through WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature). The world's largest independent conservation organisation is giving you the chance to help some of the world's most precious species, both here and abroad and including penguins, tigers, albatrosses, and dolphins, with a symbolic donation that will contribute to protecting both them and their habitat. Donations can be made for as little as one month and come with a downloadable pack featuring a personalised adoption certificate and fact sheet (the warm fuzzies you'll get for free).

Give A Gorgeous Eat My Lunch Gift Box

Many of you will be familiar with Eat My Lunch thanks to their amazing work feeding Kiwi kids in need. Using a unique Buy One Give One model, every time you buy one of their lunches, grazing boxes or other delicious products, they gift a lunch to a child who might otherwise go without (they've clocked up more than 1,800,000 lunches to date!). Now the team have also added gift boxes to the menu, including some rad festive-themed options and even a vegan and gluten-friendly box. Stacked with quality goodies from award-winning local brands (think Ārepa, Ethique, Little Bird Organics, AF Drinks and Remarkable Chocolate Co. to name but a few), these beautifully-presented boxes would sure make a nice gift come Chrissy morning. And the best part? Depending on which gift box you buy (they range from $30-$200), you'll be gifting Kiwi kids in need anywhere from two to eight lunches—that's Nice List-approved, for sure. Delivery available nationwide.

Adopt Coral On Behalf Of Your Loved Ones With Coral Gardeners

For a super cool and outta-the-box way to give back this Christmas, check out the adopt-a-coral initiative run by Coral Gardeners. Dedicated to restoring damaged reefs in the islands of Tahiti, these young eco-warriors grow and plant coral on your (or your friend's and family's) behalf, to bring life back to the ocean. Choose from one of 10 'super' specimens, which the recipient will receive personalised updates about, along with their very own adoption card. Who knows, maybe one day they'll even get to pay their piece of coral a visit.

Get On Board With The Warehouse's Be The Joy Campaign

As a kid, all you want for Christmas are toys, right? However for some families, even just one doll, car or teddy can be a big ask at this time of year and that's where The Warehouse comes in, with their annual Be The Joy campaign. In association with Variety—the Children's Charity and Women's Refuge—they're hoping to give more than 20,000 Kiwis a toy this year and that's certainly something we're keen to get on board with, hbu? All you have to do is purchase a $5 Be The Joy gift tag from any The Warehouse, Warehouse Stationery, Noel Leeming or Torpedo7 store or online, and The Warehouse Group will turn it into a $20 gift for a child who might otherwise go without. Alternatively, you can donate a new, unwrapped pressie in-store or add a $1, $2 or $10 donation to your purchase—and you can do all of these good deeds right up until December 20.

Shop Up A Storm With Oxfam

The award for the most creative way to give back this Christmas goes to Oxfam, with meaningful gift ideas that are completely outside the box (and as such, don't come in one). This well-known charity/development organisation offers a great range of alternative pressies through its Unwrapped range, whereby you choose a gift card representing a particular issue, which is then given to your loved one while the physical present is sent to the person/s in need.

If you're in the mood for splashing some cash, choose the Rocket Science option ($121), which helps bring clean drinking water to the people of Papua New Guinea; or for something a little cheaper but with equally sweet sentiment, consider Bee Merry ($26), which helps families in countries like Vanuatu earn a steady, sustainable income from beekeeping.

Our personal favourite, however, has to be the hilariously named The Best Crap ($20)—send someone this card, bearing the words “I got you the best crap” and you'll be helping people in developing nations grow crops with the ultimate fertiliser.

However, if that's not quite to your taste, consider buying a more traditional gift like the beautiful, ethically-made homewares and clothing, or delish FairTrade goodies such as chocolate and coffee. Naturally, money from your purchase will go toward supporting the charity and its work with these artisans.

Make A Contribution To Your Local City Mission

City missions are a shining light for many people at this time of the year, helping to provide those in need with the means to enjoy a special Christmas. Assist these awesome organisations in spreading some holiday cheer by making a simple donation, be it in the form of money, food, or gifts to put under the tree (full Auckland details here, Wellington details here, and Christchurch details here).

Donate To Ronald McDonald House's Annual Christmas Appeal

Give To The Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal

In the 29 years since it started, the annual Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal—a partnership with long-running charity, The Salvation Army—has handed out more than half a million Christmas presents to Kiwis in need, earning itself the title of New Zealand's largest and longest-running gift appeal.

The premise for this one's simple—buy a present of your choice, and leave it under the Christmas tree in-store (alternatively, you can drop it at the Click & Collect station). In a true show of Christmas spirit, the gift doesn't even have to be purchased from Kmart (though let's be honest, it probably will be); however, the company does encourage practical presents that last beyond the festive season, as well as those for teenagers and older boys (the groups it struggles most to get gifts for).

This year, the retail giant is also accepting cash contributions in-store or online which go directly to The Salvation Army, making the spirit of giving even easier. Oh, and all you last-minute shoppers out there needn't worry—Kmart will be accepting these offers of help right up until Christmas Eve. Get giving.

Gift A Meal Out (And Support Hospo)