3 Gifts That Give Back

Gift ideas that give back.

 

THE ART OF GIVING

Cedars, a Marin nonprofit supporting adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, sells handmade jewelry, printed cards, woven goods and fine art at Artist Within–A Cedars Gallery, in downtown San Anselmo. Everything in the store is lovingly made by the participants in Cedars’ activity and residential programs, and each sale directly supports the 100-year-old organization, with half the proceeds going to the artist who created the piece.

GO GLOBAL

Seems like climate change is on everyone’s mind these days, and Greenbrae nonprofit Cool Effect is doing something about it, with carbon-offset projects all over the globe. Support one of the projects, such as providing cleaner cookstoves for orphanages in Malawi or establishing renewable-energy wind turbines in Costa Rica, with a personalized gift certificate that doubles as a donation.

SEAL OF APPROVAL

Since 1975, the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito has rescued and rehabilitated more than 23,000 animals. Back these efforts by purchasing a marine mammal “adoption package” containing a certificate of adoption, book and plush toy; a set of stainless steel mini-straws to replace single-use plastic ones; or a volunteer-made calendar printed on recycled paper with photos of friendly marine creatures.

Donna Berry Glass is a freelance writer in Marin County who writes mostly about family and kid-oriented topics. When she’s not writing, she enjoys spending time with her family exploring the natural beauty of Marin, snuggling with her Cavalier King Charles spaniel while reading a good book or whipping up something delicious in her space-challenged kitchen. Donna is a supporter of the California Academy of Sciences, a world class science museum and research institution, and the Institute on Aging which provides much needed services to seniors and disabled individuals.  

 


Donna Glass

A freelance writer in Marin who writes about family, kids and parenting, Glass is the mother to one son, one dog and a hamster named Miss Geri. When she’s not writing, trekking up steep hills in Marin or driving her kid to sports practice, she and her family spend time in their tiny cabin in Lake Tahoe. She avidly supports the California Academy of Sciences, a world class science museum and research institution, and the Institute on Aging which provides much needed services to Bay Area seniors and disabled adults. Glass is obsessed with baking the perfect loaf of banana bread, something she makes so often she no longer needs to look at a recipe card.