Gift Cards
Just like every Holiday Season, 2005 was extremely hectic and shopping for the ideal gift for everyone on my list was just too difficult with an eleven-month-old baby to take with me on every shopping excursion. Many of my nephews and nieces are teenagers and it’s very difficult to really know what to get for teens as gifts. My parents are a complete mystery to me and I’m never quite sure what to get my adult siblings and friends. I thought about what I would like to receive as a gift and I chose to give out gift cards this year, with a twist.
I got the idea of buying gift cards from AutismLink.com. I work with autistic children and I am a member of Autism Link. I receive press releases, educational events and general information about autism in emails through the site. One of the emails suggested that people buy their gift cards through AutismLink.com. Some of the proceeds from each gift card purchased through the site is donated to autism research.
Just about everyone appreciates a gift card from their favorite store or restaurant, but presenting a gift card can be boring. However, gift cards that contribute to a good cause are wonderful to receive. It’s almost like giving two gifts in one. My friends and family were extremely happy to know that their purchases benefit autistic people and my best friend’s son, who is an adult with autism, was particularly proud of his gift.
Buying gift cards does not always seem like a very personal approach to gift-giving, but gift cards that benefit a good cause are. Next year, I am going to see if I can buy gift cards from stores that donate to other charities. Autism is close to my heart, but I know a breast cancer survivor, a woman who has a diabetic son and I have a dear friend who has Parkinson’s disease.
Buying gift cards that donate to each person’s respective charity of interest would be a little more thoughtful. I think that it would behoove many retail shops, restaurants and food stores to consider collaborating with various charities during the Holiday Season and throughout the year. For those of us who want to avoid crowded shopping malls but still want to give a thoughtful gift, this would be ideal. It would be even better if we could choose a charity from a list that the store offers.
Whether they benefit a charity or not, gift cards are still relatively boring gifts to give. There is no real drama in opening a gift card. This year I placed each gift card in Glad Press-n-Seal. Then I poured clear soap that I melted into a mold. After letting it dry for a few minutes, I put the protected gift card in the mold and finished pouring the melted soap into it. Each person got a bar of soap with a gift card from their favorite store floating in it. It was the talk of the evening.
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