Happy Friday! Thanks to everyone who contributed to the guide this year. I couldn’t have done it without your great ideas. I hope these guides make your shopping a little easier this year. I love being able to support small businesses. But sometimes a physical gift isn’t always necessary or wanted. Do you have someone on your gift list that you have no idea what to buy for? Or maybe they have specifically said they don’t need or want anything. There are a number of ways you can give back without actually giving a physical gift. While gifts are wonderful when they are thoughtful and heartfelt sometimes the most rewarding gift is helping someone else in need. In the spirit of giving this year, I asked everyone who contributed gift ideas to also send me their favorite charity or foundation.

Alice Q. Foodie: Food 4 Kids: My favorite way to give back is to raise money for a local Food Bank program that provides food for hungry school kids to eat on the weekends. A good way for people to give back in their own communities would be to volunteer at a food pantry to sort and organize or distribute donations.

Camp Comfort: This year I will be donating to the Oregon Humane Society. Animals are very near and dear to my heart. There are so many loving animals that need a good home. And if you’re ready for the responsibility of adopting a pet, they enrich your life more than you can imagine. Since one dog (Cleo) is as much as our family can currently love, I like to help support the Humane Society so that they can continue to care for and rescue animals from bad circumstances

Cori Kindred: The National Organization for Women Foundation: an organization devoted to furthering women’s rights through education and litigation

Fig Studio: Kiva: Great ideas need support, and support can make a massive difference in someone’s life.  There are areas in this world where one must rely on their entrepreneurial skills to survive, and Kiva is an organization that helps keep these people and ideas going.

Jevan: Humane Society: Casey and I adopted Winston last year from our local Humane Society. He has been the best addition to our little family and brings us continuous laughs and love. If you aren’t able to adopt full time, consider fostering a pet in need or volunteering time.

K.I.D. Collective: Community Warehouse: It’s always been important to make a house feel like a home to me. It creates a sense of comfort as well as pride. Unfortunately, so many people are in need of just the basics. That’s where the Community Warehouse steps in, it’s a nonprofit agency that collects and redistributes donated household goods to individuals and families in need. If you’re in the Portland area you can donate goods, funds or your time.

Mustard and Sage: TROSA is an innovative, multi-year residential program in Durham, North Carolina, that enables substance abusers to be productive, recovering individuals by providing comprehensive treatment, work-based vocational training, education, peer counseling, mentoring, leadership training and continuing care.

Oregon or Bust: Audubon Society of Portland: Audubon Society of Portland promotes the understanding, enjoyment, and protection of native birds, other wildlife and their habitats. We focus on our local community and the Pacific Northwest.

Poppy & Leo: Boston Cares: Mission: organizes and leads team-oriented volunteer opportunities and services in and around Boston that have a positive impact on individuals and communities. Boston Cares has a wide array of community service opportunities ranging from helping the homeless to the environment. They believe that volunteerism is a force for positive social and personal change.

Wit + Delight: Kiva. Kiva gift cards are a great way to give a gift that gives back. An amount as small as $25 dollars allows you to make a small business loan to entrepreneurs in developing countries.

Sam: Boys and Girls Club: Mentoring a youngster in your community is one of the best ways to impact a life in a positive way.  Many of these kids don’t have any kind of supporting role model in their life, and offering up a few hours a week to take them out on a field trip or help with homework can pay huge dividends.

To see all the Gift Guides for 2010 go here. Happy Holidaying!

Photo: Michael Rolph