There’s always a kind gesture behind a gift but imagine if the gift you give this holiday season could spread even more kindness your community? We have curated a comprehensive list of Gifts that Give Back in Greater Vancouver:
East Van Roasters Holiday Confection Box
Gifts That Give Back in Greater Vancouver
Gift: Holiday Confection Box ($38) Purchase From:East Van Roasters (319 Carrall St, Vancouver) Cause:East Van Roasters is a fully registered charity and social enterprise operated by the PHS Community Services Society, so shoppers can feel good knowing their purchases are providing meaningful employment to women living in the Downtown Eastside who are facing challenges and barriers in their lives. Shop their collection of chocolates, treats, and roasted coffee.
Megaphone 2023 Calendar, photo via megaphone.com
Gift:2023 Hope in Shadows Calendar (suggested $20 donation) Purchase From: Your local Megaphone vendor (find them on the app) Cause: Hope in Shadows is a photography project that shares the stories of homeless and low-income people through their own lens, and in its 17-year history, it has put more than one million dollars directly into the pockets of people experiencing poverty in BC. Hope in Shadows is a project of Megaphone magazine, a non-profit that offers meaningful work to people experiencing poverty and homelessness.
Gift: Sunbird Scarf by Melissa Groo, inspired by nature ($77) Purchase From:InFocus Canada Cause: 10% of the sale price of each of Melissa’s ‘Sunbird’ scarves is donated to the Janet L. Swanson Wildlife Hospital. Each scarf is produced from a custom milled fabric made from 100% recycled plastic and diverts 3 bottles from the waste stream. Only 200 scarves have been produced in this print as part of a First Edition. All scarves are sustainably produced and are developed and manufactured (locally in Squamish) employing the highest ethical production standards.
Blue Ruby Cause We Care bracelet, photo via blueruby.com
Gift:Blue Ruby x Cause We Care Bracelets ($35 to $125) Purchase From: Blue Ruby stores, Hill’s of Kerrisdale, Hills Dry Goods Kitsilano, Hill’s Dry Goods South Granville, Hill’s Dry Goods Park Royal South, Hill’s Dry Goods – West 4th Cause: 100% of the proceeds from these beautiful bracelets go towards Cause We Care Foundation’s programs and initiatives in support of single mothers and their children in need in the Greater Vancouver area. These funds also support the ongoing needs of the families living at YWCA Cause We Care House in Vancouver. Since the program’s inception 9 years ago in 2013, Blue Ruby has successfully donated nearly one million dollars to Cause We Care’s initiatives.
Obakki Foundation Scarf 2022, photo via obbakifoundation.org
Gift: Scarves 4 Water ($49 to $89, bandana available for $39) Purchase From: Obakki online or Gastown (#400-341 Water St, Vancouver) Cause: The Obakki Foundation directly impacts the women of the Bidi Bidi refugee settlement in Uganda, with 100% of the proceeds going towards building a better future for the community. In addition to individual donations, they generate revenue through the sale of a thoughtfully curated collection of apparel and homewares. The Scarves 4 Water program assigns one scarf colour per community and, when Obakki sells 500 of them, they drill a well that brings clean water to thousands of people.
Angel Wish Snow Globe – Bowring
Gift:Angel Wish Snow Globe ($39) Purchase From: Shop for Wishes, dedicated Bowring e-store for a cause Cause: Make-A-Wish Foundation has a series of e-stores where all products purchased will help make wishes come true for a child with critical illness.
Outdoor Vancouver’s Be More Pacific Tee
Gift: “Be More Pacific” sweatshirts ($34.95 with $1 going to Take a Hike) Purchase From:Outdoor Vancouver Cause:Take a Hike Foundation engages youth in intensive and continuous clinical counselling, adventure, and community, Public School Districts engage youth in high quality education, and together they empower vulnerable youth to change the trajectory of their lives.
Symbolic, Nature-Focused Gift
Gift: Adopt-a-heron’s nest, Adopt-an-Acre, Adopt-a-Class ($54 to $3,000) Purchase From: Stanley Park Ecology Society Cause: Adopters join a twenty-five year tradition of collaborative research, innovation and ecological advice with the Stanley Park Ecology Society. Every adoption helps preserve Stanley Park as a location for recreational, aesthetic and educational activities, now and for future generations.
If you have any to add, feel free to leave a note in the comments or submit it here.
Follow Miss604Holidays this season for the latest arts and culture activities, attraction and event news »
This weekend Miss604 is proud to sponsor the Portobello West Holiday Market at the Roundhouse in Yaletown along with Heritage Christmas which is opening for the season at Burnaby Village Museum and the Giving Hearts Awards on Friday afternoon. Find these events and many more things to do in Vancouver this weekend listed below:
Comments52
by Rebecca BollwittDisclosure: Sponsored Post — Sponsored by Paquin Entertainment Group Please review the Policy & Disclosure section for further information.
An exhibit of superhero proportions is coming to Burnaby in the new year! NEON and Paquin Entertainment Group are launching Marvel Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. (Scientific Training And Tactical Intelligence Operative Network) which is set to open March 3, 2023 at The Amazing Brentwood in Burnaby for a limited time engagement.
Ryan Emberley Photo
Marvel Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. is Coming to Burnaby
When: March 3 – May 28, 2023
Mon to Wed & Sunday 10:00am to 7:00pm
Thurs to Sat 10:00am to 9:00pm final entry 1 hour before close
Where: The Amazing Brentwood (4567 Lougheed Hwy, Burnaby)
Tickets: On sale November 24, 2022. Prices start at $29 for adults and $23 for children (plus ticketing fees), with discounts for students, seniors, and groups. VIP packages are also available.
Special Early Bird discount pricing is available until November 28 only. This is bound to be on someone’s holiday wish-list so make sure you buy early and save!
After sold out runs and millions of fans in London, New York, Seoul, Paris, Singapore, China, Las Vegas, Toronto and India, Avengers: S.T.A.T.I.O.N., an interactive experience, is on its way to thrill audiences across BC. Guests will step into the world of the Avengers, discovering intelligence and cutting-edge science inspired by the Marvel Studios’ films. After completing their training, participants only have one thing left to do: Assemble!
Photo courtesy of Paquin Entertainment
The Instagrammable, must-see exhibition features multiple rooms dedicated to your favourite Avengers characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including Captain America, Iron Man, Captain Marvel, Black Panther, Black Widow, the Hulk, Thor, Hawkeye and more. Along with getting up-close-and-personal with costumes and props from some of the latest releases from Marvel Studios, guests are invited to:
Revel in awe at Iron Man’s “Hall of Armour”
Explore Bruce Banner’s lab, providing insights into the mind of the mean, green, rage-machine called the Hulk
Gain access to Captain America’s “Top Secret” personnel file
Inspect Black Widow’s arsenal of high-tech weapons
Learn about the “Super Soldier Serum” that transformed Steve Rogers in Marvel Studios’ Captain America: The First Avenger
There’s a throwback gift guide from one of Vancouver’s beloved attractions that will have you craving treat from the McBarge with Expo Ernie. Expo 86 merchandise is now available at Science World just in time for the holiday season.
Photo courtesy of Science World
Expo 86 Merchandise at Science World
Science World was built for the world’s fair, originally meant to just be a temporary structure and named the Expo Centre. 36 years later, Science World is celebrating its past while ushering in its future with an exclusively-designed line of iconic merchandise, recognizing the role this event played in Science World as we know it today.
1984 – Science World Under Construction. Archives # CVA 780-505
This series of Expo 86 themed and branded items, feature the nostalgic Expo 86 logo, branding and, of course Expo Ernie. The family of marks are owned by the Government of the Province of British Columbia and are used by Science World under license. Funds raised by the sale of this exclusively-designed, limited Expo 86 merchandise will support essential programming for the non-profit and its mission to expand STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and design, and math) learning.
The full lineup of gifting ready swag includes:
Expo 86 Tee and Expo Ernie Tee for $34.99
Expo Ernie Sweatshirt for $69.99
Expo 86 Bomber Jacket for $89.99
Expo 86 Baseball Cap for $34.99
Expo 86 Tote Bag for $24.99
Expo 86 Poster for $24.99
Expo 86 Mug for $16.99
Pins (Expo 86 and Expo Ernie) for $7.99
Stickers (Expo 86 Logo Sticker, Expo 86 Classic Sticker Expo Ernie) for $3.99
Science World was recently bolstered by a much-needed $10-million infrastructure investment in federal funding through the Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan) Tourism Relief Fund but much more is needed. Funds from the campaign will help further essential education, like Science World’s globally-lauded STEAM initiative and community programming, across BC.
Miss604 Photo
“Expo 86 was Vancouver’s first world-class event, inviting 22 million visitors from all over the world to Vancouver in a 5 month span, and the Expo Centre was at the centre of it,” says Nancy Roper, Vice President, Development at Science World. “By connecting Vancouver’s history with its future, we hope that the Expo 86 series both fundraises and educates about the crucial role that this event played in defining Vancouver as a world-class city, and in establishing Science World as a leading incubator of science innovation and education serving millions across BC every year.”
The collection is available online to shop now. Tag your photos with #Expo86 and Science World when you post on social media to share in the nostalgia.
You can make a difference in a young person’s life this season at one of these conveniently located toy drives around Vancouver. Monetary donations and gifts of new, unwrapped toys are accepted, and I have included some wish list items below:
Toy Mountain at Guildford Date: November 30 to December 2 6:00am to 9:00pm (7:00pm Friday) Location: Centre Court at Guildford Town Centre (10355 152 St, Surrey) Details: Accepting new unwrapped toys at and accepting cash donations online, in support of the Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau. For all the early risers who make a donation on site between 6:00am and 9:00am on December 1 and December 2 , Triple O’s will treat you to a complimentary breakfast to go.
Family Services North Shore Toy Drive Date: Saturday, December 4, 2022 from 12:00pm to 4:00pm Location: Park Shore BMW (835 Automall Dr, North Vancouver) Details: Drop off new unwrapped gifts for children and teenagers in need. The Northshore Auto Mall has generously pledged to match all Toy Drive Donations made, up to $10,000. Toy Drive donations will go directly toward purchasing toys and gifts for children and teens, to ensure vulnerable North Shore families are able share in the joy of the holidays with presents under the tree.
Surrey Christmas Bureau Toy Depot Date: Monday to Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm Location: 10355 King George Blvd., the former Safeway. Details: If you can’t make it to the Toy Depot, you can drop off new unwrapped toys to any Surrey Fire Hall from November 15 through to December 20, 2022. Financial donations are also needed year round to support the Hamper program. Volunteer positions are available as well.
Richmond Christmas Fund Date: Monday to Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm Location: Richmond Cares, Richmond Gives (190 – 7000 Minoru Blvd, Richmond) Details: Please be advised that, due to allergies, they are no longer accepting donations of stuffed animals. We encourage you to give books instead of bears and toys instead of teddies. While we’re extremely grateful for all toy donations, there are several items we anticipate being particularly popular this holiday season. As such, these are the items we need the most. You can find them below, on our 2022 Toy Wish List.
Wish List Items
The Richmond Christmas Fund and Surrey Christmas Bureau put together their toy wish lists and it’s a great roadmap for your holiday giving. They figure that these items will be very popular so they’d love to receive many so they can have enough supply:
