By A Present, Save The World

Can’t think of what to get for your friend, colleague, or family member? Why not give a gift that will make you both feel good and help the environment at the same time? From local Long Island animal rescues to international organizations, here are some wonderful gifts that will help you save the world.

Locally, places like the Quogue Wildlife Refuge, the Riverhead Society for Marine Preservation and the Amaryllis Farm Horse Rescue all have animal adoption or sponsorship programs that donate every penny of donations to a specific animal’s care. The Quogue Wildlife Refuge’s animal adoption program is perfect for animal lovers of all ages, and the funds raised go directly towards enhancing the adoptee’s habitat, paying for their veterinary care, and feeding them. You can help care for one of their permanent residents, such as a red fox, bald eagle, bobcat, kestrel, barn owl, great horned owl, or red-tailed hawk, for between $10 and $350 to support an animal for one month, or all year long. In return, the adopter will receive all sorts of gifts, such as a certificate of adoption, a fact sheet about “their” animal, a professional photograph of their adoptee and even recognition on the Refuge’s “tree of adopters.” Adopters can also visit their animal in person, since every adoptable animal is a permanent resident of the Refuge.

If you would rather adopt a seal, whale, dolphin or sea turtle, then head to the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation, or log on to their website. Not only can you “adopt” any animal in their care and receive a photo and story about their rescue, you can also add a plush version of your animal to your adoption package for $5 or $10, depending on the size of the toy.

For horse lovers, Amaryllis Farm also offers a sponsorship program. It is very exciting for a sponsor to be able to watch “their” horse grow from a frightened feedlot rescue to a glistening steed, knowing that their donation, or the donation given in their name, helped make it happen. And if you have enough room and resources to bring one home, most of the horses at Amaryllis farm are up for adoption, and would love to have a new owner to care for them. To help homeless animals everywhere, check out the ASPCA’s holiday shop, where you can purchase great gifts and donate to the nation’s first animal welfare organization with 100% of every purchase. Domestic animals on Long Island also need help this holiday season, and the Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons’ 2007 Pet Calendar is a great present for any dog or cat lover. And you don’t have to drive to ARF in Wainscott to pick one up, as they are being sold in bookstores, galleries and specialty shops all over Long Island. When you donate $50 or more to the Humane Society of the United States, which also helps pets in need, you will receive an adorable plush toy in a very fashionable over-the-shoulder carrier, a much more eco and wallet-friendly version of the purse dog.

Even non-animal lovers can save the world. Buying acres of rainforest is a great way to help protect what little natural habitats, and natural air-purifiers (trees) we have left. You can even give a potted sapling along with the rainforest acres, to be planted in the spring to help clean the air right here in Long Island. You can purchase rainforest acres on-line through www.charityusa.com. If you want your holiday shopping dollars to go towards saving the earth, www.charityusa.com has separate sites to help everyone, from animals, to people, forests and waterways – simply click on the cause of your choice. Then, click on companies’ links, where you will receive a discount on items you would normally buy, and donate a portion of the money you spent to charities supporting your favorite cause. There are also on-line shops at these sites that will tell you how many bowls of food for animals in shelters, or for hungry children around the world, or acres of rainforest you have saved with every purchase. If you want to really help feed the hungry, give the gift of a cow, beehive, knitting basket or crops to a farming family through Heifer International. Your gift will enable them to be independent for many years.

No matter what cause is closest to your heart, you can find a way to donate this holiday season, simply by shopping at stores that have pledged to give a portion of your dollars spent to a charity you want to support.

– Sabrina C. Mashburn