What Are the Most Meaningful Charitable Gifts to Give for Christmas?

This holiday, consider choosing charitable gifts to give for Christmas that go beyond traditional presents and bring the vision of lasting change to communities in need. Instead of wrapping boxes with ribbons, imagine wrapping a community with opportunity. Charitable gifts, especially those directed to regions in Africa and Asia, have the power to uplift individuals and families caught in cycles of poverty. Through GFA World’s Christmas Gift Catalog, believers have the chance to give life-changing gifts—simple yet essential items that provide stability and transformation.

Here is the compelling story of Missael,[1] a father of three, who struggled to provide for his family due to limited education and job opportunities. His prayers for provision were answered in an unexpected way when he received a pair of pigs through GFA’s Christmas Gift Catalog. Missael and his wife diligently cared for the pigs, feeding them nutritious food like wild plants and cooked pumpkin. The pigs thrived and soon gave birth to piglets, which Missael sold to purchase tin sheets for home improvements, pay for his son’s school fees and buy new clothes for the family. This gift not only met their immediate needs but also empowered them to build a sustainable future.

Here is an example of how a young boy learned about gratitude and giving during the Christmas season: Micah’s family decided to give a gift to someone in need, choosing to donate chickens through GFA World’s Christmas Gift Catalog. Micah was excited about this choice, saying he wanted to help “so the hungry kids can have eggs to eat.”[2] This act of kindness provided a family with a sustainable source of nutrition and income as the chickens would produce eggs for consumption or sale. Our story demonstrates how a simple gift, like a pair of chickens, can have a lasting impact not only on the family receiving this gift but also on the young boy choosing to give it.

These gifts—farm animals, mosquito nets, clean wells, blankets and more—meet critical needs and express God’s love in practical, tangible ways. At just $10 for a mosquito net or $65 for a pair of pigs, these compassionate gifts can make a significant difference in impoverished communities. Imagine ensuring a family has clean drinking water by gifting $30 or donating a sewing machine to a young woman so she can start her own small business. Each gift symbolizes a lifeline that can lift a family out of poverty and give them the tools they need to succeed. 

[1]   “How Pigs Became an Answer to Prayer.” GFA UK, September 29, 2018. http://web.archive.org/web/20231210004213/https://www.gfauk.org/news/how-pigs-became-an-answer-to-prayer/.
[2]   MyGFA. “Micah’s Christmas Chickens.” Accessed October 27, 2024. https://www.mygfa.org/chickenchristmas/.