Top 10: Alternative Gifting Ideas

So, the holidays are upon us. But you're not big into the whole gift-buying thing.

You'd rather give something more meaningful, but don't necessarily know where to begin.

Well, Patch has got you covered. We've compiled a list of 10 alternative gift ideas, or charities that area accepting donations during the season of giving. Check them out:

Monkey Business

Monkey Business is a local consignment shop located at 8624 Germantown Avenue. With an exceptional staff of volunteers working the store, Monkey Business sells lightly worn or new donated and consignor sold clothing to the Chestnut Hill community. Merchandise is "seasonal, in style, and freshly laundered." After replenishing your closet with new holiday fashions, donate the lightly worn and undamaged clothing to Monkey Business. In addition to providing someone in need with inexpensive clothing, you will also be benefiting Monkey Business' partner, the Green Tree Community Health Foundation, a nonprofit public charity that serves Northwest Philadelphia and eastern Montgomery County.

Visit Green Tree's website to learn more about their organization and read Monkey Business' online pamphlet on information about clothing donations.   

Valley Green Bank

For the third year, this local banking institution will be collecting books for the Mann, Harrity and Smedley elementary schools with its "Give the Gift of Reading" campaign. The business is accepting new or gently used children's books for kids ages 5 to 13.

Meals on Wheels

A national organization that seeks to "end senior hunger" will be looking for donations and volunteers this holiday season. A meal alone can change someone's holiday, and volunteering for MOW is an experience above and beyond simply delivering that gift. Chestnut Hill Meals on Wheels has a program called "Adopt a Senior" where participants can donate money that will provide a senior with meals for either one, three or 10 weeks. Donating is easy and can be done through http://www.chestnuthillmow.com/.

Penn Wissahickon Hospice's "Light Up a Life"

The Penn Wissahickon Hospice will be hosting tree-lighting ceremonies for the local community to enjoy, festivities that include music and other holiday offerings. According to its website, "each light on the trees is dedicated…[and] these lights shine brightly throughout the holiday season as a tribute to those being honored." By dedicating a light, you will be honoring someone you care for and also supporting the Needy Patient Fund. To make a donation, or read more about the Light up a Life program, visit www.PennMedicine.org/light-up-a-life.

The Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill

In conjunction with Central Presbyterian of Norristown, the church will be collecting new or gently used linens, and new socks and underwear, for children, teens and adults. If you're interested in making a donation, the church asks that you "please place these in the large green storage bin in Widener Hall." They will also be collecting monetary donations to benefit their food program for the holiday season. See their website at http://www.chestnuthillpres.org/pages/community-general/the-church-sent-out/ for more information on these alternative holiday gift ideas and other community programs.

Face to Face

Face to Face is another local organization working against hunger in the community. Its website explains that Face to Face in Germantown "is a haven of food, human warmth, and access to solutions to life's challenges. While the organization accepts donations that help with their drive against hunger and homelessness year-round, it also sells T-shirts to raise money for ongoing programs and awareness. At $10 apiece, the shirts are an inexpensive gift idea this holiday season. For more information on how to order a shirt, visit: http://home.catholicweb.com/facetofacegermantown/index.cfm/NewsItem?ID=261912&From=Home

Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger

An advocate for the hungry and programs that help with hunger, this organization "takes a comprehensive, multipronged approach to fighting hunger that includes education, outreach and advocacy," according to its Web site. The Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger enables local community food providers to better prepare and serve people in need by "building the capacity of food pantries and soup kitchens" and helping "eligible Philadelphia residents obtain food stamps." While they always accept donations to benefit their drive against hunger, this holiday season they are also looking for volunteers to help with multiple programs including Faith Deliverance, and the SHARE Food Program, both of which will be needing assistance to prepare for Christmas. Visit their Holiday Volunteers website for more information. http://www.hungercoalition.org/holiday-volunteers

Salvation Army

In addition to donating financially at a local post, (often outside of malls and large stores like Kmart and Target), the community can also benefit the Salvation Army by volunteering or donating additionally through its Web site. Also, on your way out to your next coffee run, spare an extra coffee for the volunteers standing post to collect donations outside stores. This kind gift of warmth will go a long way for them.

Toys for Tots

Every year, the Marines Toys for Tots Foundation collects toys for needy children in the local communities they serve. The local Philadelphia location is asking for new and unwrapped children's toys donations to distribute for the holidays.

Fisher House
The Fisher House program is an advocate for at-need American military families, providing a plethora of support from "comfort homes" that aid in easing the stress of families dealing with "unexpected illness, disease, or injury," and creating and sponsoring local based programs that raise money for ongoing community projects. Among many other opportunities, the Fisher House program supports the following community drives: Beauty for the Brave, an initiative that promotes sacrificing the cost of one beauty product to become a donation for troops; Welcome Me Home, Michelle Penn will donate a portion of the profits from her music and decal sales to the Fisher House- and Cookie Brigades, a nationwide program that sends homemade cookies and dog biscuits http://cookiebrigade.com/to the troops for the holiday season. Visit Fisher Houses' "How Others Are Giving" webpage for other programs to participate in for the holidays.