Every year we hunt for the perfect gift to dazzle our friends, spouses and loved ones, but at the end of the day we end up with a pile of “things” – clothing, technology gadgets, sporting gadgets. We buy gifts because we cherish the look on a loved one’s face when we give them something we know they really want. But imagine how wonderful it would feel to give a gift to someone that you know they really need – like the gift of clean water, medical care, a safe place to live, access to education – the things that we all too often take for granted.

As you enter the final days of holiday shopping, consider giving a gift that has an even more meaningful impact through charities like these:

• Organizations such as Oxfam America, Heifer Project International, and Care allow you to uniquely purchase gifts that will benefit those in need.  Visit Heifer’s gift catalog where you can purchase chickens, llamas or other livestock that will give impoverished families the resources they need to become self-sufficient.  Support Care, an international relief organization by sending a “CAREpackage” to loved ones this holiday season to help women and girls escape poverty around the world.

•  By donating to Save the Children your one gift can be matched up to four times – bringing essential programs such as healthcare, education, and disaster assistance to children and families in need.

• Ever wonder what happens to all of the letters written by children to Santa each year?  Well the USPS has established a program where you can help grant the wishes of these children in deserving families by playing the role of Santa.  Beanelf.org allows volunteers to pick up a letter at a participating post office, purchase a toy, pair of shoes, game, etc. for an underprivileged family, and then have it sent to their doorstep by Christmas day.

• Macy’s has also come up with a great way to engage children in the holiday spirit with “a million reasons to believe”. They will donate $1 for ever letter to Santa that children drop off at a Macy’s store, up to $1 million, to the Make-A-Wish Foundation which makes the dreams of children with terminal illnesses come true – such as meeting their favorite rock star or going to Disney world.

There are so many ways that we can spread the holiday spirit to those who need it most.  This time of year it is easy to get caught up with a busy schedule and family coming to town, but it’s important to remind ourselves of those who are less fortunate and SHARE what we can with them during the holidays.

Here at North American Power we are proud to be giving to charitable organizations that are providing hope and inspiration to those in need all year round.  Our customers and representatives have helped us to develop a socially responsible business model and we believe that our desire to “do well while doing good” will continue to afford us the opportunity to power change around the world.

Thank you and Happy Holidays!