Sustainable Gifting

Dear Foster City Community! ‘Tis the season of gifting. As you ponder gifts for family and friends, below are some ideas to make your gifts meaningful, long-lasting, and sustainable.

• Gift Your Presence
  • Give an IOU of time spent walking/hiking or enjoying a meal/cooking together
• Gift a Shared Experience
  • A gift certificate to an Art/Yoga/Dance class
  • Gift tickets to the movies or play at our local live theater
  • Membership to a museum, zoo, theme park
  • Prepaid subscription to an exercise class or yoga/meditation app
  • Prepaid personal training sessions
  • Audio or e-book subscription
  • Pair any of these with the first - join them in the activity for double the joy!
• Gift of an Expert
  • A chef-prepared meal (maybe the chef is you or a local community member)
  • Prepaid sessions with a personal organizer
  • Prepaid food delivery services such as Daily Harvest, HelloFresh, Uber Eats, Door Dash
• Handmade gifts - share your creative side with others. Handmade gifts have an emotional and unquantifiable value. Consider:
  • sewing reusable napkins using upcycled materials
  • knitting, crocheting, quilting
  • baking a pie, making fruit preserves, desserts-in-a-jar, or a casserole
  • preparing non-toxic cleaning solutions
  • sharing a favorite photo of a special moment with a message of gratitude
  • buying homemade, non-toxic, plastic-free soaps and other personal care products on sites such as Etsy
• No-waste and low-waste gifts and wrapping
  • House plants or garden plants and seeds - check your local nurseries, farmers markets, and small businesses
  • Wrap your present with butcher paper or newspaper, tie it with twine, and decorate it with rosemary or a flower from your garden
  • Reuse any brown paper bag by flipping it inside out and using rubber stamps for something decorative

Have a safe and Happy Holidays!