By Gena Pratt
Immunizations for a child in Indonesia: $20. A llama for a family in Bolivia: $100. Making a difference in the world during the holidays: priceless.
For a Christmas gift out of the box, various organizations offer unusual charitable donations and sponsorships to give this holiday season.
'These gifts really capture the essence of the season,' said Karen Kartes, spokesperson for World Vision. World vision is an organization that makes donations in communities throughout the world.
Charitable gifts range in price from $15 to over thousands of dollars and can be purchased through various organizations. People can dedicate that sponsorship or charity gift to a friend.
For example, Project Concern International has a gift catalogue where people can make donations to international causes, such as sponsoring newborn baby deliveries, sheltering children from the streets, micro loans for women and girls and sponsoring immunizations.
'With gifts such as nutritious school breakfasts for a child in Nicaragua or a grain silo to lift the burden of poverty for a family in El Salvador, you can transform the life of a child, a family, or an entire community and help create a healthier world,' said George Guimaraes, president of Project Concern, in a statement.
The donations can be made throughout the year, but more donations are given during the holiday gift-giving season.
'We do about 35 percent of yearly donations between Thanksgiving and New Years,' said Kendall Webb, executive director for the JustGive organization.
Many organizations offer gift certificates, allowing the gift recipient to choose their own charity.
'It is great because it takes the guess work out of giving,' Webb said.
Another unusual gift is an animal donations. Through the World Vision U.S,. llamas can be donated to families for $100, goats for $75, rabbits for $15 and a flock of hens for $100.
Kartes said goats are the most popular gift during the holidays.
'People just think it''s a funny animal,' Kartes said. 'People are just amazed when they learn the good that they can give in the developing world.'
Also through World Vision U.S., people can adopt a farm animal to save it from the slaughterhouse. An animal ranges from $10 to $300.
'I think it''s really good and effective all year, but during the holiday season more than ever because people are looking for something more real and valuable,' said Webb.
Kartes said for some people in developing countries charitable gift donations mean the difference between life and death.
'They would overwhelm you with their thanks if they could,' Kartes said.