Cows 'n' Things Christmas Jeep
This season, cash-strapped shoppers can avoid the ‘Christmas crunch’, whilst making a huge difference to the lives of older people in developing countries. The Christmas 2008 Help the Aged ethical gift range, Cows ‘n’ Things, includes a buzzing beehive, a bleating billy goat or even a chattering of chicks, for as little as £7.
Cows 'n' Things offers people the chance to purchase a ‘virtual’ gift, with the donation made helping to supply vital items desperately needed by older people in developing countries where the Charity works.
This year, Cows ‘n’ Things also has a range of intergenerational gifts such as school uniforms, one year’s schooling, and child counselling, which all go towards helping grandparents in developing countries support their grandchildren who have been orphaned by the AIDS epidemic.
Whether a gift for family, friends or a ‘Secret Santa’ present for a work colleague, the offbeat, humorous and animated Cows ‘n’ Things website offers a quick, simple and cost effective way of ticking off that Christmas list.
For 2008, Help the Aged has produced an ethical shopper’s guide: Top Ten ‘Christmas Crunch’ Gift Ideas for under £20:
1. For mum – One Year’s Schooling (for grandchildren) £17
2. For dad – Seed Box and Tools £15
3. For grandmother – Cataract Operation £10
4. For grandfather – Vegetable Garden £8
5. For aunt – 5 Mosquito Nets £14
6. For niece – School Uniform £5
7. For nephew – School Books £10
8. For best friend – Crutches £8
9. For highly stressed work colleague – Blood Pressure Monitor £9
10. For chatty colleague – Chattering Chicks £7
Recipients will be sent a greeting card and/or a novelty email, with a personalised message from the donor, an image of the item purchased and information on how it will make a real difference to the lives of older people.
Donations from gifts purchased from Cows 'n' Things, will help empower older people in 50 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, Eastern Europe and Asia-Pacific, by offering them the things needed to improve their livelihoods, provide for their orphaned grandchildren and develop sustainable communities. When conflict or disaster threatens, donations will also go towards ensuring older people’s needs are met in the humanitarian response.
The charity has also launched a viral film to spread the Cows ‘n’ Things message. The film charts a day in the life of the character ‘Cow Pilot’, who delivers various gifts to older people all around the world, and afterwards relaxes in the pub with a pint when the day is done!