Gift Ideas for Someone Who Has Everything

We hope you've enjoyed our gift suggestions for this holiday season. So far you've seen:

• out-of-the-box gift ideas for gardeners from Richard Nunnally, host of Virginia Home Grown
• gift ideas for gardeners from Amy Barton Williams, co-host of Virginia Home Grown
• an eclectic smorgasbord of ideas from George Maida, host of the Electric Croude and Classical Evening
• a locally inspired gift list from Terri Allard, host of Charlottesville Inside Out
• classical music ideas from Music Director Bobbie Barajas
• world music ideas from World Music Show host Ian Stewart

Whew! That's a lot of ideas. But you may still be scratching your head over that last person - the one who has everything. So here's our last suggestion. How about giving them a gift that will make our community a better place? There are a lot of organizations that do a lot for the community - here are some that we like. You can give your recipient a membership to some of the organizations or make a donation on their behalf with others. And these donations may provide you with a little end of year tax deduction. Take a look:

1. Feed More - They feed the hungry, including children who require adequate nutrition to succeed in school and grow to their potential, seniors who must stretch a limited food budget, and families challenged by economic circumstances. They work with Meals on Wheels and Central Virginia Foodbank to ensure that those who might otherwise go hungry, will not. Make a donation on behalf of a friend, help feed a hungry child or senior citizen.
2. SportsBackers - They've helped put Central Virginia on the map, with events that attract tens of thousands of people to our area and made Richmond a sports tourism destination, and their programs encourage kids and adults to become fit and adopt a healthy lifestyle. They've helped local and non-local couch potatoes get off the couch to walk their first 10K - then train for their first half marathon. And they made it fun. Make a donation - or sign your recipient up for an event. In fact, sign yourself up while you're at it, and make it a shared activity.
3. Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden - The national award winning Garden is one of the jewels of Richmond, with events and exhibits all year round, gorgeous plants and blooms throughout, children's educational activities, and a garden that contributes thousands of pounds of produce to our local food bank. Sign your dear gift recipient up as a member, take them to see the Dominion Gardenfest of Lights or buy them some unique items in the gift shop.
4. Salvation Army - those little red kettles and the accompanying bell ringers are everywhere this time of year. The Salvation Army also sponsors the Angel Tree program, ensuring that parents who could not afford to buy Christmas gifts for their children can still provide them with some Christmas magic. Make a donation on behalf of your recipient, adopt an angel, volunteer (does that still count as a gift? If you do it together, yes!)
5. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts - VMFA has brought world-class art exhibits to Richmond, such as Picasso - and mummies(!) VMFA makes your art fun. The museum is a regular stopping place for school field trips, and kids and adults can take one or more excellent classes on drawing, painting, photography or other topics. Make a donation, buy a membership or a gift from the wonderful gift shop, take your recipient to lunch or dinner at Amuse, sign them up for a class. It's all good.
6. United Way of Virginia - can't decide? It's ok, make a donation in your recipient's name to the United Way, and the United Way will distribute the funds to the groups in greatest need.  
7. Community Idea Stations - you knew we had to include ourselves, right? Well, now is the acceptable time - give your loved ones a gift membership to the Community Idea Stations, help us continue to air the shows that grow your brain and touch your heart, stories that dazzle your imagination, and challenge your way of thinking. Not to mention teach your four-year old to read.

That's our list, our tale is done. What last minute suggestions do you have?