Charitable Gift-Giving Growing in Popularity

Toronto resident Ellen Reid is giving symbolic acres of land as gifts to 20 people in her life this holiday season because she says her family and friends already have everything they need.

Socially responsible gifts are growing in popularity in Canada as people turn to charities and aid groups for what are sometimes called gifts that give twice.

The polling firm Ipsos Reid, which surveyed 1,429 Canadians on behalf of World Vision Canada, found that 77 per cent of those surveyed said they didn't need anything this year, while only 36 per cent felt there was something in particular they wanted.

A full 84 per cent said they would prefer to have a gift given on their behalf to help someone else instead of receiving a sweater or a pair of socks. The survey results were released in November. (CBC)